It was a bittersweet night for Edison senior Niko Barnes, pictured here Monday night after reaching the 1,000 point career milestone. His team was eliminated from the state tournament at Westfield, but he also became the all-time boys’ scoring leader at Edison, finishing with 1,017. (Submitted photo)
It was a night of highs and lows, sometimes in the same game, on the boys’ side of Day 3 of the NJSIAA state basketball tournament.
In Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinal action, fourth-seed South Brunswick edged 12-seed Montgomery 68-62 at home, to advance to the semifinals on Friday, where they will travel to Monmouth County to take on top-seed Marlboro, a 77-64 winner over 8th-seed Howell.
On the other side of the bracket, second-seed Monroe lost at home, getting upset by 7th-seed Trenton.
All four area teams in North Jersey< Section 2, Group 4 got knocked out, all in separate games, clearing the section of any local teams. The stunner was top-seed Watchung Hills, which lost on a buzzer-beating put-back by Elizabeth, 58-56, moments after the Warriors had tied the game at 56. It was eerily similar to a regular season home loss to Franklin, heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.
Fourth-seed Franklin, 6th-seed Ridge, and 10th-seed Edison also were eliminated. It was a bittersweet night for senior Niko Barnes; on Monday, he became just the second Eagle to score 1,000 points in a career as they won their first playoff game since 1979. Monday, in a 59-43 loss at second-seed Westfield, he moved past Tom McKenzie (1971) to become the program’s all-time leading scorer, his 15 points finishing his career at 1,017.
In the non-publics, the highlight was Immaculata, the 11th seed, which beat 6th-seed CBA on the road 56-41 behind a double-double from junior Davis Adams – 21 points, 12 rebounds – and another 18 points from Isaiah Honis, who missed much of the season with a broken wrist.
READ MORE: Immaculata boys net a big upset, beating NJ blue blood CBA in opening round
Below are all quarterfinal scores from Monday night in sections where at least once CJSR-area team remains:
Central Jersey Group 4:
1-Marlboro def. 8-Howell, 77-64
4-South Brunswick def. 12-Montgomery, 68-62
3-Jackson Memorial def. 6-Northern Burlington, 62-49
7-Trenton def. 2-Monroe, 65-59
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4:
9-Elizabeth def. 1-Watchung Hills, 58-56
5-Newark East Side def. 4-Franklin, 46-43
3-Linden def. 6-Ridge, 64-58 (OT)
2-Westfield def. 10-Edison, 59-43
Central Jersey Group 2:
1-Rumson-Fair Haven def. 8-Delaware Valley, 69-52
4-Holmdel def. 12-New Providence, 72-52
6-Raritan def. 3-South River, 78-64
2-Bound Brook def. 7-Nottingham, 65-61
Non-Public North B:
8-Wardlaw-Hartridge def. 9-Timothy Christian, 72-51
5-Sinai Christian def. 12-EasternChristian, 68-48
6-Monctlair Immaculate def. 11-Montclair-Kimberley, 86-59
7-St. Mary-Rutherford def. 10-Koinonia, 83-75
Non-Public South A:
8-Paul VI def. 9-Camden Catholic, 66-65 (OT)
5-St. Augustine def. 12-Notre Dame, 56-51
4-St. Joseph-Metuchen def. 13-Pingry, 68-56
3-Rutgers Prep def. 14-Union Catholic, 81-58
11-Immaculata def. 6-Christian Brothers Academy, 56-41
7-St. John Vianney def. 10-Donovan Catholic, 69-43
Non-Public South B:
7-Holy Cross Prep def. 10-Calvary Christian (Old Bridge), 67-44
Following is the full Friday schedule of games in sections with teams remaining. All games are at the higher seeds.
Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals:
4-South Brunsiwck at 1-Marlboro
7-Trenton at 3-Jackson Memorial
Central Jersey Group 2 Semifinals:
4-Holmdel at 1-Rumson-Fair Haven
6-Raritan at 2-Bound Brook
Non-Public North B Quarterfinals:
8-Wardlaw Hartridge at 1-Roselle Catholic
5-Sinai Christian at 4-Morris Catholic
6-Montclair Immaculate at 3-Gill St. Bernard’s
7-St. Mary-Rutherford at 2-Saddle River Day
Non-Public South A Quarterfinals:
8-Paul VI at 1-Red Bank Catholic
5-St. Augustine at 4-St. Joseph-Metuchen
11-Immaculata at 3-Rutgers Prep
7-St. John Vianney at 2-St. Thomas Aquinas