Henry Hudson Holds Off Bound Brook to Open State Tournament

photo & coverage by: AJ Morales

For Henry Hudson, that test came in waves Friday night. A fast start. A steady middle stretch. A fourth-quarter scare. And finally, a composed closeout.

Behind a dominant all-around performance from JoJo Newell, the Admirals opened their postseason with a 54–47 win over Bound Brook, improving to 18–8 and punching their ticket to the next round.

Henry Hudson wasted no time setting the tone. Back-to-back threes to open the game ignited the gym and gave the Admirals an early cushion. From there, they controlled the pace, spacing the floor and attacking the glass while forcing Bound Brook to play from behind.

Newell, the state’s leading scorer, showed early that this wasn’t going to be just another scoring night. He owned the paint, finished through contact and cleaned up everything on the defensive glass. By the end of the night, he had 16 points, 20 rebounds, six blocks and three assists — a stat line that defined impact more than volume.

However, Bound Brook didn’t fold. In the fourth quarter, Titus Godwin sparked a comeback attempt, ripping off seven quick points to give the Crusaders their first real surge of the night. Suddenly, the momentum shifted and the pressure mounted.

The Admirals knocked down two timely three-pointers to steady the game and then made the defensive plays that swung it back permanently. Two transition interceptions shut down potential scoring chances for Bound Brook and restored control in the final minutes.

Throughout the late push, Henry Hudson never panicked.

“We never thought we were going to lose during the entire game,” Newell said afterward. “We always keep positive. Through losses, through anything, we stay together. That brotherhood is everything. Every time we go down, we pick each other up.”

While Newell’s stat line jumps off the page, Henry Hudson’s balance made the difference. Billy Quinn added 12 points with two threes, Blakely Smith knocked down three from deep for 10 points, and Masio Tucker chipped in seven points and eight rebounds. The Admirals finished with eight made threes and 28 total rebounds, controlling the boards and spacing the floor when it mattered most.

For Newell, the performance was about more than scoring.

“I don’t care about points,” he said. “I could score zero and win, that’s fine. I just want to win. Rebounds, defense, whatever coach needs — I’m going to do it.”

That mindset showed down the stretch. When Bound Brook tried to speed the game up, Henry Hudson didn’t rush. When the lead shrank, they didn’t fracture. They executed.

And now, the message is clear moving forward.

“We’re not just a small Group 1 school,” Newell said. “We’re one of the best teams in the state. We’re coming.”

The Admirals opened the playoffs with poise and resilience. If this first-round battle proved anything, it’s that Henry Hudson has the firepower — and the toughness — to make this postseason run interesting.