Yes, Trenton and Shabazz are both mainly known for their girls’ teams, but their boys’ squads aren’t too shabby either. It’s Trenton versus Newark in this Garden State public school matchup. Last night Trenton Central won on a buzzer beater by Bruce Brittingham ’11 against Notre Dame (NJ). In Shabazz’s early game today, the team was blown out by Windsor (CT). Let’s see how this one is playing out, as the game is already well underway because the other gym where the Hightstown/Ridge game was ran late. I apologize again, as I only have numbers in the scorebook.

5:16pm- Trenton Central is up 20-16 after 15 minutes of play. Darren Elam ’09 just scored off a pretty pass from #1. Elam is already filling the stat sheet, as he has nine points so far including 3/5 shooting at the stripe.

5:18pm- Eric Fanning ’11, who was great at the line last night in the team’s win, just missed two shots from the stripe with about four minutes to play.

5:19pm- #11 on Shabazz scored on an inbounds pass to cut the deficit to two points. He then blocked Fanning at the other end. After the block, Shabazz came down and scored a bucket to tie it up at 20.

5:20pm- Shabazz’s #14 grabbed an offensive rebound and got fouled with 58.5 seconds left going up with the ball. He then missed both free throws, leaving the score at 20 apiece.

5:22pm- #24 on Shabazz dribbled down the floor and drove to the rack, getting fouled with 28 seconds to play in the first half. He made both free throws, putting his squad up by two on a 6-0 run.

5:23pm- TCHS turned the ball over with about 13 ticks left in the half. Shabazz was unable to take advantage of the opportunity though, so it’s 22-20 in favor of Shabazz as we head to halftime.

5:25pm- Shabazz has had very balanced scoring in the first half. #24, #14, and #35 are their top scorers with four points each. Darren Elam is pacing Trenton Central with nine points.

5:26pm- Shabazz got on the board in under 15 seconds, as #31 drained a triple, extending the lead to five points, 25-20, and continuing the squad’s run, which is now at 9-0.

5:29pm- TCHS scored its first points of the half off a wide-open layup on fast break by #4 after receiving a pass from a teammate who got a steal.

5:30pm- Being outscored 7-2 this half, Trenton just took a timeout with 16:34 to play. Shabazz is on a 13-2 run.

5:31pm- Darren Elam banked in a fadeaway jumper and then Shabazz answered. Elam banked one off the glass the next time down the floor too.

5:32pm- Elam and #32 are taking over for TCHS right now and have teamed to cut the lead down to one-point.

5:33pm- Shabazz scored on a jam from #11, not letting TCHS take all the momentum.

5:34pm- With about 12:30 left, Trenton Central has taken the lead off a basket by Elam. It’s 38-37 Tornadoes right now after a 16-9 run.

5:36pm- #11 scored three points the old-fashioned way, putting his Shabazz squad up by two, 40-38.

5:37pm- A deuce from TCHS has tied it up at 40.

5:38pm- #32 of Trenton Central was fouled and hit the first of a pair from the stripe, putting the Tornadoes up 41-40 with 9:15 left.

5:39pm- #6 of TCHS blocked #20 as he drove to the rack.

5:40pm- #9 took a long pass while in the air and laid it in while still up above ground, putting TCHS ahead by three. Shabazz answered with a deuce to drop the deficit back down to one, 43-42.

5:41pm- After the two teams traded buckets and Shabazz called a timeout, we have a little break. Trenton Central is leading 45-44 with 5:35 to play.

5:43pm- Bruce Brittingham scored for TCHS and then #24 scored for Shabazz. The basket trading is continuing, as each team scored again after that, making it 49-48 Trenton Central.

5:44pm- A dunk from Darren Elam has put the Tornadoes out in front by three, 51-48, with four minutes left.

5:45pm- #20 of Shabazz got the ball and slowed up as he ran the fast break. #9 from TCHS hustled back and went for a block, but fouled #20 instead, and he missed the shot. He then hit the second of two free throws. #9’s hustle saved his squad a point. Nice play!

5:46pm- Trenton Central and Shabazz exchanged buckets, and then Elam scored for TCHS, putting his quad up by four, 55-51, with about 1:20 left.

5:47pm- #24 from Shabazz scored a basket and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but a violation was called on TCHS. #24 took advantage and hit his second attempt, cutting the lead to one, 55-54, with one minute left.

5:48pm- Trenton turned the ball over on offense, and then Shabazz scored. Bruce Brittingham answered for TCHS with a jumper.

5:49pm- Shabazz then scored at the other end to re-take the lead, 58-57.

5:50pm- #32 missed a triple for Trenton Central. A TCHS player was fouled going for the rebounds. The Tornadoes then called timeout. After the break they will have the ball under the Shabazz basket. Could there be some more late game magic from the squad from Trenton? I guess we’ll have to wait, as the team called another timeout.

5:51pm- Elam inbounded the ball to #9, who drove to the cup and lost control of the ball. Shabazz got the ball, and #9 fouled with 0.2 left. The inbounds pass has ended the game.

5:53pm- Shabazz has taken a 58-57 hard fought win.

Darrin Elam led the Tornadoes with 25 points, 16 of which came in the second half. The rising senior was the game’s top scorer, ahead of #11 from Shabazz who scored 15 points, with 13 coming in the final 20 minutes of action. #24 added 11 points for Shabazz. Darrin Elam of TCHS and #24 of Shabazz are Northstar Basketball’s MVP award winners.