The Greater Middlesex Conference had a chance to get four girls’ basketball teams in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals, and wound up getting two in the same side of the bracket, guaranteeing at least one league team a shot at a title game next Tuesday night.
Second-seed South Brunswick (19-7) beat 7th-seed Long Branch 76-64 at home in a game it led 27-20 at the half, thanks to a 27-point night from Katie Rausch, and another 24 points from Leilani Pinder, while Alexis Lease-Springer addded a dozen.
Click below for postgame comments from South Brunswick head coach Jeff Johnson:
Meanwhile, third-seed Monroe (16-9) was a 38-29 winner over 6th-seed Howell, on a stellar defensive effort from the Falcons, who held Howell to single-digit scoring in each of the first three quarters, and lead 22-12 at the break. Evangelina Francisco had 12 points, while Katelyn Louro added 10.
Click below for postgame comments from Monroe head coach Leigh Vogtman:
Not only does it set up a Central Jersey Group 4 semifinal at South Brunswick on Saturday at 10 am, but it will be a doubleheader with the boys, who upset North Brunswick to earn a CJ 4 semifinal date with Marlboro.
On the other side of the girls’ bracket, the two GMC teams lost: 8th-seed Old Bridge (16-10) lost at top-seed Hightstown, 60-42, while fourth-seed East Brunswick (16-12) was beaten by Jackson Memorial at home 59-52.
The only other girls’ team from the CJSR-area to win Wednesday night was also a big school. In North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 quarterfinal action, 6th-seed Watchung Hills crushed 3rd-seed Irvington on the road in an upset, 59-27. This one was never in doubt, as the Lady Warriors outscored Irvington 20-4 in the first quarter, and took a 30-11 lead into the break, as the Blue Knights were held to 17 points over the first three quarters. And yet, Morgan Groff was the only Watchung player in double-figures, scoring 20.
And the Warriors now will get a surprise home game in the North 2, Group 4 semis, as 7th-seed Scotch Plains-Fanwood upset 2nd-seed Elizabeth on the road, 57-50. Watchung Hills and the Raiders will square off at noon on Saturday.
The other half of that bracket saw two local teams go down. Eighth-seed Hillsborough (16-7) lost at top-seed Bayonne, 81-51, while 5th-seed Edison (21-7) fell at 4th-seed Westfield, 65-27.
Two more CJSR-area girls’ squads also lost Wednesday night, both in Central Jersey Group 2, where 11th-seed Bound Brook (11-14) lost at 3rd-seed Holmdel 67-42, while 10th-seed South River (15-13) lost at 2-seed Manasquan, 52-23.
Below are all local scores and full results for sections with area teams remaining, Scroll down further for upcoming matchups.
Central Group 4
#1 Hightstown def. #8 Old Bridge, 60-42
#5 Jackson Memorial def. #4 East Brunswick, 59-52
#3 Monroe def. #6 Howell, 38-29
#2 South Brunswick def. #7 Long Branch, 76-64
Central Group 2
#2 Holmdel def. #3 Bound Brook, 67-42
#2 Manasquan def. #10 South River, 52-23
North 2, Group 4
#1 Bayonne def. #8 Hillsborough, 81-51
#4 Westfield def. #5 Edison, 65-27
#6 Watchung Hills def. #3 Irvington, 59-27
#7 Scotch Plains-Fanwood def #2 Elizabeth, 57-50
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
Central Group 1 Semifinals
#3 Dunellen at #2 Middlesex
#5 Pt. Pleasant Beach at #1 Shore
North 2 Group 3 Semifinals
#5 Colonia at #1 Randolph
#11 Mendham at #2 Chatham
Non-Public South A Quarterfinals
#9 Our Lady of Mercy at #1 St. John Vianney
#5 St. Thomas Aquinas at #4 Red Bank Catholic
#6 Camden Catholic at #3 Trinity Hall
#10 Notre Dame at #2 Paul VI
Non-Public North B Quarterfinals
#9 Villa Walsh at #1 Saddle River Day
#5 Gill St. Bernard’s at #4 Montclair-Immaculate
#6 Roselle Catholic at #3 Lodi-Immaculate
#7 Wardlaw-Hartridge at #2 Morris Catholic
Non-Public South B Quarterfinals
#8 Gloucester Catholic at #1 Wildwood Catholic
#5 Holy Spirit at #4 Holy Cross Prep
#6 Trenton Catholic at #3 Rutgers Prep
#7 Bishop Eustace at #2 St. Rose
SATURDAY
Central Group 4 Semifinals
#5 Jackson Memorial at #1 Hightstown
#3 Monroe at #2 South Brunswick
North 2, Group 4 Semifinals
#4 Westfield at #1 Bayonne
#7 Scotch Plains-Fanwood at #6 Watchung Hills
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