Rutgers Prep’s Anushka Gubbala (right) and Ewing’s Kayla Smith are honored as scholar-athletes by the New Jersey Basketball Coaches’ Association before the Tip-Off Classic at Montgomery on December 14, 2024. (Source: @NJBAC_Official on Twitter)
With few teams taking advantage of the NJSIAA’s early start schedule, there was no movement in this week’s Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten, either on the girls’ or boys’ side.
Only three ranked boys teams were in action this weekend, all at the Tip-Off Showcase at Montgomery High School Saturday afternoon and evening.
Top-ranked Colonia won its opener, dropping St. Peter’s Prep out of Jersey City, 46-40, despite falling behind early, while No. 3 Montgomery lost in the event’s nightcap, falling to Hudson Catholic, 48-44.
Earlier in the day, No. 2 Rutgers Prep lost a heartbreaker to Manasquan on a buzzer-beater, 64-61, on a half-court trey by Matteo Chiarella. That’s the same Manasquan team that looked to have beaten Camden last year in the state Group 2 semifinals before the officials got together and waved the basket off, saying the shot came after the buzzer. It sparked a huge controversy as replays from multiple media outlets and fans showed the shot clearly beat the buzzer; however, the NJSIAA does not use replay in games.
Below is the full Week 1 Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Top Ten:
Meanwhile, on the girls’ side, the top four all won their openers. No. 1 Rutgers Prep cruised past Ewing, 66-29, also at the Tip-Off Showcase at Montgomery. Earlier in the week, No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas beat St. Joseph Hill (NY) back on Tuesday, but lost Saturday to Monsignor McClancy (NY), 71-62.
Third-ranked Gill St. Bernard’s and No. 4 Hillsborough also won their openers. The Knights topped Albertus Magnus (NY) on the road, 58-31, while the defending North 2, Group 4 champion Lady Raiders powered past Linden at home, 69-23.
Spotswood – No. 10 in the preseason rankings – lost down in Virginia to Spotswood. Yes, you heard that right, the Chargers played their namesake in Virginia at the She Got Game Classic, but lost 59-35.
Below is the full Week 1 Bellamy & Son Paving Girls’ Basketball Top Ten:
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