Minutemen Outlast Plainfield in Watchung Conference Classic

The highly anticipated first round of Elizabeth-Plainfield at the historic Dunn Center in Elizabeth checked all the boxes for the first Union County Game Of The Week, powered by Wheelie Good Pierogi.

Bigtime North Jersey Basketball being played on the grandest stage in New Jersey High School Hoops. There is nothing like a loud, full, noisy Dunn Center to set the tone and tonight's contest did not disappoint.

Elizabeth won the tip and after the teams traded misses, 6'5" senior wing Jojo Torres got the Minutemen on the board first with a layup about 90 seconds into the contest. Marcus Richards answered on Plainfield’s next trip with a triple to give them a 3-2 lead. Sensational sophomore prospect Jayden Johnson fired right back with a three of his own and also added a two pointer to give EHS a 7-5 lead with 5:00 to play in the opening stanza. Johnson sunk a trio of free throws to give the Minutemen a 10-5 lead but Rashawn Williams responded for Plainfield. Torres squared up from deep to give EHS a 13-9 lead with 2:30 to play in the first. The first quarter ended with a flurry for Elizabeth as Johnson hit a pair of triples and 6'6" junior Quinton Afflick-Cummings got a layup to give EHS a 20-13 lead after 1.

Johnson opened the second with a three and Elizabeth kept on churning,taking a 25-13 lead just a minute into the second.  Elizabeth maintained a strong hold on the game as the quarter hit its midway point and were leading 25-19 as the second made its turn. Plainfield's top prospect, Micah Gordon and Elizabeth senior guard Siraj Abdellah traded baskets, keeping it a 6 point game in favor of the Minutemen at 27-21 with under three to go in the half. Johnson continued his torrid play, hitting another three pointer right before the buzzer, sending EHS to the lockers with the lead.

Luis Cuero started the scoring in the second half for Elizabeth with a layup, however Gordon fired his way into double digits with  a three on the first Cardinals possession. After a Gordon layup the game was cut to a one poesssion contest at 35-32 EHS, early in the third. After a series of sloppy plays from both teams(We don’t mince words here! It got a liittle messy for a spell!)—Plainfield was able to tie the contest at 35 as the quarter hit the halfway point. Torres restored the lead on a layup and then Johnson, having a fantastic night, hit a three to restore the five point lead at 40-35 with 2:40 to play in the third. Plainfield tore off a run and took the lead at 44-42 with 49.1 to go in the quarter, flipping the game on its head.

The fourth quarter was a chaotic affair with the teams trading the lead throughout. The Elizabeth charge in the final five minutes on both ends was led by Torres, who scored a number of key baskets and was strong on the defensive glass. Plainfield had to alter their style slightly when Gordon picked up his fourth foul with 3:45 to go and had to ride about 90 seconds without him, which was when Elizabeth made their move—They got help off the bench as Jeremiah Adams got two baskets for the Minutemen, giving them a two possession lead that they would not relinquish after JoJo Torres had a big bucket and foul.

Torres sealed the game on the foul line in the final minute to give EHS the slimmest of victories, 59-57.

GSBR Player Of The Game

JoJo Torres, Elizabeth

Sophomore guard Jayden Johnson was absolutely lights out, going off for 24 points in a spectacular performance to keep Elizabeth in the lead for almost the entire contest, but it was the 6'5" senior who stepped up in the prime time moments of the fourth quarter offensively and defensively to seal the win.