Bound Brook and Bernards play in a Skyland Conference crossover game on January 13, 2023. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
In the final Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten before the end of the season, there was no change in the top five, Rutgers Prep holds on to the No. 1 spot, and Bernards makes its debut at No. 9.
Rutgers Prep (14-5) had a 3-0 week, with wins over county opponents in Montgomery and Hillsborough to essentially lock up the top seed in the county tournament ahead of Monday night’s seeding meeting. They also beat Paul VI in the Holy Cross Prep Showcase on Saturday.
Holding in second is St. Joseph-Metuchen (16-6). The Falcons went 2-2 with losses to Linden and Arts (of Newark) sandwiched around a pair of wins over GMC Red Division foe St. Thomas Aquinas as well as Notre Dame of Lawrenceville.
A 3-0 week kept Colonia (14-7) at No. 3, with wins over Piscataway, St. Thomas Aquinas and Ewing.
Holding in fourth is Montgomery (16-2). Despite a Tuesday loss to Rutgers Prep, they came back to beat Somerville, then Hillsborough on Saturday, likely locking up the No. 2 seed in the Somerset County Tournament.
Also holding steady at No. 5 is St. Thomas Aquinas (13-8). The Trojans lost to Union Catholic and at St Joe’s, before rebounding with a win in the Battle by the Bay showcase over Universal Audenried Charter (PA).
Watchung Hills (15-5) climbs two spots to sixth this week, supplanting Ridge, which they beat last week, but it was sandwiched around two out-of-area losses, the first to a very good Phillipsburg team, the second to Millburn.
Holding at No. 7 is Monroe (14-5). The Falcons won their only game last week, beating JP Stevens.
Ridge (12-7) drops down to eighth after an 0-3 week, with losses to Bound Brook and two top ten teams in Watchung Hills and South Plainfield, both on the road.
Bernards (12-7) makes its debut at No. 9, picking up an 18-point win over South Plainfield, then a victory over Wallkill Valley, before losing at Hopewell Valley on Saturday.
South Plainfield (16-6) drops one spot to tenth, after a loss to Bernards, but the Tigers also had wins over Timothy Christian, New Brunswick and Ridge.
Dropping out this week was Hillsborough (11-7), which has had a tough go of late, dropping five of its last six games. The Raiders beat Pingry last week, but then lost to Rutgers Prep and Montgomery.
Below are the full Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Rankings for Week 8:
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