Ridge players get pumped to play Summit after introductions in Basking Ridge on December 23, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
The first boys’ semifinal to be played Saturday afternoon at the Somerset County Tournament in Franklin is a rematch of last year’s title game between Montgomery and Rutgers Prep.
But the second one should be a really good game, too.
Top-seed Gill St. Bernard’s (18-4, 10-0, Skyland Delaware champs) has had a very nice rebound season after an uncharacteristic 2023-24 that saw a slew of roster turnover, with the results showing on the court. The Knights have won eleven straight heading in, including back-to-back wins over Watchung Hills, 52-32 in last Saturday’s quarterfinals, and 56-45 in a regular season meeting on Tuesday, just three days later.
The Red Devils, meanwhile, are having one of their best seasons in years. They’re 17-5, and finished 8-2 in the Skyland Conference Raritan Division, second only to Ridge, against whom they took both of their division losses, the most recent coming on Tuesday, but only by three, 48-45. The first was also a one-possession defeat, 55-52 back on January 14th.
But what will they do against the Knights when they tip off at 4 pm Saturday?
Ridge beat them last year, 64-55, in late January. But both teams are different now. Ridge finished 15-10, and they’ve already topped than win total. Gill finished 11-16, but the roster has settled in, and is more experienced playing together as a unit.
Gill might have a size and strength advantage, but Ridge is gutty, and has taken some close losses. Their other three defeats came to Westfield by eight, Caldwell by three, and the No. 1 team in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten all year long – Colonia – by 16, the exception to the rule. Take that out, and their other four losses are by an average of 4.3 points.
They’ve also proven they know how to win tight games. They beat Immaculata on the road – a tough place to play – by three. They beat Chatham by six, Hunterdon Central by five, and Bridgewater-Raritan by seven.
On the stat sheet, they’re lead by senior Luke Kreitz, averaging 16.4 points a game, with 27 steals, and he’s hit 57 threes on the year. Fellow senior Quinn Dashefsky is their top rebounder at 5.4 per game and is scoring at a 12.3 clip.
Gill St. Bernard’s is a bit more balanced, led by Kobe Closeil at 10.8 per game. Dorsett Mulcahy – brother of former Rutgers standout Paul Mulcahy – is averaging 9.3, while freshman Connor Junker at 9.1 per contest. They can get up and down the floor, hit the three – three players have 22 or more on the season – and can battle in the paint with the state’s best.
Follow Alec Crouthamel on Twitter for live updates during the game, and he’ll have a recap postgame reaction afterwards on cjsportsradio.com.
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