South River’s Alex Grospe looks to make a move against Bound Brook’s Jeremiah Williams in their January 7th, 2023 matchup in Bound Brook. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
They met January 7th as part of the GMC-Skyland Challenge. They’ll meet again Saturday for a trip to the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals.
Fourth-seed Bound Brook (22-4) avenged last year’s sectional title game blowout loss at Rumson-Fair Haven by rallying late to beat the 5th-seeded Bulldogs, 46-45, in one quarterfinal game, as Jordan Summers notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 boards, while Jackson Morrison added 13 points.
Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Bound Brook head coach Anthony Melesurgo:
In the other half of that side of the bracket, top-seed South River (25-3) built an early lead – 22-8 at the end of one quarter – and cruised past 9th-seedPoint Pleasant Boro, winning 83-56 at home. Brothers Jeremy and Alex Grospe each had 19 points and combined for eight treys; Jeremy had five.
It sets up a rematch of a January battle between the teams, which were both unbeaten at the time, and which saw the Rams win 66-61 in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Saturday’s CJ2 title game will tip off at 1 pm.
The other semifinal will be 3rd-seed Raritan at 2-seed Manasquan.
In other action, in Central Jersey Group 4, just one team advanced: that was 6th-seed South Brunswick (19-6) pulling the seed upset over 3rd-seed North Brunswick (21-7) on the road, 72-46. The Vikings jumped out to a 22-5 lead over the first eight minutes and never looked back, led by Kalani Antoine’s monster game of 31 points.
South Brunswick will get to host another game now, as 7th-seed Marlboro knocked off 2nd-seed Freehold Township on the road, 55-42. Saturday’s CJ4 semifinal is set for 1 pm. The other semifinal will be 5-eed Middletown South at top-seed Trenton.
And over in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4, third-seed Hillsborough advanced, while top-seed Ridge was upset and seventh-seed Franklin was eliminated.
The Raiders (19-7) were 48-41 home winners over 6th-seed Columbia out of Maplewood-South Orange, behind 16 points from St. Thomas Aquinas transfer Phillip Unangst, and 14 from Jayden Green. They’ll play in the sectional semis Saturday at Linden; the 2nd-seeded Tigers eliminated 7th-seed Franklin 49-43.
The other semifinal will be 8th-seed Newark East Side at 5th-seed Westfield. East Side knocked off top-seed Ridge 49-43.
In North 2, Group 2, 11th-seed Bernards was eliminated by 14th-seed Newark West Side 69-46.
Below are Thursday night’s results in sections involving area teams, with full scores where teams remain alive. Scroll further down for the upcoming schedule.
Central Group 4
#1 Trenton def. #8 West Windsor-Plainsboro South, 60-47
#5 Middletown North def. #4 Jackson Memorial, 63-58
#6 South Brunswick def. #3 North Brunswick, 72-46
#7 Marlboro def. #2 Freehold Twp., 55-42
Central Group 2
#1 South River def. #9 Point Pleasant Boro, 83-56
#4 Bound Brook def. #5 Rumson-Fair Haven, 46-45
#3 Raritan def. #6 Delaware Valley, 47-33
#2 Manasquan def. #7 Roselle, 76-41
North 2, Group 4
#8 Newark East Side def. #1 Ridge, 49-43
#5 Westfield def. #13 Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 59-56
#3 Hillsborough def. #6 Columbia, 48-41
#2 Linden def. #7 Franklin, 49-43
North 2, Group 2
#14 Newark West Side def. #11 Bernards, 69-46
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
North 2 Group 3 Semifinals
#4 Colonia at #1 South Plainfield
#7 Payne Tech at #6 Snyder
Non-Public South A Quarterfinals
#8 Red Bank Catholic at #1 Camden Catholic
#5 Union Catholic at #4 Paul VI
#6 St. Joseph-Metuchen at #3 Immaculata
#7 Rutgers Prep at #2 St. Augustine
Non-Public North B Quarterfinals
#8 Timothy Christian at #1 St. Thomas Aquinas
#5 Morris Catholic at #4 Roselle Catholic
@6 Montclair-Immaculata at #3 St. Mary-Rutherford
#7 Saddle River Day at #2 Gill St. Bernard’s
SATURDAY
Central Group 4 Semifinals
#4 Jackson Memorial at #1 Trenton
#7 Marlboro at #6 South Brunswick
Central Group 2 Semifinals
#4 Bound Brook at #1 South River
#3 Raritan at #2 Manasquan
North 2, Group 4 Semifinals
#8 Newark East Side at #5 Westfield
#3 Hillsborough at #2 Linden
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