Bloomfield Advances in State Tournament

The Bloomfield Bengals (20-6) were in full control Tuesday night as they routed West Orange (10-17) 63-40 in the first round of the NJSIAA North 1, Group 4 State Tournament.  The only time the Mountaineers were in striking distance of the Bengals was when the game was 4-2 and 7:02 was left in the first period of play. Bloomfield never looked back and went on an 8-0 run to increase the lead to 12-2. 

Balanced scoring and great 3-point shooting were Bloomfield’s keys to victory. The Bengals had four of their five starters score in double figures.

Jameel Patterson led all scorers with 19 points and was 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Overall, Bloomfield was 7-of-10 in the first half from long distance and carried a commanding 37-15 lead into halftime.

Fellow guards, Isaiah Dockett and Jaleel Jimenez, scored eight of their ten points in the second half.

Bloomfield’s full-court and half-court presses forced West Orange to commit 14 first half turnovers and 11 in the third and fourth quarters.

Bloomfield forward Amid Henderson recorded his first double-double of the season finishing with 15 points and ten rebounds.  Henderson recorded four offensive rebounds, all coming in the third quarter, and eight rebounds in the second half.

Isaiah Scott paced West Orange with 11 points.

Bloomfield will face Wayne Valley on Thursday at 7:00 in Bloomfield.