Nico Sozio erupted for a career-high 19 points as 10th-seeded Caldwell defeated 23rd-seeded Newark Academy, 61-38, in the preliminary round of the 79th Essex County Tournament in West Caldwell. Dan Vybihal added nine points for Caldwell (13-3), which led by 11 at halftime, then used a 21-11 third quarter to put the game well out of reach. Caldwell plays seventh-seeded Newark Tech in the first round on Saturday at 11 a.m.For Newark Academy (7-8), Chase Perilman scored 13 points and Gabe O’Brien had nine.