By Chris Stevens, Editor
Howard High School of Technology’s boys’ basketball team had a slightly deeper roster than Newark High coming into Thursday afternoon’s Flight B matchup, which turned out to be the Wildcats’ savior.
With just six players, the Yellowjackets closed to within a single point (32-31) to start the third quarter, but Howard, led by junior guard De’Mere Hollingsworth and freshman guard R.J. Matthews, closed the game on a 30-10 run to win their long-awaited home opener 62-41, improving to 4-0 on the season.
The Wildcats led 32-22 at the half, but quick buckets from Tivon Woolford, Marquise Warren and Kamau Lately (Newark’s leading scorer with 17 points) pulled the Yellowjackets close to even in the first two minutes of the 3rd quarter.
Howard went on a 15-2 run to close the third behind six points apiece from Hollingsworth and Xavier Richards-Powell. Matthews closed the game out with an 11-point fourth quarter, including a trio of three point shots and a lay-up to push the lead to 21 in the final minutes.
