Newark Public Schools Tournament, Final Round - Boys Basketball

If Stephen McNair and his Newark East Side teammates needed any motivation during the Newark Public Schools Tournament, all they would have to do is think back to a year earlier.

A year removed from being upset in the semifinals, the crown of best in Newark returns to East Side as it defeated Newark Central, 58-41, in the Newark Public Schools Tournament final yesterday at Essex County College in Newark.

The win marked the third title in four seasons for East Side (7-0), ranked No. 15 in The Star-Ledger Top 20.

"Last year we didn’t live up to expectations," McNair said. "So this year, we knew we had to come out and we had to show that we’re the best team in Newark and that we can compete with any team in the state."

Ismael Sanogo, who was named the tournament’s MVP, admitted that East Side was looking to erase the memory of how its tournament run ended last season.

"We came in with a grudge, we played angry," Sanogo said . "All throughout the tournament, we played angry. That drove everything. That empowered us to play harder. It meant everything to us."

That anger was channeled to yesterday’s final in swift fashion. McNair gave East Side a 10-0 lead on a 3-pointer with 3:52 left in the first quarter.

Keywon Savage got Central (5-3) on the board with a 3-pointer, but East Side responded with eight unanswered points and never looked back.

Six different players scored as it took a 37-14 lead into the intermission.

"I feel like everybody’s scoring," forward Abdul Lewis said. "We’re very well balanced so it’s hard to stop us."

Sanogo, who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, gave East Side its biggest lead of the day with a put-back to make it 46-16 midway through the third quarter. McNair and William Joyce added 10 points apiece.

Lewis added 14 rebounds and six points as he, along with Sanogo and Joyce, controlled the glass and allowed McNair, Jamar Gilbert, Ahmad Harrison and Rashan Lynn to be aggressive on the perimeter.

"It’s very important for us to be aggressive on the perimeter so we can force their guards to turn the ball over," McNair said. "We also know that we have Ismael Sanogo, Abdul Lewis and Will Joyce to block shots and get the ball in transition."

Nasir Farmer led Central with 18 points. Savage added eight points and seven rebounds.