#10 Immaculate Wins Instant Classic Over East Orange

One of the most unique gyms in the state can be found at Immaculate Conception in Montclair. A throwback to days gone by. A bandbox of a gym with no backcourt rules, a helter-skelter pace and no room to operate. One of the biggest homecourt advantages around. IC is comfortable playing in their friendly confines—the big question—Could East Orange solve the puzzle in the JD Core Training North Jersey Game Of The Day?

The game began with a host of turnovers as the teams were trying to feel each other out. IC opened the scoring with a foul line jumper a minute in and Eugene Byass leveled the game a possession later with two free throws. Fueled by a Kole Grandison three, IC jumped out to an 8-2 lead. EO battled back and behind some balanced scoring, took at 9-8 lead late in the first. Grandison hit two triples in two trips to give IC a 14-9 lead. The 6’6” sophomore was unconscious in the opening quarter, outscoring EO by himself, with 13 points. IC led 18-12 after one.

Grandison wasted no time getting moving in the second, putting down a thunderous dunk, pushing him to 15 points on the afternoon with just under a minute played in the second quarter. A one man show through the first half, Grandison single handled put IC on his shoulders offensively in the first two quarters and also found the energy to grab half a dozen rebounds as well. EO kept themselves within punching distance behind balanced scoring, good ball movement. Grandison had to leave the game briefly after another thunderous dunk—not because of fatigue—but because he cut his finger on the rim. EO made a run with him on the bench to tie the game at 25 with 2:38 to go in the half.

Carlyle Adams and Ryan English powered EO’s run towards the end of the first half. Byass clipped a layup +1 to put them ahead and the teams traded 3 pointers in the final 20 seconds to go to the lockers at 34. Grandison led all scorers with an eye popping 19 in the opening half.

The heavyweight slugfest between the Essex County contenders continued through the third, with IC taking a 43-41 lead after a tough finish by Grandison, pushing him to 23 on the game. The lead would see-saw throughout the quarter. Adams got fouled late in the third on a triple attempt and hit 2 of 3 to give EOC a 54-53 lead with 33 seconds left in the quarter. Jaren Barnett got a bucket and foul to end the quarter, but missed the free throw, giving Immaculate Conception a 55-54 lead after the third.

EOC took the lead, 59-57, early in the fourth quarter after a three pointer from the corner by Adams. IC switched defensive assignments and looks in the fourth, which gave EO trouble, but the Jaguars trailed only by a pair of Grandison free throws with four minutes to go, 61-59. A barnett floater doubled the lead but Gavin Jones cut the lead back to a point, 63-62 a possession later. After an IC layup, Byass weaved his way through the Lions zone to bring it back to 65-64, prompting IC coach Jimmy Salmon to call a timeout and settle his team.

After a Mal Arrington bucket and foul, the Jaguars ran a patient set and one of their reliable seniors, Barkley hit a 3 to put EO in the lead 69-68. With the game tied at 69 with under a minute to go, it was Grandison time once again, and he finished through contact to give Immaculate the lead for good at 71-69. Barnett would finish the game with a bucket and free throw to seal a hard fought 74-69 victory for the Lions.

The win was a huge result for Immaculate Conception against a very, very good East Orange team that can expect to find a spot in the ReportIt Top 25 on Sunday, even with today's tight loss.

Case Agency Player Of The Game

Kole Grandison, Immaculate Conception

A prime time performance from a prime-time prospect. Grandison was unconscious in the first half and finished with 29. He was also a force on the boards, grabbing eight. A high major prospect with a grown man's body who will be among the elite in the Northeast by his senior year.

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