Statewide pundits will generally only point to teams in the Super Essex Conference’s top division, the American, and that’s understandable, what with a Seton Hall Prep squad that is on the rise under second-year coach Sterling Gibbs, and a St. Benedict’s squad which has shown the ability to basically fully remake its rotation in each of its first three seasons since returning as members of the NJSIAA.
The SEC’s second of six divisions, the Liberty, has history-laden Newark public schools such as East Side, West Side and Central, in addition to others including a strong Newark Collegiate squad and a solid Caldwell team which made the move up a division this season; however, the continued growth and appeal of various charter schools - and more basketball athletes choosing to attend them - in addition to the continued lure of certain magnet programs such as Arts – has seen the tradition-laden Brick City publics struggling more these days in terms of producing the type of roster which was highly-competitive just three or four years ago.
Enter the SEC’s third division, the Colonial, which is arguably stronger than the Liberty this season with a number of its members boasting solid squads this winter, including Millburn, Montclair, Bloomfield and Livingston.
“The Colonial is a very good division with some really talented and well-prepared teams,” said Millburn eighth-year coach Pat Leonardis, whose Millers are off to a splendid start, including recently capturing the Pete Tierney Memorial Holiday Classic title at Summit with wins over the host Hilltoppers and Watchung Hills in the final. “We never look past anybody on our schedule and that is certainly the case in our division where you can get picked off against anyone we’re facing if you’re not playing at a high level that day.”
Millburn (6-0, 1-0) has one of the better guard tandems in Essex County in 6-foot-1 senior Chase Plotkin and 6-2 junior Chace Redler, either of whom can burn an opponent with their accurate perimeter game or strong drives to the basket.
In an early-season 75-55 win vs. Bloomfield (6-1, 1-1), Plotkin poured in a game-high 25 points, while also eclipsing the 1,000-point career plateau, as the Millers took off in the fourth quarter with a 25-8 burst to put the Bengals away.
Bloomfield has their own talented backcourt duos in juniors AJ Cruz and Sean Perrotta, who are key returnees from a 16-12 squad that was 5-5 in the SEC-Colonial.
Montclair (6-1, 1-0) has an impressive early-season 76-55 triumph vs. Irvington and has received strong performances from senior guards Mason Determann and La’Mear Singletary. The 6-4 Determann has emerged as a college prospect with immense development in all facets of his game.
Livingston (4-1, 1-0) is another Colonial Division team to watch and will hope to factor in along with Bloomfield and Montclair in what is usually a wide-open North 1, Group 4 state tournament section come late February.
The Lancers captured the Essex County Invitational Tournament championship last season in the first year that event was held in addition to the regular ECT and return top veterans including junior Sage Kornreich and Daniel Gbadamosi.
Irvington (1-4, 0-1) is off to a slow start; however, the undersized Blue Knights have their own dynamic backcourt tandem in seniors Jazmir Taylor and Jayden Bermudez.
Only Orange (0-5, 0-2) has been struggling so far in what looks to be a daily grind for anyone in the Colonial Division, especially when a team hits the road.
