North Brunswick and Monroe players battle for a rebound in the Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals in Monroe on February 26, 2024. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
It was a rough night for the Central Jersey Sports Radio-area boys’ basketball teams in the NJSIAA state tournament Monday night, as just four area squads won their quarterfinal games.
Top-seed Montgomery and second-seed Monroe advanced in wildly different games in Central Jersey Group 4, while seventh-seed Franklin upset second-seed Watchung Hills on the road in an all-Somerset County North 2, Group 4 matchup, and third-seed Rutgers Prep won it’s Non-Public South A opener against 6th-seed Red Bank Catholic.
The Falcons won on a triple by Brody Piscitelli with three seconds left, 48-45, after North Brunswick’s Tommy Koroma tied the score on a three-ball at the other end. Read the game story, see the video, and listen to postgame interviews here.
Second-seed Monroe and top-seed Montgomery advanced to the semifinals Wednesday. The Cougars (23-3) won 65-38 over 8th-seed East Brunswick Monday night behind 18 points from Steve Donahue, with Bohdan Bieketov adding 15, Jack Fromelt 11 and Christian Hill another 10 points.
In North 2, Group 4, Franklin is the only area team remaining, as the seventh-seed went on the road and upset second-seed Watchung Hills, 57-47. Franklin (16-11) had lost to their Warrior counterparts twice this season, once in the regular year, and a second time in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals, but avenged those defeats thanks to a 26-point night from Cam Brown. Franklin led 19-6 after the first eight minutes, but that lead had been cut to three by halftime.
And in Non-Public South A, third-seed Rutgers Prep advanced with a 77-61 home win over 6th-seed Red Bank Catholic, the team they beat to win the section two seasons ago. They’ll play on the road Thursday against second-seed and defending sectional champion Union Catholic, which beat 10-seed St. Augustine 66-50.
In all, 12 of the 16 boys’ teams in the CJSR coverage area fell Monday, including East Brunswick, Old Bridge, North Brunswick, Spotswood, Bound Brook, Bernards, Watchung Hills, St. Joseph-Metuchen, St. Thomas Aquinas, Timothy Christian, Calvary Christian and Gill St. Bernard’s.
Scroll down to see all results in sections with CJSR-area teams, as well as the upcoming schedule with matchups in the next round.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Central Jersey Group 4
(1) Montgomery def. (8) East Brunswick, 65-38
(4) Marlboro def. (5) Old Bridge, 61-54
(3) Manalapan def. (11) Jackson Memorial, 58-42
(2) Monroe def. (7) North Brunswick, 48-45 (GAME RECAP)
Central Jersey Group 2
(4) Delaware Valley def. (5) Spotswood, 74-65
(3) Rumson-Fair Haven def. (7) Bound Brook, 76-43
No more CJSR-area teams remain in this section.
North Jersey, Section 2 – Group 4
(1) Phillipsburg def. (8) Plainfield, 50-48
(12) Linden def. (13) Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 55-50
(3) Elizabeth def. (11) Irvington, 82-51
(7) Franklin def. (2) Watchung Hills, 57-47
North Jersey, Section 2- Group 2
(2) Newark Collegiate def. (7) Bernards, 62-49
No more CJSR-area teams remain in this section.
Non-Public South A
(1) Christian Brothers Academy def. (9) Camden Catholic, 70-66
(5) Paul VI def. (4) St. Joseph-Metuchen, 64-59
(3) Rutgers Prep def. (6) Red Bank Catholic, 77-61
(2) Union Catholic def. (10) St. Augustine, 66-50
Non-Public North B
(5) Roselle Catholic def. (4) St. Thomas Aquinas, 70-55
(3) St. Mary-Rutherford def. (6) Timothy Christian, 57-50
(2) Montclair Immaculate def. (7) Gill St. Bernard’s, 55-51
Non-Public South B
(4) Calvary Christian def. (5) Holy Cross Prep, 76-42
No more CJSR-area teams remain in this section.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27
Central Jersey Group 1
(8) Eagle Academy at (1) Henry Hudson
(5) Manville at (4) Brearley, 4 pm
(11) Point Pleasant Beach at (3) College Achieve Asbury Park
(7) South Hunterdon at (2) Shore
North Jersey, Section 2 – Group 3:
(8) Chatham at (1) Cranford
(5) Payne Tech at (4) Millburn
(6) Mendham at (3) Colonia, 7 pm
(7) Cliffside Park at (2) South Plainfield, 7 pm
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals
(4) Marlboro at (1) Montgomery, 6 pm
(3) Manalapan at (2) Monroe, 6 pm
North Jersey, Section 2 – Group 4 Semifinals
(12) Linden at (8) Plainfield
(7) Franklin at (3) Elizabeth, 7 pm
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29
Non-Public South A Semifinals
(5) Paul VI at (1) Christian Brothers Academy
(3) Rutgers Prep at (2) Union Catholic, 7 pm
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