Colonia cruises, Bound Brook gives Thrive all it can handle, Manville tops Dunellen in Saturday NJSIAA boys’ state tournament action

Three-time defending North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 champion and top-seed Colonia is one more win from getting back to the title game yet again, after cruising past nine-seed Cliffside Park, 88-48, Saturday afternoon.

The Patriots were one of just two Saturday afternoon winners among Central Jersey Sports Radio area teams.  In Central Jersey Group 1 quarterfinal action, second-seed Middlesex was upset at home by 10-seed New Providence, 78-69, while Bound Brook lost at top-seed Thrive Charter, 64-50.

The Crusaders gave Thrive a good run.   Bound Brook essentially stayed within a possession or two from tip off until the last few minutes of the half, when Thrive went on a run and into the second half with a double digit lead, which essentially remained that way the remainder of the game.

St. Thomas Aquinas also saw its season end, as the eighth-seeded Trojans lost at home to ninth-seed St. Augustine in Non-Public South A, 70-58.

Later, in a night game, fourth-seed Manville got past 5th-seed Dunellen, 56-37, and the Mustangs are a win away from back-to-back sectional finals appearances. Read the full story and hear from head coach Bill Rooney here.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Quarterfinal Results
(1) Colonia def. (9) Cliffside Park, 88-48
(4) Chatham def. (12) Millburn, 76-55
(3) Payne Tech def. (11) Orange, 103-74
(2) Mendham def. (1) Summit, 38-32

Semifinals
(4) Chatham at (1) Colonia
(3) Payne Tech vs. (2) Mendham

Central Jersey Group 1 Quarterfinal Results
(1) Thrive Charter def. (8) Bound Brook, 64-50
(4) Manville def. (5) Dunellen, 56-37
(3) Point Pleasant Beach def. (6) Henry Hudson, 62-60
(10) New Providence def. (2) Middlesex, 78-69

Semifinals
(4) Manville at (1) Thrive Charter
(10) New Providence at (3) Pt. Pleasant Beach

Non-Public South A First Round Results (Saturday only)
(9) St. Augustine def. (8) St. Thomas Aquinas, 70-58

Quarterfinals
(9) St. Augustine at (1) Paul VI
(5) Union Catholic at (4) Camden Catholic
(6) Immaculata at (3) CBA
(10) Notre Dame at (2) St. Peter’s Prep