Hillsborough won the Oratory Holiday Tournament title on December 28, 2024. (Photo submitted by Tim Palek)
With a big schedule of games Saturday, a number of Central Jersey Sports Radio-area teams played for championships, while others are have finished two of the three legs of their holiday tournament experience.
Here’s a look at Saturday’s results:
Ridge tourney win keeps Red Devils undefeated…
What’s more impressive? The fact that Ridge has won the Whitey Dukiet Classic at Livingston three years running? Or the fact they’re now 6-0 on the season, in mostly dominating fashion?
Maybe it’s both, but that’s where fifth-ranked Ridge stands now after a 66-37 win over the host Lancers Saturday afternoon, to take the tournament title.
Senior Luke Kreitz was leading scorer for the fourth straight game, scoring 15 points, including three treys. But that was matched by Dan Rafanello, whose 15 were a career high for the junior. He had a career best for treys on the night.
Ridge will be back in action Thursday at home against Chatham.
In the consolation game, Pingry topped Morris Knolls, 69-63, to improve to 2-3. They’ll visit Ridge on Tuesday, January 7.
Raiders take Oratory Holiday Tourney crown…
Seventh-ranked Hillsborough won its third straight and improved to 5-1 with a 57-46 win over host Oratory Prep.
Senior Manny Rodriguez was the game’s high scorer with 19 points, while Jack Toth added 13 and Aaron Feath scored 11.
Hillsborough led much of the way, jumping to an 18-8 lead after the first eight minutes; they went into the break up 35-17. The Raiders hit six threes in the game.
Click below to hear Hillsborough coach Tim Palek talk about the game – and the Raiders’ season so far – with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:
The Raiders are back in action next Saturday, January 4, with a home game against Sparta.
Manville tops Dunellen at the buzzer to win Mike Shello Holiday Tournament…
It was some great small school basketball at Dunellen’s Faber School, as Manville won the Mike Shello Holiday Tournament, taking both their opening round and championship game by a combined two points.
The Mustangs followed up a 42-41 win over North Plainfield Thursday with a 62-61 win over the host Destroyers, behind a team-high 22 points from Edryn Morales. But it was freshman Owen Kenyon who hit the big shot, a three at the buzzer to win it. He finished with 11 points.
Manville is now 4-0 on the season, and will be back in action Friday after the New Year against Bernards.
Click below to hear Manville coach Bill Rooney talk about the win with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:
Dunellen fell to 2-2 and will host Perth Amboy Magnet the Thursday after New Year’s. Ryan Hutchins had 29 points for the Destroyers, leading all scorers in the losing effort.
The consolation game went to the Canucks, who beat Highland Park, 75-63.
South River wins Middlesex/Shore Tournament…
Alex Grospe had a monster game, dropping a career-high 46 points – with only three treys, but 15 made free throws – in a 79-66 victory over Henry Hudson, to claim the Middlesex/Shore Tournament down in Highlands.
It was the sixth 40-plus point game in Grospe’s high school career; he had five last year. On the season, he’s averaging 33.5, almost three full points higher than last year.
The led 43-26 at halftime, but Henry Hudson climbed back into it, slashing the lead to five at the end of the third, but the Rams pulled away over the final eight minutes.
South River improves to 3-1 and is back in action Monday against Highland Park at 11:30 am.
Keansburg beat South Amboy in the consolation game, 63-34.
Watchung Hills takes Pete Tierney Memorial…
Zack Patetta scored 15 points to lead the Warriors – with KJ West adding 12 and Timmy Robertson chipping in 11 – to a 59-42 win over host Summit in the Pete Tierney Memorial Holiday Tournament title game.
Watchung Hills (3-2) trailed Summit by nine at the half, but rallied in the second, taking a 38-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter, where they outscored the Hilltoppers 21-6.
Watchung Hills is back at it next Saturday in the Coaches vs. Cancer Showcase at Montgomery against Delaware Valley at 6:30 pm.
Millburn was an 86-55 winner over Governor Livingston in the consolation game.
OTHER TOURNAMENT RESULTS:
ALJ Crusader Classic at A.L. Johnson
Metuchen 45, JP Stevens 41
Johnson 53, Bernards 47
Crusader Classic at Bound Brook
Championship: Voorhees 59, Bound Brook 52
Consolation: STEM Civics 68, Whippany Park 62
West Windsor-Plainsboro Holiday Tournament
Championship: Somerville 55, Spotswood, 53
Consolation: Palmyra 64, South Hunterdon 58
LeGrand Holiday Jubilee at Colonia
No. 1 Colonia 49, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 41
Westfield 58, Franklin 44
Joe Silver Holiday Tournament at Hillside
Piscataway 72, College Achieve-Regional 45
Hillside 74, Marion P. Thomas 60
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