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St. Benedict's junior forward Daniel Hinkov (13) goes up strong as teammate Terrance Jamison (24) looks on and head coach Chris Simpson confers with his prize freshman MJ Postell (1) as Gray Bees remain title threat in 79th ECT. (Photos by Jeff Stiefbold) (continued from page 1) Martinez scored 17 points, while Postell had 15, Jamison 14 and Hinkov, 9, as the Gray Bees held off a late rally by SHP in this past Tuesday’s big SEC showdown which was the second meeting between the two American Division powers this season. The Pirates defeated St. Benedict’s 65-55, back on Jan. 6, in West Orange. In the latest meeting between the two, the Gray Bees jumped out to a 30-23 halftime lead and led by 11 entering the fourth quarter before SHP mounted a comeback and but the lead to 55-52 with 1:33 left as senior forward Alex Ante (13 points, 15 rebounds) connected on a pair of free throws. Postell’s floater with 45 seconds left in addition to Naziel Hilario converting one of two free throws made it a six-game lead again with 33 seconds remaining before SHP’s Infinite Sincere-Amen Ra sank a 3-pointer to cut the lead to three one more time before Jamison hit a slam dunk to seal the deal. St. Benedict’s returned as members of the NJSIAA in the 2023-2024 season for the first time in 32 years and finished 22-7 while dominating the field to win the ECT title, defeating SHP, 64-36, in the semifinals, and Montclair Immaculate, 64-36, in the championship game behind 20 points from then sophomore Chidi Nwigwe, who was Sideline Chatter’s Essex County Player of the Year that season before he transferred to an out-of-state school. The Gray Bees slumped to 15-14 last season, also under coach Mark Taylor, losing in the ECT semis to SHP, 70-66, and then falling to Hudson Catholic, 68-60, in the NJSIAA Non-Public, North A state sectional quarterfinals. Jamison, Martinez and 6-5 junior forward Gilbert Baez are the only players who appeared in that season-ending state game who are still on the St. Benedict’s roster this 2025-2026 campaign. Essex County Tournament quarterfinals, Saturday, Feb. 7: Semifinals, Saturday, Feb. 14, at West Orange and final, Saturday, Feb. 21, also at West Orange. Follow Sideline Chatter on 'X' @Chattermeister
Chris Simpson has enjoyed coaching St. Benedict's in first season back on campus after working in the college ranks. Among his top players are, from left, Terrance Jamison (24), Jack Martinez (3) and Daniel Hinkov (13). (SC photo and also by Jeff Stiefbold)
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