City of Light Trophy Game

J.P. Stevens

vs.

Edison

City of Light Trophy Game Venues

VenueAddressMap (Click for larger view.)
Frank Cangelosi Gym @ Edison HS50 Boulevard of the Eagles
Edison, NJ 08817
J.P. Stevens HS Gym855 Grove Ave
Edison, NJ 08820

City of Light Trophy Game History

Series now tied (3-3).  J.P. Stevens has won the last two meetings after defeating Edison (51-35) at Cangelosi Gymnasium on January 9, 2023.

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City of Light Trophy Game Team Stats

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City of Light Trophy Game Score by Quarters

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City of Light Trophy Game Capsules


January 9, 2018—J.P. Stevens 47—Edison 33

It the first ever City of Light Trophy Game, GMC Hoops was in the house at J.P. Stevens in North Edison to see these crosstown rivals in action against each other for the first time ever in the history of the website.

At this point in the season, Edison was struggling. Despite having a talented junior class led by the likes of Christian Wantong, Jaymin Vakharia, Thomas Johnson, and Christian Biolsi, the Eagles entered the game with 6 losses in their first 8 games including a stunning upset at South Plainfield (76-71) just several days earlier.

J.P. Stevens, too, was off to a bit of a shaky start with four losses on its first 6 games, but then defeated Cranford on the road, and turned up the defensive pressure over the first 11 minutes of the second half to turn a 21-20 halftime deficit into a 47-33 victory.

Edison did not have a point in the entire third quarter, and was held without a field goal until Biolsi, a baseball standout at EHS, got a bucket with 5:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Stevens, led by the trio of Tyrese Conover (12 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals), Kasi Hazzard (12 points and 6 rebounds), and Elisha Smith (11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal) would use this win as a springboard for 4 wins in a 5 game stretch.

However, the Eagles would rebound from a 2-7 start with 10 wins over their next 13 games to land the 9th seed in the 2018 GMCT over the likes of Perth Amboy, East Brunswick, and Stevens even though Stevens not only won the head to head match-up, but also defeated GMC White Division winner, Sayreville by double digits. Edison would reach the 2018 GMCT quarterfinals for the first time in 22 years, and battled back from a 15 point third quarter deficit to give eventual champion, St. Joseph’s all it could handle before falling.

Edison finished the season with 13 wins in its last 18 games for a 15-12 overall record. Stevens went 8-9 in its last 17 games to finish the season at 12-13. Both teams also qualified for the state playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round.


2017-18 Edison Roster


2017-18 J.P. Stevens Roster


January 14, 2019—Edison 40—J.P. Stevens 38

Coming off the controversy that ended the 2017-18 season where Edison received a higher seed in the 2018 GMCT despite losing to Stevens earlier that season, the 2018 match-up between these two crosstown rivals was perhaps the most anticipated one in many years. Entering the contest, J.P. Stevens and Edison were ranked in or near the GMC Hoops Top Ten.

Stevens had started the season with seven straight victories including upsets of St. Thomas Aquinas (then Bishop Ahr) and eventual GMCT Champ St. Joseph’s. It was the first time the Hawks had defeated the Falcons since December 2007.

Meanwhile, Edison had begun the season on a bit of a roller coaster with several ups and downs. The Eagles lost their first three games of the 2017-18 season, and five of their first six. EHS would right the ship though by going on a four game winning streak entering the contest. In front of a packed crowd at Cangelosi Gymnasium, the Eagles weathered numerous storms from the Hawks, and eventually came from behind to win its fifth straight game. In a nip and tuck battle that went down to the very end, Edison held a 28-24 lead with 2:01 left in the 3rd after a three from the left corner by Thomas Johnson (11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 assists).

The Hawks battled back with a 14-9 surge over the next 9:38 to take a 38-37 lead. Edison would emerge victorious though as Johnson struck again from beyond the top of the key with a three pointer with 23.3 seconds remaining, and the Eagles prevented the Hawks from scoring as time ran out. Both teams would never really be the same again after the game though.

Stevens, which had dropped its fourth game in five outings would lose another 8 of 11 games and finish just 13-13 while Edison would defeat Sayreville for its sixth straight win, would finish the year with 8 losses in its last 12 games to end up 11-13. Both teams still managed to qualify for the state tournament, but were both knocked out in the first round.


2018-19 Edison Roster


2018-19 J.P. Stevens Roster


January 13, 2020—Edison 50—J.P. Stevens 27

View the YouTube stream of this game courtesy of RD Plex

In the most lopsided game of the series to date, Edison broke away for an 11-11 first quarter tie by outscoring Stevens in each of the final three periods by a combined total of 39-16 for the 50-27 victory in North Edison.

