West Orange (22-3) and Arts (19-4) were bogged down in a low-scoring, sluggish contest for the first two quarters of Saturday’s second ECT semifinal as the Newark school jumped out an 8-0 lead and then led 18-11 at the half, and it wasn’t until senior London Caldwell’s jump shot with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter that the Mountaineers had their first lead, 22-20.

West Orange maintained a narrow advantage throughout the final minutes behind standout junior guard Rhyan Watt who scored all 15 of her points in the second half, including 8 in the pivotal fourth quarter when she was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line in the game’s final 32 seconds and gave the Mountaineers a 37-31 lead with 11.5 seconds remaining.

“When we’re down like we were today we know that we always have the ability to bring the energy needed to get defensive stops and rebound like we’re capable of,” said Watt, who also had 7 rebounds. “In a low scoring game like this one that’s usually what it takes to win.

“A lot of our girls went through this last year, we know this court which also helps, and now we’re going back to the final where we’re looking to repeat.”

NOTES- University’s Edwards only recently became eligible to play following a mandatory sit-out period after an in-season transfer from Hudson Catholic; however, being that she transferred after the start of the season she is ineligible for the upcoming Group 1 state tournament with the Phoenix. Her first game with University came in a 45-40 loss vs. West Orange on Feb. 5…Arts was led by sophomore Harmony Burgess who led her team with 15 points. The Jaguars’ outstanding senior point guard Nilah Rivera (9 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals) fouled out with 14 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter….Three former Immaculate Conception teammates, West Orange’s Caldwell and Arts’ Rivera and senior Niaja Troutman, were on the court in Saturday’s second semifinal. They helped lead the Lions to the Non-Public B state championship in the final year of the 100-year-old Montclair Catholic school which closed its doors for good this past June due to financial troubles.
      
Essex County Tournament semifinals:
(4) University (17-7)     16    11   10   11   -48
(1) Caldwell (19-2)        10     8     13  15   -46

University: Arielle Edwards 7-0-1-15 Carryn Grand-Pierre 0-2-7-13, Briana Holt 4-0-1-9 Shanaa Manning-Cook 0-0-0-0, Danasia Downer 0-0-0-0, Skyler Clark 2-1-2-9, Taylor LaRue 0-0-0-0, Ke’Asia Johnson 0-0-0-0, Totals: 14--3-11-48

Caldwell: Addy Keenan 1-1-3-8, Fallon Fiore 2-0-2-6, Tea Fiore 5-0-1-11, Elena Kearny 4-2-1-15, Kaci Pace 0-0-0-0, Aaliyah Rodriguez 2-0-0-4, Adriana Brown 1-0-0-2. Totals 15-3-7-46

ECT Semifinal Game 2:
(3) Arts (19-4)                    10      8      6      9      -33
(2) West Orange (22-3)      6      5     15    12     -38

Arts: Nilah Rivera 2-1-2-9, Niaja Troutman 1-0-1-3, Harmony Burgess 6-0-4-16, Iyanah Lafontant 1-0-0-2, Nicole Bogan 0-0-0-0, Morgan Hair 0-0-1-1, Makayla Allen 1-0-0-2. Totals: 11-1-8-33

West Orange: Rhyan Watt 4-1-4-15, Kennedy Curry 0-0-0-0, Taraji Muhammad 1-0-2-4, London Caldwell 6-0-0-12, Jordyn Batts 1-0-3-5, Eliana Dennis 0-0-0-0, Lynn Charles 0-0-0-0, Tyonnah Barnes 1-0-0-2. Totals: 13-1-9-38 

The 50 ECT Girls Finals Year By Year:
2025: West Orange 43 Immaculate 41
2024: Immaculate 75 University 65
2023: Immaculate 60 University 54
2022: Immaculate 67 University 59
2021: no tourney due to covid-19
2020: University 61 Immaculate 34
2019: West Orange 36 Immaculate 25
2018: Newark Tech 71 University 62
2017: Newark Tech 55 West Orange 53 (in OT)
2016: East Orange Campus 42 Newark Tech 40
2015: East Orange Campus 51 Montclair 32
2014: Shabazz 54 Montclair 51
2013: Shabazz 61 East Orange Campus 46
2012: Shabazz 59 Montclair 33
2011: Shabazz 61 University 58
2010: Shabazz 67 Columbia 57
2009: Shabazz 61 University 50
2008: University 65 Shabazz 51
2007: Shabazz 64 University 58
2006: Shabazz 71 Bloomfield Tech 60
2005: Shabazz 70 Bloomfield Tech 55
2004: Shabazz 72 Orange 45
2003: Shabazz 81 East Orange Campus 45
2002: Shabazz 82 East Orange 31
2001: Columbia 59 Shabazz 55
2000: Bloomfield 41 West Side 26
1999: Columbia 57 Orange 45
1998: Columbia 64 Clifford Scott 52
1997: Bloomfield 53 Shabazz 47
1996: Columbia 49 Bloomfield 41
1995: Mount St. Dominic 57 Bloomfield 45
1994: Clifford Scott 59 Mount St. Dominic 53 (OT)
1993: Clifford Scott 46 Livingston 37
1992: Clifford Scott 55 West Side 36
1991: Shabazz 52 Clifford Scott 51
1990: Immaculate 51 University 48
1989: Bloomfield 58 Immaculate 46
1988: Bloomfield 65 University 50
1987: University 71 Shabazz 42
1986: Irvington 57 East Orange 50
1985: Shabazz 58 Irvington 57
1984: Shabazz 51 Belleville 46
1983: Shabazz 62 Clifford Scott 60
1982: Shabazz 61Clifford Scott 55
1981: Clifford Scott 51 East Orange 49
1980: East Orange 53 Barringer 45
1979: Columbia 38 Barringer 37
1978: Columbia 73 Glen Ridge 24
1977: Nutley 56 Columbia 34
1976: Nutley 55 Columbia 33
1975: West Side 55 West Essex 48

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