Ridge junior Luke Kreitz takes a three in the second quarter of a 59-42 win at Bound Brook on January 4, 2024. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
With the top four combining to go 9-1 this past week, there’s no change in those spots in the Week 2 Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Top Ten, but there were a number of other movements, with three new teams joining the rankings.
At the top, it’s still Colonia, which won its only game of the week, an 80-61 triumph Thursday night at Piscataway, in which junior Aiden Derkack joined the 1,000-point club. They have one more game before the holiday, Monday afternoon at 1 against in-town rival Woodbridge.
Rutgers Prep (3-1) holds at No. 2, on the strength of a three-win week. They beat Phillipsburg on Monday, 94-71, then edged out Hillsborough by five Thursday, before going on the road Saturday and picking up an 88-65 win over Delbarton.
Montgomery (3-1) has won three straight since a season-opening four-point loss to Hudson Catholic, and holds stead at No. 3. They fought off Pingry at home Tuesday, 51-47, then won at Immaculata on Thursday, 59-53, before beating then-No. 5 St. Joseph-Metuchen 61-47 Saturday in the finale of the Friends of South Amboy Tournament.
Holding in fourth is St. Thomas Aquinas (1-1). The Trojans won their season opener Thursday at Old Bridge, 63-50, but lost Saturday evening to Moore Catholic out of Staten Island in the Friends of South Amboy Tournament.
Moving up a spot to fifth is Ridge, which swept its opening week to go 3-0. The Red Devils won at Hunterdon Central on Thursday, 53-37, then topped Bridgewater-Raritan 55-48 at home on Wednesday, before wrapping up the week with a 67-52 win over Hoboken Saturday.
The next three teams are making their debuts this season, starting at No. 6 with Gill St. Bernard’s. The Knights (3-0) had a rare off year with a good deal of roster turnover, but are off to a great start with a win Tuesday against Franklin, 77-48, another over Phillipsburg Thursday, 73-47, and a two-point victory Saturday in the Brick City Showcase over St. Benedict’s, 53-51.
At No. 7 is Hillsborough (3-1). They sandwiched two wins around a five-point loss at No. 2 Rutgers Prep Thursday, 70-65. The Raiders opened Tuesdat with a 48-40 win at Watchung Hills, then got past Hunterdon Central at home on Saturday, 58-46.
In eighth is Sayreville (3-0). The Bombers went 2-0 in the week gone by, winning at South Brunswick, 60-51, on Thursday, then headed to the Friends of South Amboy Tournament Saturday and beat CSI/McCown (NY), 70-48.
St. Joseph-Metuchen dropped down to No. 9, starting the year 1-2. They lost at Seton Hall Prep Tuesday, 72-36, but then rebounded with a 57-35 win at Monroe Thursday. On Saturday, in the Friends of South Amboy Tournament, they lost to No. 3 Montgomery, 61-47.
Holding at No. 10 is Timothy Christian (2-0), which beat JP Stevens on the road, 64-51, on Thursday night, then topped Pilgrim Academy at home Saturday, 75-31.
Dropping out were No. 7 Franklin (1-1), No. 8 Woodbridge (1-1) and No. 9 Spotswood (0-3).
Below is the full Bellamy & Son Paving Week 2 Boys’ Basketball Top Ten:
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