Piscataway – shown here in a December 19, 2024 home game against Colonia – debut’s in this week’s rankings. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Despite losses by the top two teams – both coming to out of state opponents – there was little change through the Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Top Ten for Week Three, although two news teams – Piscataway and South Plainfield – made their debuts.
Colonia (4-1) had a 2-1 week split by the holidays. The Patriots picked up a 60-40 win Monday over in-town rival Woodbridge, then dropped the opener in its own LeGrand Holiday Jubilee to Westfield, 53-47. They rebounded, however, with a 49-41 victory over Scotch Plains-Fanwood Saturday. The event wraps up Monday, with the Patriots playing Franklin at 1 pm.
Rutgers Prep remains in second. The Argonauts dropped its only game of the week, 80-63 to St. Rose of Belmar on Monday, to drop to 4-1 on the season.
Holding in third is Montgomery (4-1), which won its only game in the past week, a 68-35 rout over Princeton in their own Cougar Holiday Classic, which continues Monday. The Cougars will play Bridgewater-Raritan (3-2) at 2 pm.
Steady in fourth is St. Thomas Aquinas (3-1). The Trojans were 2-0 this past week, picking up a Friday win over Port Richmond (NY), 69-27, and a win Saturday at Bayonne in the Bayonne Holiday Classic, 58-55.
Ridge (6-0) holds in sixth after a 3-0 week. The Red Devils topped Summit Monday, 52-20, then won the Whitey Dukiet All-American Holiday Classic at Livingston for the third year in a row. They beat Morris Knolls 68-30 on Friday, then beat the host Lancers 66-37 Saturday for the title.
Gill St. Bernard’s 95-0) remains in sixth after a 2-0 week. The Knights beat Seton Hall Prep, 60-51, on Monday, then won at the Paramus Catholic Holiday Tournament, edging the Paladins 72-69.
And holding in seventh is Hillsborough (5-1). The Raiders swept two games to win the Oratory Holiday Tournament, beating Newark Academy 44-36 on Friday, then host Oratory Prep 57-42 on Saturday.
Then, there are two new teams. Piscataway makes its debut at No. 8 with a record of 4-1. They won at Sayreville Monday, 62-57, then came back and won twice in the Joe Silver Holiday Tournament at Hillside. They beat College Achieve Asbury Park’s regional squad 86-59 Friday, then Orange on Saturday, 72-48. They’ll play host Hillside at 2 pm Monday in the championship game.
Ninth is South Plainfield, making its debut at 4-0. They swept a two-game week, beating Carteret Monday, 72-34, then taking the opener of their own Anthony J. Cotoia Holiday Tournament on Thursday, 63-53. They play for the title Monday against Edison at 3 pm.
Sayreville dropped two spots to No. 8, after a 1-1 week in which they lost to Piscataway Monday, 62-57, then came back and beat Tottenville (NY) on Friday, 61-42.
Here’s the full Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Top Ten for Week 3:
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