Jaden Then recorded a double-double with 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to lead West Orange to a 64-53 victory over Science Park in Newark.
The win marks the third consecutive victory for West Orange (13-10), which took control early with a dominant 23-14 first quarter and maintained its advantage throughout the contest.
Max Bleecker contributed 14 points for West Orange, including a perfect 10-of-12 performance from the free-throw line. Joe Bruno added 10 points, including two 3-pointers, while Justice Nuguid chipped in 8 points along with a team-high 4 assists and 3 steals.
Science Park (6-15) tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, outscoring West Orange 15-11, but couldn’t overcome the deficit established in the earlier periods.
West Orange displayed strong ball movement with 18 assists as a team, with JeCarl Riggins dishing out 5 assists to complement Then’s all-around performance. The team also recorded 12 steals and 5 blocks in a solid defensive effort.
The Mountain Lions held a 53-38 advantage heading into the final quarter after outscoring Science Park in each of the first three periods.
West Orange travels to face Glen Ridge at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14 for the semifinal round of the Essex County Invitational. Science Park travels to face West Side at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 11.