By Guy Kipp
Published January 7, 2025 at 5:55 PM

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ – West Essex extended a three-point halftime lead in the third quarter and went on to a 60-47 boys basketball victory over Belleville on Tuesday afternoon.

Therapon Pappatherapontos led three scorers in double figures with 17 points for West Essex (4-4), which led, 27-24, at the half.

The Knights opened the third quarter with a 9-2 spurt to take a 36-26 lead. Max Garcia opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer. Garcia finished with 16 points and three assists.

Connor Cook, who led Belleville (2-6) with 25 points, put back an offensive rebound, and then West Essex scored the next six points. Employing a man-to-man halfcourt trap, the Knights forced several turnovers. Garcia hit a free throw, Gaetano Iavarone hit a 3-pointer and Pappatherapontos drove for a basket to give the Knights a 10-point lead.

Iavarone, who finished with 16 points and two assists, had five points in the third quarter and so did Pappatherapontos. The Knights took a 43-33 lead into the fourth quarter.

West Essex was 22 for 49 from the floor in the game with seven 3-pointers. They were 9 for 14 from the foul line. Belleville was 20 for 42 from the floor, also with seven 3s, but the Bucs did not score from the foul line. They were 0 for 2 at the line.