Strong Third Quarter Start Propels Eagles Past Panthers
EDISON, NJ–After an inspiring, come from behind win in overtime by the Edison JV squad, the crowd at EHS was already whipped into a frenzy for the varsity matinee contest against Perth Amboy two days before Christmas. Â Both the Eagles and Perth Amboy were coming off opening night wins, and trying to improve to 2-0 for the first time in several years. Â It was a recipe for a good game. Â It was Edison though that came up the victor as it put together a pivotal run early in the second half, and then held off a late rally by Amboy to win, 65-61.
In a game that saw neither team lead by more than 11 points, the first half of the third quarter proved to be the difference as Edison scored 13 of the first 17 points to turn a 27-25 halftime advantage into a 40-29 cushion midway through the third, and never relinquished the lead en route to the four point victory. Â Both teams outscored one another in two of the four quartes, but EHS outscored Amboy by a margin of the 39-29 during the middle two quarters, and PAHS couldn’t overcome that. Â The Eagles got solid performances from a trio of players including Dennis Amuzu, who had a game high 16 points in the contest. Â Amuzu, a senior guard, scored 13 of his points in the second half including a key three pointer for an Edison 54-45 lead with 4:38 left.
Trayvon Washington chipped in with 15 points including 9 in the second half while pulling down 9 rebounds. Â Devon Johnson, a senior forward, scored 15 points including 12 in the first half. Â Johnson made it a habit in getting to the line as he made 7 of 11 from the charity stripe for the game including 6 of 9 in the first two periods. Â Johnson also pulled down 7 boards for the Eagles, and helped EHS not let Amboy get too far ahead in the first period. Â After Edison opened the game with a 4-0 lead that included a basket by Johnson, the Panthers scored 7 straight points sparked by a three by junior guard, Marquis Irizarry, who had a game high 18 points. Â Johnson made two free throws while Amuzu scored a bucket to key a 6-4 run over the final 2:50 that closed the gap to 11-10 in favor of Amboy at the end of the first.
The second period began with the Panthers putting together an 8-4 run that increased their advantage to 19-14. Â However, the Eagles scored six straight points to go up 20-19, and force Perth Amboy to call a timeout with 3:47 left in the first half. Â Edison then scored 7 of the next 10 points to go up by five in the waning moments of the half before Irizarry put on a little magic by banking in a double clutch jumper from just beyond the top of the key to pull the Panthers to within two at 27-25 going into the intermission. Â Edison closed the half with a 13-6 spurt. Â The third period opened ominously for Amboy as the Eagles got two quick scores off turnovers to take a 31-25 lead just 30 seconds into the second half.
Following an Amboy timeout, Edison continued to pour it on with threes from Amuzu and Raekwon Ross to build up a 40-29 advantage.  The senior backcourt duo combined for 14 points in the frame with Amuzu scoring 9.  Amboy would get going again with an 11-9 finish to the period as Chris Morillo, who scored all 13 of his points in the second half including 9 of 11 from the foul line, scored 6 points and Irizarry added 4 including another three pointer to help narrow the deficit to 49-40 heading into the fourth.  Morillo picked up where he left off in the third by adding several more free throws to close the gap further to six at 49-43 with 6:39 remaining in the contest.  Edison pushed its edge back up to nine  at 54-45 though by scoring 5 of the next 7 points including an Amuzu three before Amboy called for time with 4:38 left.
Edison still led by eight at 59-51 with 2:25 left before the Panthers mounted a last minute rally with 8 of the next 13 points including a steal for a layup with 30 seconds left to make the score 64-59. Â However, there was not enough time for Perth Amboy as it couldn’t get any closer than four the rest of the way, and Edison came away with the win. Â Amuzu ended up with 6 field goals including two threes. Â Washington had 6 field goals and 3 foul shots for his 15. Â Irizarry got his game high 18 on five field goals including three treys. Â Both teams scored 9 points from beyond the arc, and Perth Amboy outscored Edison by a 20-12 margin from the foul line, but the Eagles had a 22-16 edge in two point field goals. Â Eight different players scored for Amboy while 7 scored for Edison.
The Eagles improved to 2-0 overall, and in conference play, and will play in the Gene Haley Memorial Tournament starting on Friday. Â Amboy fell to 1-1 with the loss, and will play next in the Anthony J. Cotoia Holiday Tournament at South Plainfield on Friday against J.P. Stevens.