With three weeks before the NJSIAA cutoff, here’s where CJSR-area boys’ basketball teams stand in the state playoff chase

Montgomery and Colonia currently hold top spots in the push for the state playoffs, with the cutoff date just three weeks away. We take a look at the latest standings for the boys, and will have a breakdown on the girls next weekend. Analysis here is based on power point standings on NJ.com as of 10:30 pm on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

New NJSIAA Formula: Like in all sports, Group Points are no longer a factor in power points, as the NJSIAA has decided school size is little to no indication of strength. Rather, the traditional Quality Points (6 for a win, none for a loss) and Residuals (3 for every win by an opponent you beat, one for every win by an opponent you lost to) also get added to the opponent’s winning percentage plus .500, meaning a victory over a 10-10 would be worth 6 Quality Points, 30 Residuals, and a 1.000 strength component (.500 win percentage, plus .500). Out of state teams are worth a flat .500 in strength points. Only the first 16 games can be considered residuals, meaning if a team is 10-10, and four of those wins came after their 16th game, only those first six wins would factor into residuals.

Central Jersey Group 1: There are three area teams near the top, but whether or not they can catch Thrive Charter (11-3, 23.607 points) is the question, given their schedule, and the fact that residual points from opponents can only come from their first 16 games. Right behind them, though, are Middlesex (11-4, 20.17), Manville (10-3, 20.067) and Dunellen (11-4, 16.241). If the Blue Jays and Mustangs keep winning, they may be likely to hold on to one of the top four spots, but it may be tricky for the Destroyers, who are just a shade behind Point Pleasant Beach (11-5, 16.173). Piscataway Magnet (12-4, 14.384) is in a tight race from 6th through 10th, with Bound Brook (9-8, 14.288) at the bottom of that pile. Further down, Perth Amboy Magnet (7-5, 12.311) sits in 13th, with Highland Park (7-7, 10.987) on the right side of the bubble at 16. South Amboy (6-10, 10.009) is three places out, but only .978 off the pace.

Central Jersey Group 2: Manasquan (13-2) currently holds the top spot here, and Metuchen (12-3, 20.519) sits in sixth as the highest-ranked area team after its victory over 11-4 Dunellen Saturday afternoon. Then it’s down to No. 10 for surging Spotswood (9-7, 14.184), which has won four straight and seven of its last eight after a 2-6 start. Arch-rival South River (6-8, 14.031) is two back in 12th place.

Central Jersey Group 4: Montgomery (12-3, 25.861) is at the top by a pretty good-sized margin over West Winsor-Plainsboro North (14-3, 21.802), though Sayreville (14-2, 21.501) is very close being them. Down in sixth is East Brunswick (9-7, 17.484), and they could easily hang on to a top eight seed. It’s five places down to Franklin (5-12, 14.066) in 11th, with the last four places going to GMC teams: Edison (8-7, 13.025), North Brunswick (6-11, 12.202), Old Bridge (6-9, 11.959) and Monroe (4-11). With the next team back Princeton (2-13) at 9.968, that’s a significant difference, meaning a couple of wins by those Middlesex County schools over the next few weeks could really lock a spot down.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2: Rutherford (15-1, 28.279) is the leader here, with the only area team being Bernards (8-7, 17.829) down in ninth. There’s room above them to make a push for a top eight seed.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3: Colonia (15-1, 30.508) is at the top, but unlike Montgomery in CJ4, theirs is a much slimmer lead over second-place Mendham (14-1, 29.062), but there’s a little more room over No. 3 Somerville (11-5, 25.263) and fourth-place Chatham (11-5, 21.905). Another solid year for South Plainfield (11-5, 19.069) has the Tigers in sixth, the only other teams from the area truly in contention at the moment.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4: The top team is Plainfield (15-1, 29.664) in a brutal section, even if you just looked statistically by power points. But Ridge (13.3, 27.785) isn’t far behind in third. It’s back to fifth for Piscataway (14-4, 23.783), which is making a mark in its first season under Bob Turco. Bridgewater-Raritan (10-6, 18.647) is in tenth, but some good wins could boost them into the top eight; it’s not entirely out of the question. Down in 13th is Woodbridge (9-6, 16.282), then Perth Amboy (6-9, 14.447) in 15th. They’re in a tight bunch from 14 down to 17, where Watchung Hills (6-8, 14.047) could really make some moves if they can get to .500 or better.

Non-Public South A: Paul VI (13-2, 29.575) is the leader here, and it’s not until six you get to Immaculata (13-4, 24.791), which is having a fins season. It’s a few points down, but just one spot down to St. Thomas Aquinas (10-5, 19.697). Pingry (5-7, 16.572) sits in 11th, and in 14th and last place is St. Joseph-Metuchen (3-10, 12.751).

Non-Public North B: It’s neck-and-neck in the top few spots, and with 15 teams, at least the top seed would get a bye, more if anyone opts out. Right now, it’s Gill St. Bernard’s (11-4, 27.314) right behind Roselle Catholic (12-3, 27.989). It’s down to eight for Timothy Christian (8-3, 15.652). We think they hold onto at least an 8-seed, and could maybe go only one or two spots higher. Wardlaw-Hartridge (2-11, 7.342) sits in 13th.

Non-Public South B: Rutgers Prep (11-6, 25.013) is right behind St. Rose (11-5, 26.808), but there’s a little more distance to third. Calvary Christian (1-9, 8.808) sits in 13th out of 14 teams.