By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
Day two at the Tip-Off Classic once again displayed some of the best teams and most talented individuals in the metro area.
The day kicked off early Sunday, when St. Joe's (Montvale) upended Elizabeth, 69-56. Noruwa Agho received player of the game honors for St. Joseph, leading the way with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Marc Mandara chipped in 14 in the winning effort.
Jim Frazier, with 12 points, received player of the game honors for Elizabeth.
The second game of the day pitted defending Tournament of Champions winner St. Patrick against Atlantic City.
Behind the superb play of Corey Fisher and Jeff Robinson, the two senior leaders on an otherwise young St. Pat's squad, the Celtics won easily, 64-42.
Fisher had 16 points while dishing out 11 assists. His quickness and slashing ability were apparent throughout the contest, as well as his knack for knocking down long three-pointers. Robinson, headed to Memphis next season, solidified his reputation as one of the more exciting players in the state, with several thunderous dunks.
Sophomore Dexter Strickland, widely regarded as one of the top sophomores in the country, also made solid contributions for St. Pat's, displaying fine athleticism and ball handling.
Atlantic City, who last year made an appearance in the Group 4 final, was led by senior power forward Darnell Davis' 14 points.
In the third game, Dan Hurley's St. Benedict's squad shut down Newark Eastside, 68-43.
Newark Eastside kept it close for much of the game. Trailing by only seven at halftime, Eastside pulled within three points early in the third quarter.
In the end, St. Benedict's was too deep and too strong. Samardo Samuels, a 6-9 junior, dominated down low, scoring 17 points, including several highlight reel dunks. Corey Stokes, who is heading to Villanova next year, quietly amassed 16 points. Standout sophomore Tamir Jackson added 11.
Senior Corey Chandler had 15 points for Eastside. The senior played hounding defense and was versatile on offense. He will stay in New Jersey to play at Rutgers next season.
The fourth game saw American Christian down the Hun School, 71-54, behind the second-half performance of standout junior Tyreke Evans.
Evans, who missed the first half due to a late arrival, dropped 17 points coming off the bench in the third quarter. The 6-5 guard nailed his first three shots - all three pointers - as American Christian came back from a 12-point half time deficit to outscore the Hun School 31-9 in the third quarter.
Not to be overshadowed by Evans' performance, senior Mike Glover had 19 points and 15 rebounds for American Christian. The Seton Hall-bound forward was given player of the game honors.
In the final game of the weekend, Bob Farrell's Seton Hall Prep squad downed Columbia, 53-38.
Junior point guard Ashton Gibbs led the way with 20 points.
Although close early on, Seton Hall Prep outscored Columbia 19-7in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
As a whole, the Tip-Off Classic provided NJ fans with a two-day glimpse of some of the top teams and players not only in the state, but in the entire country. It is certainly a testament to the breadth of hoop talent in the Garden State.