Holiday hoops tourneys, showcases open play across New Jersey; top girls’ teams Rutgers Prep, Gill St. Bernard’s among big winners

It’s the day after Christmas, which means it’s time for holiday basketball tournaments.

Many more will start Friday, but a few kicked off Thursday, including the three-day Hoop Group Holiday Hoopfest up at Paterson Kennedy High School.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s action and results:

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

No. 1 Rutgers Prep, No. 3 Gill St. Bernard’s win…

Two Somerset County girls’ basketball teams won at the Holiday Hoopfest Thursday, as Gill St. Bernard’s knocked off St. John Vianney in a battle of two state top ten teams; the Knights are ranked ninth in the latest NJ.com rankings, with the Lancers sixth… for now.

Gill (4-1) had three players in double-digits – including the game’s high scorer, Gandy Malou-Mamel, who had to sit for a bit with a bloody lip but finished with 20 points – in a 61-44 win that wasn’t even that close. The Knights used stifling defense in a 24-6 second-quarter that put them up 34-17 at halftime. It was 46-23 after three, with SJV picking up points in garbage time.

Sidney Quinn added 16, while Addy Platt added 11 for Gill in the win.

Meanwhile, Rutgers Prep needed overtime to get by Montclair-Immaculate. The Argonauts were ranked No. 4 in the state coming in; the Lions were No. 3. Again… for now.

Rutgers Prep (5-0) had a three-point lead heading into the final eight minutes, but the teams went to overtime tied at 24 before Prep pulled away for the 47-39 win. Junior Ava LaMonica led the Argos for the second time in their first five games with 17 points, also chipping in with five rebounds and three assists, while going 6-for-6 from the foul line.

Natalia Valdez, Ava Frith and Hailey Benbow all finished with eight points apiece.

The only other local team in the Holiday Hoopfest was Franklin, which lost to Non-Public South B runner-up St. Rose of Belmar, 61-44.

Here’s the remaining schedule for the local teams in the Holiday Hoopfest:

• Rutgers Prep: St. Rose (Saturday, 12:40 pm); Immaculata Heart (Monday, 2 pm)
• Gill St. Bernard’s: Immaculate Heart (Saturday, 2 pm); St. Rose (Monday, 3:20 pm)
• Franklin: Montclair-Immaculate (Saturday, 10 am); Bayonne (Monday, 6 pm)

Another 20+ point game for Middlesex’s Jess Devine

Senior Jess Devine scored 20-plus points for the fourth time in four games this season, accounting for 21 of her team’s 52 points in a 52-21 win over Manville in the Clem Santy Holiday Tournament in Dunellen.

The Blue Jays (3-1) were in control virtually wire-to-wire, leading 18-9 after one quarter and 23-14 at the half. And they kept Manville (1-1) off the board entirely in a 6-0 fourth quarter.

Highland Park (2-1) came up with a 67-42 win over the home Destroyers (1-1), setting up Saturday’s consolation and championship games:

• Consolation Game: Dunellen vs. Manville, 1 pm
• Championship Game: Middlesex vs. Highland Park, 5 pm

Carteret wins at Roselle Park Tournament…

In football, it’s the granddaddy of them all. But Carteret-Perth Amboy is a big deal in the other sports, too.

The Ramblers improved to 3-0 with a thorough 57-39 win over Perth Amboy (0-3), led by Anilah Diggs’ 20 points and 11 points and five rebounds from Jahaysia Ledesma. Twins Jazmine and Jenesis Fils Aima – fittingly – each finished with four points and ten rebounds.

Carteret moves on to the championship Friday against Roselle Park (4-0), while Perth Amboy will play Keyport (1-3) in the consolation game.

Other girls’ scores:

• MCMS Holiday Tournament: Perth Amboy Magnet 34, New Brunswick 31

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Middlesex, Piscataway Magnet to square off for Roselle Park Holiday Hoopfest title…

It’ll be two Greater Middlesex Conference teams facing off for the title, as Middlesex and Piscataway Magnet picked up opening game wins.

The Blue Jays improved to 3-1 with a 73-54 win over Keyport, led by monster games from Owne Reynolds (25 points) and Domenic Parenti (19 points). Leading by just two at halftime, Middlesex took a big lead on the strength of a 31-16 third quarter and never looked back.

Piscataway Magnet also improved to 3-1 with a 67-53 victory over host Roselle Park (0-3). Four Raiders scored in double figures, as Kenneth McKindra led the way with 17. A.J. Skara and Joel Polynice added 14 each, while Jacob Mendoza chipped in 13.

The Blue Jays and Raiders will play for the championship Saturday afternoon at 1, while Keyport and host Roselle Park will square off in the consolation game at 3 pm.

GMC, Skyland teams move on in Butch Kowal Classic

Woodbridge and Immaculata won their openers Thursday night and move on to the winner’s bracket in the Butch Kowal Classic.

The Barrons dominated Carteret, 71-37, to improve to 2-2 on the season, behind 16 points from Emmanuel Cruz and 15 from Derek Anderson; both hit three triples in the game. Carteret was led by Jeremiah Arrington, who led all scorers with 18 points.

Meanwhile, Immaculata was a 64-57 winner over Perth Amboy, improving to 3-1. The Spartans led by 13 after three, and had to hold off the Panthers for a seven-point victory. ‘Lata got a game-high 23 points from Cole Hayden, along with 19 from Nick Swartwood and 12 from Riley Gorman.

Perth Amboy (1-2) and Carteret (1-4) move into the losers bracket, and will plat at 4:30 Friday, while Woodbridge will face Rumson-Fair Haven at 6 and Immaculata draws host Rahway at 7:30. The losing teams from the winner’s bracket Friday play in Sunday’s 6 pm consolation, while the championship game is scheduled for 7:30 Sunday night.

Dunellen, Manville to play for title in Mike Shello Holday Tournament…

The host Destroyers will play for the title Saturday against Manville, as both won their opening games Thursday.

The Mustangs (3-0) – a Central Jersey Group 1 finalist last season – won Game One, topping North Plainfield 42-41 behind Josh D’Ambrosio’s 17 points, while Edryn Morales added eight rebounds and six assists. But they needed to hold off the Canucks, who ralled from a 32-21 deficit to start the fourth quarter, only to lose by one.

In the second game, Dunellen improved to 2-1 with a 61-51 victory over Highland Park on the strength of a 22-6 third quarter that turned 27-26 lead into a 17-point advantage. Joel Cruz-Maza led all scorers with 20 for the Destoryers, who also got 14 from Ryan Hutchins and ten from Jamael Davis.

That’ll put Manville and Dunellen in the championship game at 7 pm Saturday, which follows the 5 pm consolation featuring Highland Park (1-1) and North Plainfield (0-4).

Other boys’ scores:

• Hopatcong 60, Somerset Tech 47