Hillsborough warms up before a Somerset County Tournament semifinal game at Gill St. Bernard’s on February 24, 2022. The Lady Raiders beat Franklin to get there, after two regular season losses. They’ll square off again in the state tournament this Friday. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
The third time was a charm this year for the Hillsborough girls’ basketball team, which lost twice to Franklin in the regular season, but beat them in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals just a week ago.
So what happens when they play for a fourth time?
That will be the case Friday, as both teams won their sectional quarterfinal games Wednesday night, two of six teams that advanced on the girls’ side in Day Three of the NJSIAA state tournament.
It’s also the first “guaranteed finalist” game of the tournament so far, meaning at least one of those local teams will be in the finals.
Below are Wednesday night’s complete scores for all sections in which CJSR-area teams remain:
Central Jersey Group 4:
1-Hightstown def. 8-North Brunswick, 50-47 (OT)
4-Middletown South def. 5-Marlboro, 58-29
3-Monroe def. 6-East Brunswick, 61-35
2-Jackson Memorial def. 7-South Brunswick, 66-57
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4:
1-Westfield def. 8-Phillipsburg, 68-38
4-Bayonne def. 5-Ridge, 44-27
6-Hillsborough def. 3-Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 62-47
2-Franklin def. 10-Hunterdon Central, 66-49
Central Jersey Group 2:
4-Holmdel def. 5-Middlesex, 67-53
3-Rumson-Fair Haven def. 6-Bound Brook, 57-34
Non-Public North A:
9-Hudson Catholic def. 8-Pingry, 57-41
Non-Public South A:
8-Immaculata def. 9-Notre Dame, 54-52
12-Union Catholic def. 5-Camden Catholic, 67-35
4-St. Thomas Aquinas def. 13-Princeton Day, 85-16
6-Donovan Catholic def. 11-Trinity Hall, 59-48
7-Mount St. Mary def. 10-Our Lady of Mercy, 62-45
Non-Public South B:
8-Holy Spirit def. 9-Mater Dei, 55-31
5-St. Rose def. 12-Holy Cross Prep, 55-22
4-Bishop Eustace def. 13-Trenton Catholic, 62-22
6-Ranney def. 11-Moorestown Friends, 76-22
7-Calvary Christian (Old Bridge) def. 10-Timothy Christian, 48-23
Following are the full schedules for each section with CJSR-area teams remaining. Home teams are the higher seeds.
Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals:
4-Middletown South at 1-Hightstown
3-Monroe at 2-Jackson Memorial
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Semifinals:
4-Bayonne at 1-Westfield
6-Hillsborough at 2-Franklin
Non-Public South A Quarterfinals:
8-Immaculata at 1-St. John Vianney
5-Camden Catholic at 4-St. Thomas Aquinas
6-Donovan Catholic at 3-Red Bank Catholic
7-Mount St. Mary at 2-Paul VI
Non-Public North B Quarterfinals (Opening Round):
8-St. Mary-Rutherford at 1-Saddle River Day
5-Lodi Immaculate at 4-Gill St. Bernard’s
6-Roselle Catholic at 3-Montclair Immaculate
7-Villa Walsh at 2-Morris Catholic
Non-Public South B Quarterfinals:
8-Holy Spirit at 1-Rutgers Prep
5-St. Rose at 4-Bishop Eustace
6-Ranney at 3-Gloucester Catholic
7-Calvary Christian (Old Bridge) at 2-Wildwood Catholic