Pirates look to repeat after claiming 2025 title as No. 1 seed
Seton Hall Prep celebrates winning the 2025 Essex County Championship game between Payne Tech and Seton Hall Prep at Essex County College in Newark, NJ on Saturday, February 22, 2025.After a rough last week with back-to-back losses to unranked Arts and third-ranked St.
Peter’s Prep, 16th-ranked Seton Hall was able to start this new week on a brighter note. The Pirates will defend their 2025 Essex County Tournament title as the No. 1 seed for the second straight year and 22nd time in the history of this 79-year-old tournament.Seton Hall came in ahead of No. 2 seed St. Benedict’s Prep, No. 3 Arts, No. 4 and 15th-ranked Shabazz, No. 5 East Orange, No. 6 Collegiate, No. 7 Newark Tech and No. 8 Payne Tech. All eight earn first-round byes and will play on Saturday winners of the preliminary games to be contested by Thursday. That round and the Feb. 7 quarterfinal round will take place at the courts of the higher seeds. The semifinals will be conducted as a doubleheader Feb. 14 at West Orange, and the championship will played ay Wes Orange Feb. 21. For the second year, an attendant Essex Invitational will be held for the 16 teams not selected for the 24-team main ECT bracket. Preliminary round play is Friday, and those eight winners will take on the losers of the ECT in the Feb. 2 first round. Seton Hall Prep snared its record 20th ECT title last year with a 65-61 triumph over Payne Tech. The Pirates were led by current senior standout Anthony Gonzalez with 20 points, 2025 graduate Dylan Guzzardo with 15, and current senior forward Alex Ante with 12 points and 11 rebounds.17-Glen Ridge at 16-West Side; winner at 1-Seton Hall Prep21-West Essex at 12-Bloomfield; winner at 5-East Orange22-Orange at 11-Coilumbia; winner at 6-Collegiate18-North Star at 15-University; winner at 2-St. Benedict’s40-Technology at 25-Nutley; winner vs. TBD36-Barringer at 29-Verona; winner vs. TBD38-Newark Lab at 27-West Caldwell; winner vs. TBD34-Cedar Grove at 31-MKA at 31-Newark Academy; winner vs. TBD I have been covering N.J. high school sports full time since 1982; most of that time with The Star-Ledger/NJ.com. I have covered many who've gone on to have celebrated professional careers and more who never...
Boys-Basketball Section:/Highschoolsports
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Times' top 25 high school basketball rankingsA look at the top 25 high school boys' basketball teams in the Southland this week.
Read more »
Prep talk: Harvey Kitani gets historic 1,000th career victoryRolling Hills Prep boys' basketball coach Harvey Kitani picks up win 1,000th
Read more »
LA Daily News boys basketball Top 15 rankings, Jan. 26Sierra Canyon stays unbeaten in Mission League play and could lock up the No. 1 seed in the league tournament with a win over Chaminade Tuesday.
Read more »
Betr Picks Promo COVERSBONUS: Claim $210 Bonus for Louis vs. Duke, College Basketball PicksClaim your Betr Picks promo code offer for Louisville vs Duke on Monday. Get $10 on sign-up plus 50% deposit match up to $200 with code COVERSBONUS.
Read more »
Boys Basketball Top 20, Jan.27: Top 3 hold ground, but unsettled earth elsewhereTop 2 stay put after surviving scares & a team ranked in the preseason welcomed back to the club
Read more »
Boys Basketball: Results, recaps and photos for Tuesday, Jan. 27Statewide scores and schedules, organized by conference, for every N.J. boys basketball game on 1/27/26
Read more »