Newark Academy’s boys basketball team tipped off its new season with the kind of statement win coaches dream about. They steamrolled Franklin School 60–21 in Jersey City.
Behind a swarming defense and a patient, perimeter-oriented offense, the Minutemen controlled the scoreboard from start to finish. They signaled that they might be one of the more disciplined and dangerous prep programs to watch in North Jersey this winter.
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Newark Academy Sets the Tone Early
Opening nights can be sloppy, tentative, and mistake-filled. Newark Academy didn’t let that narrative take hold.
After feeling out Franklin in the opening frame, the Minutemen blew the game open in the second quarter. They turned a modest lead into a halftime stranglehold.
The turning point came in that explosive second period. Newark Academy buried Franklin under a 22–5 run.
By intermission, the scoreboard read 32–11. The outcome was all but decided.
The Minutemen’s poise stood out. They worked for quality looks, communicated on defense, and never rushed the moment—a rare level of composure for a season opener.
Balanced Scoring Fuels the Minutemen
What separated Newark Academy from their opponent wasn’t just effort. It was depth.
Four players reached double figures or came close. That kind of roster balance means they don’t depend on a single star to carry the scoring load.
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Chase Perilman headlined the attack with 14 points, knocking down four three-pointers. He stretched Franklin’s defense beyond the arc.
His shooting opened up driving lanes and forced Franklin to chase. Once Newark Academy’s ball movement kicked into gear, it was a losing proposition for Franklin.
Lachlan Wallace chipped in 10 points, blending slashing drives with mid-range touch. Meanwhile, twin threats Shane and Avery Sampson each added eight points.
They turned offensive rebounds, backdoor cuts, and transition opportunities into steady production. That quartet gave Newark Academy a scoring-by-committee identity that’ll make them tough to game-plan against as the season unfolds.
Defense Defines the Blowout Win
Offense may sell tickets, but on this night, the Minutemen’s defensive intensity was the real headline. Franklin School simply couldn’t find any rhythm, and it wasn’t due to cold shooting alone.
Newark Academy held Franklin to just 21 points for the entire game. They denied clean looks, contested jumpers, and forced rushed decisions.
Every quarter told the same story. Franklin failed to reach double digits in any period, which really shows how consistently the Minutemen executed their defensive principles.
Franklin School Struggles to Respond
Once Newark Academy’s lead ballooned to nearly 40 points in the second half, Franklin found itself in survival mode. The combination of turnovers, contested shots, and limited second-chance opportunities left them playing uphill from the early stages.
Early-season games like this often serve as teaching tools. Franklin’s coaching staff will have plenty of film to break down—how they handled pressure on the perimeter, how they rotated on defense, and how quickly they adjusted to Newark Academy’s spacing and tempo.
What This Win Signals for Newark Academy’s Season
For Newark Academy, this dominant performance is more than just a lopsided score. It’s an early indicator of a team with both talent and identity.
It’s only one game, but it’s the kind of opener that can set expectations in the locker room and around the league.
Jersey City’s Role in North Jersey High School Hoops
This matchup, played right here in Jersey City, is part of a broader story. The city’s growing profile as a hub for competitive high school sports is hard to ignore.
From packed gymnasiums on weeknights to weekend showcase tournaments, local hoops are becoming a key piece of the community’s cultural fabric. For visiting families, scouts, and alumni coming in to catch a game, the rise of local basketball has an added benefit—it shines a spotlight on the surrounding neighborhoods and city districts.
Fans often turn game nights into full nights out, discovering new restaurants, waterfront views, and local businesses that give the area its character. There’s real energy building around high school basketball here, and honestly, it’s about time.
Connecting the Game to the Jersey City Experience
As more programs like Newark Academy and Franklin bring their talents into town, Jersey City turns into more than just a neutral site. It starts to feel like part of the whole storyline.
Travelers planning a winter hoops trip now have a growing list of Jersey City hotels to pick from. It’s honestly easy to pair a big game with a weekend exploring the skyline, street art, or the city’s low-key but killer culinary scene.
If you’re coming from out of town and wondering where to stay in Jersey City, being close to transit, gyms, and the waterfront makes life simple. Take the PATH, drive in for tip-off, or fly into Newark Liberty before getting to Jersey City—the logistics are surprisingly straightforward.
Once the final buzzer sounds, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Jersey City beyond the court. Grab a bite along Newark Avenue, or maybe stroll through Liberty State Park with Manhattan right there on the horizon.
Games like Newark Academy vs. Franklin aren’t just about the score. They show how high school basketball is woven into the city’s everyday vibe, and honestly, Jersey City’s turning into a destination all its own.
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Here is the source article for this story: Newark Academy defeats Franklin School (Jersey City)
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