Middlesex, unbeaten Bernards girls take Holiday Tournament titles in Saturday action

The Middlesex and Bernards girls’ basketball teams both won titles Saturday as the holiday tournament season continues on before New Year’s.

Here’s a look at Saturday action on the girls’ side:

No. 10 Bernards undefeated heading into ’25…

Perfect in the 2024 potion of their schedule, the Mountaineers will take a 5-0 mark into 2025 after sweeping the Metuchen Bulldog Holiday Tournament.

Saturday afternoon, they beat their hosts, 41-30, to win the event for a second straight year. Junior Aletha Reynolds was named MVP, and hit for a double-double for the fourth time in five games this year, with 14 points and 11 rebounds. She hit three triples in the game, and nine in the two games at Metuchen to give her 16 in five contests this season.

Bernards trailed at the half, but outscored the Bulldogs 25-12 after the break, holding Metuchen to just four points over the final eight minutes.

Bernards is back in action next Friday at home against Delaware Valley, while Metuchen (2-2) will play next Saturday morning at 11:30 against Wardlaw-Hartridge.

Governor Livingston topped Brearley, 47-38, in the consolation game.

Jays win 4th straight, take Clem Santy Tourney…

It was another blowout win for Middlesex, as the Blue Jays got a game-high 23 points from Jess Devine in a 55-28 win over Highland Park to win the Clem Santy Holiday Tournament at Dunellen.

Devine has now scored at least 21 points in all five games this year, as the Jays slowly, but surely pulled away from the Owls, who fell to 2-2 with the loss, despite 13 points and six rebounds from Vanessa Kohler.

Middlesex is now 4-1, having won four straight since a season-opening loss to Spotswood by an average 24.8 points apiece. They return to action Monday afternoon against Absegami. Highland Park hosts Sayreville next Thursday.

In the consolation game, Manville topped Dunellen, 41-34.

Knights take a win in round-robin Holiday Hoopfest up North…

Gill St. Bernards won its fourth straight game and improved to 5-1 with a 53-36 win over Immaculate Heart up at Paterson Kennedy High School.

Gandy Malou-Mamel scored a season-high 26 points in the win, the only Knight in double figures. They wrap up play in the Holiday Hoopfest Monday at 3:20 pm against St. Rose of Belmar.

The Purple Roses topped No. 1 Rutgers Prep earlier in the day, 46-41, in a rematch of last year’s NJSIAA Non-Public South B title game, won by the Argonauts. It was Prep’s first loss of the season, dropping them to 5-1. Ava LaMonica led the Argos with 12 points, five rebounds and four steals, while freshman Hailey Benbow added 10 points and five boards.

In the opener Saturday, Montclair-Immaculate topped Franklin, 47-39, dropping them to 1-5 on the year.

The Warriors are back at it at 6 pm Monday against Bayonne to wrap up the Holiday Hoopfest.

Other Tournament Scores:

Holmdel Holiday Invitational
Hudson Catholic 59, Marlboro 44
Holmdel 33, Mount St. Mary 30
Colts Neck 63, East Brunswick 48
Manasquan 64, North Plainfield 39
No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas 53, Ranney 48

MCCC Showcase at Mercer County Community College
Hillsborough 64, George (PA) 43

Ridge Holiday Basketball Tournament
Championship: Randolph 47, South Brunswick 40
Consolation: North Hunterdon 35, Ridge 33

Score at the Shore at Southern Regional
Pingry 55, Lenape 52

West Windsor-Plainsboro South Tournament
Championship: Pennsbury (PA) 41, Somerville 38
Consolation: West Windsor-Plainsboro South 31, South Hunterdon 22