It’s been a long time since high school basketball was normal in New Jersey.
To be exact, it’s been 645 days.
And though COVID is still lurking, with much uncertainty about Omicron, and cancellations and rescheduling of games sure to take place over the next few months, we’re about to embark on our first “normal” high school basketball season since 2020’s was cut short just days before the weekend of the Group Finals.
Tonight, Central Jersey Sports Radio opens the season’s broadcast slate with two of the top girls’ basketball programs in the state, as Rutgers Prep travels to Franklin for a key crossover Skyland Conference matchup.
Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe will call all the action, with tip-off time set for 7:00 from Franklin High School. Pre-game will be approximately 6:45, beginning with the unveiling of the preseason Bellamy & Son Paving Girls’ Basketball Top Ten. Click here to listen.
The boys’ version will be unveiled at halftime.
Franklin is coming off a 6-6 record in what was a strange year for most teams. The Warriors endured a two-week COVID stoppage after playing their first game of the season, and never really found their groove. Their key returnee is swing Christina Midgette.
Rutgers Prep went 13-0, winning the Skyland Conference Blue Pod, the league’s top post-season bracket, but graduate four starters from that team. Still, they should be solid, welcoming in Notre Dame (Easton) transfer Antonia Bates – who’s headed to Rutgers after Prep – and returning key players like Mikayla Blakes and Katie Ledden.
Click below to hear tonight’s two head coaches talk about the season opener and their prospects for 2021: