Eastside sophomore guard Lamar Johnson has provided the Ghosts with another scorer since the Passaic Tech transfer became eligible last month. (PHOTO: MICHAEL KARAS/The Record)

Eastside sophomore shooting guard Lamar Johnson (30) has provided the Ghosts with another scorer since the Passaic Tech transfer became eligible last month. (PHOTO: MICHAEL KARAS/The Record)

Lamar Johnson’s memorable performance against Passaic on Tuesday night was the strongest evidence yet that he made Eastside a much more formidable team once the sophomore shooting guard became eligible last month.

Johnson, who sat out the first 30 days of the season after transferring from Passaic Tech, made seven three-pointers, including the game-winner, on his way to scoring 25 points during Eastside’s 59-58 victory over Passaic in Paterson. The 6-foot-1 Johnson’s three-pointer put the Ghosts ahead by the final score with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Johnson’s jump shot hasn’t been consistent since he joined the team, but he is beginning to feel comfortable with his new teammates. If Johnson remains reliable from the perimeter, it’ll take at least some of the scoring burden off Nhazir Smith, Eastside’s standout junior point guard, as the Ghosts play their most meaningful games of the season.

The Passaic County quarterfinal matchup Saturday between Johnson and Manchester senior Terrel Griffin, a former Eastside guard, could largely determine whether the second-seeded Ghosts (13-5) or the seventh-seeded Falcons (14-4) advance to the semifinals Feb. 20. Griffin scored 18 points in Manchester’s 57-20 win against Pompton Lakes on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Johnson will play against his former team tonight when Passaic Tech (10-8) visits Eastside for a Big North Liberty Division game in Paterson.