Saturday Boys’ Basketball Roundup: Many holiday events moved, but others play on as East Brunswick wins again, as do Monroe, Ridge

While some tournaments – like the Jingle Bells Jubilee up in Paterson and the Cougar Holiday Classic in Montgomery – along with all or parts of others – had to be rescheduled for Sunday, Monday or Tuesday due to a snow and ice storm, other tournaments continued with the action with little or no changes to their schedules

Among the early winners in the day were East Brunswick down at the Buc Holiday Classic at Red Bank Regional in Little Silver, as well as the Monroe Boys, who beat GMC foe Timothy Christian in the early game of the Falcons’ own holiday tourney.

Scroll through for Saturday’s schedule and results, with details on each game as they become available. Check back often, as this story will be updated.

Postponements

• Artie Flaherty Holiday Tournament at Metuchen HS (rescheduled to Monday)
• Joe Silver Tournament at Hillside HS (rescheduled to Monday, same times)
• Cougar Classic at Montgomery HS (rescheduled to Monday)
• Jingle Bells Jubilee at Paterson Steam Academy (rescheduled to Sunday)
• Freehold Classic at Freehold Boro HS (rescheduled to Tuesday)
• Battle at the Bomb Shelter at Sayreville HS (rescheduled to Monday, new times)
• JP Stevens Holiday Tournament at JP Stevens HS, Edison (rescheduled to Monday)
• Peter Tierney Holiday Basketball Tournament at Summit HS (rescheduled to Monday, same times)
• ESCIT Tournament (rescheduled to Sunday)

Anthony J. Cotoia Tournament at South Plainfield HS
JFK vs. Edison, 11 am (cancelled)
South Plainfield 67, Hopewell Valley 54 (rescheduled from 1 pm)

The Tigers had a three-point lead at halftime but pulled away thanks to a 21-11 third-quarter run to take a 13 point lead they would never relinquish. Sophomore Andrew Bena had a monster game, scoring a career-high 32 points, while hitting a career-best 14 free throws, going 14-of-17 from the line. Justin Vaca added ten for the Tigers, who will now face Edison in the championship game Tuesday at 3 pm.

Albert E. Martin Buc Holiday Classic at Red Bank Regional HS
(3) East Brunswick 78, (6) Ranney 69
(4) Marlboro 54, (5) Middletown South 52
(1) Red Bank 60, (8) Long Branch 40
(2) Howell 79, (7) Old Bridge 70,

The Bears continued their red-hot play to 2025-26, improving to 6-0 on the season, while the Knights picked up their first win of the year, now 1-4. Both move into Sunday’s semifinals in the championship bracket, with third-seed East Brunswick playing 2nd-seed Howell at 3:30, and fourth-seed Marlboro taking on host and top-seed Red Bank at 5 pm.

Monroe Holiday Tournament at Monroe HS
Ridge 72, South Brunswick 45
Monroe 60, Timothy Christian 49

Senior Dan Rafanello returned to the lineup for Ridge (1-4), scoring 20 points – including four treys – to give the Red Devils their first win of the season. Four players scored in double figures, as Gabe Kielb scored 19, Owen Kovacs added 11, and Oliver Hockstein chipped in ten. Kevin Burgman (4-1) led South Brunswick with 17 in the Vikings’ first loss of the season.

In the opener, Monroe (1-4) got 17 points apiece from Josh Ellis – including three treys – and Kyle Fernandes en route its first win of the season. Timothy Christian (1-3) got 22 from Aidan Badger in defeat, while Nathanael Sleman added 17.

Crusader Classic at Bound Brook HS
Bernards 69, Great Oaks Charter 36
Bound Brook 70, Central Jersey College Charter 65

The Mountaineers (2-4) got 18 points – including four treys – and six assists from Ryan Frame, while Richie Jobsie added 14 and three triples. The host Crusaders (5-1), meanwhile, got a career-high 30 points from Dorian Roundtree, who also added four three-pointers for the second time in the season’s first six games. They’ll move on to face each other Monday night in the championship game at 7 pm. Great Oaks Charter and Central Jersey College Charter will play in the 3 pm Consolation Game.

Butch Kowal Holiday Tournament at Rahway HS
Scotch Plains-Fanwood 57, Perth Amboy 48 (rescheduled from Friday)
Carteret 64, Rahway 48 (rescheduled from Friday)

Yandel Susana led the way for the Panthers (4-2) in defeat with 17 points, while Jeremy Garcia-Peralta added a dozen. Meanwhile, the Ramblers improved to 3-2 with their win, thanks to a big 20-11 third quarter that put them up by 14 heading into the final eight minutes. Round robin play continues on Sunday afternoon.

Holiday Classic at Newark Collegiate HS
Franklin vs. Gateway Academy, 2:30 pm