Somerville’s Amaya Miller looks to make a move against Cranford in the North 2, Group 3 semifinals in Somerville on March 4, 2025. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Only one area team – three-time defending North 2, Group 3 champion Colonia – won Tuesday night in sectional semifinal action in the NJSIAA basketball playoffs, as the top-seeded Patriots topped fourth-seed Chatham, 57-54, at home.
On the boys’ side, Manville lost at Thrive Charter in Trenton, while on the girls’ side, Somerville, Middlesex and Bound Brook all were eliminated.
That leaves just four public schools from the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area alive on the boys side, the others being North Brunswick, Montgomery and Ridge. On the girls’ side, just Franklin, Hillsborough, Monroe and Bernards remain. All are back in action in sectional semifinals Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Gill St. Bernard’s and Rutgers Prep boys and girls also are alive, and play sectional semis on Thursday.
Here’s a roundup of Tuesday’s action, and you can scroll down to find the upcoming schedule of games in sections where local teams remain.
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 – Boys’ Semifinals: Top-seed Colonia built a big lead, but withstood a late run by the fourth-seeded Cougars in the win. The Patriots (26-4) led 39-20 at the half, but Chatham cut the lead to 14 heading into the fourth, where they outscored Colonia 18-7 but fell just short. In fact, Chatham had a chance to win down by one, but junior Aiden Derkack – who just became the school’s all-time leading scorer in a quarterfinal win over Cliffside Park – poked the ball away, and found R.J. Wortman on the break, who dunked it to seal the win.
Derkack scored 24 in the victory, a game-high, and also had five rebounds. Dylan Chiera added nine, while R.J. Wortman had eight. Colonia moves on to host the North 2, Group 3 final Friday night at 6 pm against Mendham, which edged Payne Tech, 57-56, withstanding a Lions inbound with 13 to go that led to a baseline runner that missed, as well as a putback just before time expired.
Central Jersey Group 1 – Boys’ Semifinals: Fourth-seed Manville fell at top-seed Thrive Charter, 53-37, ending their season at 19-9.
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 – Girls’ Semifinals: In a game that had runs on both sides, a late third quarter run by sixth-seed Cranford helped put the Cougars in front, and an early fourth-quarter run by Somerville got them to within three at 42-39. But Cranford went on another mini run and held Somerville at bay – which had to foul late as was in foul trouble – as the Cougars topped the Pioneers, 52-46, in Somerville. Junior Kaylee Lauber led the Pioneers in defeat with 20 points, while Amaya Miller added 17. But Cranford senior Bella Curanovic came up big, scoring 24 – all but 22 of which came after the first quarter, which saw Somerville end with a 14-8 lead – for game-high honors. The Pioneers’ season ends at 23-6.
Central Jersey Group 1 – Girls’ Semifinals: Third-seed Bound Brook fell 63-30 to second-seed Thrive Charter in Trenton, ending its season at 19-7, while fourth-seed Middlesex – which was looking for its third straight trip to the CJ2 final – was eliminated at top-seed New Providence, 64-58. Senior Jess Devine ended her stellar high school career with 30 points, including four treys, and finishes with 2,135 career points, the all-time leading scorer at the school, boys or girls. The teams were tied 31-all at the half, but New Providence took a seven point lead into the fourth quarter and hung on for the win. The Blue Jays finish.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY
Central Jersey Group 4 – Boys’ Semifinals
(12) North Brunswick at (1) Montgomery, 6 pm
(10) Freehold Twp. at (3) West Windsor-Plainsboro North, 6pm
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 – Boys’ Semifinals
(5) Westfield at (1) Plainfield, 7 pm
(3) Ridge at (2) Elizabeth, 7 pm
Central Jersey Group 4 – Girls’ Semifinals
(5) Franklin at (1) Hillsborough, 5:30 pm
(3) Hightstown at (2) Monroe, 5 pm
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 – Girls’ Semifinals
(4) Bernards at (1) Caldwell, 6 pm
(3) Rutherford at (2) Madison, 4:30 pm
THURSDAY
Non-Public North B – Boys’ Semifinals
(4) Morristown-Beard at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s, 7 pm
(3) Morris Catholic at (2) Roselle Catholic, 7 pm
Non-Public South B – Boys’ Semifinals
(5) St. Joseph-Hammonton at (1) St. Rose, 6:30 pm
(3) Rutgers Prep at (2) Holy Cross Prep, 6 pm
Non-Public North B – Girls’ Semifinals
(4) Hudson Catholic at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s, 5:30 pm
(3) Saddle River Day at (2) Montclair-Immaculate, 4:30 pm (at Mount St. Dominic)
Non-Public South B – Girls’ Semifinals
(4) Ranney at (1) Gloucester Catholic, 5 pm
(3) Wildwood Catholic at (2) Rutgers Prep, 6 pm
FRIDAY
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 – Boys’ Final
(2) Mendham at (1) Colonia, 6 pm (CJSR)
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