Twelve different players saw action in the game for the Eagles with eight of those players getting into the scorebook. Senior Nasir McLean led all scorers with a game high 12 points along with 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal. Classmate Manny Davila chipped in with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist.

Malachi White also contributed with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists while sophomore Niko Barnes added 7 points, 3 boards, and a block. J.P. Stevens, which had six different players score in the contest, was led by senior Willie Moorer, who had a team high 8 points in defeat. Meanwhile, Junior Nas Majied chipped in with 6 points and 8 rebounds and sophomore Quacier Cuebas added 6 points and 7 boards for the Hawks.

The game reflected the direction that the two programs were going at this point. Edison, which had now won the last two meetings, was on its way to getting a share of its first division title in school history while also reaching a county/conference Final Four for the first time since 1966.

On the other hand, J.P. Stevens, which was decimated by graduation from the year before, was rebuilding again. Edison would finish 19-7 on the season while Stevens ended up at 4-20.


2019-20 Edison Roster


2019-20 J.P. Stevens Roster


March 3, 2021—Edison 49—J.P. Stevens 39

Deciding to opt out of the GMC Pods to play in this annual tradition, both Edison and J.P. Stevens continued their rivalry with a match-up at Cangelosi Gymnasium in the final week of the COVID-19 shortened season.

The Eagles jumped out to a 17-8 first quarter lead, and extended the advantage to double digits at the intermission. Stevens did manage to rally and pull within four at 37-33 in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles finished the game on a 12-6 spurt to wrap up the victory.

Junior Niko Barnes led all scorers with a game high 12 points while also collecting 6 assists and 4 steals. Joseph Greer chipped in with 10 points and 8 rebounds while Adam Schonberger added 9 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 rebounds.

Elisha White also contributed with 8 points and 5 rebounds for the winners while sophomore Jordan Robinson led the Hawks in a losing cause with 11 points. After losing the initial game in January 2018, Edison has won the last three meetings to hold a 3-1 lead in the series. Both teams would finish in the Final 2020-21 GMC Hoops Top Ten.


2020-21 Edison Roster


2020-21 J.P. Stevens Roster


February 25, 2022—J.P. Stevens 47–Edison 42

Orginally scheduled to be played in North Edison on January 29th, the 2022 City of Light Game was postponed to February 25th. Played on the same day of the 2022 GMCT Final, the contest was played early at 4:00 PM.

Trailing 30-16 at the half, the Hawks rallied with a 31-12 surge over the final two periods including a 16-7 showing in the fourth to defeat the Eagles for the first time in four years, 47-42. Junior guard, Aurko Sarkar led the charge for Stevens with a game high 18 points while senior forward, Eli Scott chipped in with 17. Sophomore Elijah Peters added 8.

Senior Niko Barnes led Edison in defeat with a team high 14 points along with 5 rebounds, 2 assists, a block, and a steal. Teammate Brian Hobson chipped in with 13 points and 5 boards while senior forward Elisha White added 9 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.

Edison outscored Stevens by a margin of 28-18 from within the arc, but the Hawks outscored the Eagles by margins of 15-9 from long distance, and 14-5 from the foul line. As a team, Edison also collected 38 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals.

The Eagles finished the season at 19-9 while the Hawks ended the season at 13-11. Both qualified in North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 with Edison reaching the quarterfinals. Barnes became Edison’s all time leading scorer with 1,017 points in a 59-43 loss to Westfield on March 2, 2022.


2021-22 Edison Roster


2021-22 J.P. Stevens Roster


January 9, 2023—J.P. Stevens 51–Edison 35

View the YouTube stream of this game

For the second year in a row, J.P. Stevens defeated its crosstown foe to even the City of Light Trophy Game series at 3-3. The series is dead even with both teams tallying a total of 249 points in the first six years of this series. The victory also marked the first time since the City of Light Trophy Game started that Stevens defeated Edison at Cangleosi Gymnasium.

Edison opened the game with a 14-11 first quarter after a period ending buzzer beater by the Eagles, but Stevens then took over. The Hawks outscored Edison in each of the final three periods including a 17-9 second quarter showing and a 17-7 finish to the game in the fourth for the 16 point victory.

Junior Eli Peters and teammate Anthony Hicks led JPS in victory by sharing the game high of 19 points. Peters made 7 total field goals and 5 of 7 from the foul line while Hicks had 6 total field goals including three treys and was a perfect 4 of 4 from the foul line.

Ermin Kapo and football standout, Ricky Harvey shared team high for Edison with 10 points. Kapo made two total field goals including a three along with 5 of 6 from the foul line. Harvey clicked on four total field goals including two treys.

Stevens has now won 4 out of its last 5 after going through a brutal schedule to start the season while Edison drops to 3-7 overall.


2022-23 Edison Roster


2022-23 J.P. Stevens Roster