Sunday Holiday Tournament Roundup: Perth Amboy boys continue hot start, East Brunswick girls stay undefeated, Hillsborough girls win again at Mercer County C.C.

No cancellations, no postponements.

Sunday was just a typical Sunday between Christmas and New Year’s for holiday tournaments across New Jersey, with some Friday night and a good deal of Saturday games moved around due to the snow and ice storm that hit the state.

On the boys’ side, Perth Amboy continued its great start to the season with a win over host Rahway in the round-robin style Butch Kowal Holiday Tournament. On the girls’ side, East Brunswick continued its hot start and remained undefeated with a win in Shore Conference country, while Monroe and Hillsborough won games down at the Mercer County Community College Showcase in West Windsor, with the Lady Raiders winning on their trip their for a second year in a row.

Here’s a look at Sunday’s results, as of 10 pm. For a look at the remaining schedule, please check out our boys’ slate here, and our girls’ schedule here.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Butch Kowal Holiday Tournament at Rahway HS
Scotch Plains-Fanwood 62, Roselle 49
Matawan 42, Carteret 35
Rumson-Fair Haven 60, Westfield 54
Perth Amboy 65, Rahway 46

The Ramblers (3-3) trailed by just two at halftime, but the third quarter proved to be decisive, as the Ramblers were outscored 10-6 and went into the final period down 29-23, and lost by six. Carteret is back in action Tuesday in the round-robin event against Westfield at 3 pm.

The Panthers improved to 5-2 with the win against the host Indians, with three players scoring in double figures. Yandel Susana scored 17 to lead Perth Amboy, while Kasey Abreu pumped in 16 and grabbed eight rebounds, while Jeremy Garcia-Peralta added 15 and eight players got in the scoring column. Amboy has split its first two games in the event, and will be back at it Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 when they play Roselle. The 5-2 start is its best since a 5-1 beginning to the 2019-20 season, which ended 12-10. The 2010-11 team lost its first game, but won its next six to go 6-1 through its first seven games.

ESCIT Tournament at Thrive Charter, Trenton
Ewing 49, St. Thomas Aquinas 43
Thrive Charter 64, Atlantic City 54

The Trojans (1-4) led 14-8 after one, and 23-19 at the half, but Ewing used an 18-7 third quarter to take control of the game. Albion Ahmetaj scored 16 to lead St. Thomas in the losing effort. They’ll face Atlantic City Monday at 2 pm in the ESCIT Tournament’s Consolation Game. The championship will feature Ewing and Thrive Charter in the 4 pm Championship Game.

Pete and Jameer Nelson Classic at Widener University
Rutgers Prep 69, Camden 57

Rocco Loomis led the way with 18 points for the Argonauts – who improved to 4-1 with the victory over Camden (2-4), while Nicolas Nsenkyire added 15. Prep led by seven at the break following a 13-13 first quarter, and expanded the lead by eleven in the third. It was a Top 20 matchup, with Camden ranked 18 in New Jersey, and the Argonauts 11th.

KSA Events Holiday Tournament at Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando
Grey Bracket
Bishop Eustace 49, Montclair-Kimberley 47
Pingry 60, North Star Academy 42

The Big Blue (4-0) move on to play Chicago Christian (IL) Tuesday.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Holiday Hoopfest at Paterson Kennedy HS
Franklin 61, Immaculate Heart 56
West Orange 60, Saddle River Day 44
Gill St. Bernard’s 50, Roselle Catholic 20
Bayonne 60, Immaculata 50

The Warriors (1-4) got their first win of the season, thanks to a game-high 21 points from Aleah Sunkins, who also had eight rebounds. Alissa Myers added 16, including four from beyond the arc. The round-robin event continues Tuesday, with Franklin facing Saddle River Day (3-3) – coached by former Sayreville standout Corey Taite, now in his first season – at 2:30 pm.

Gill St. Bernard’s (3-3) got back to the .500 mark with a dominating win over Roselle Catholic, holding the Lady Lions to just nine first half points, as Gill had a 36-9 lead at halftime. Addy Platt led the Knights with 15 points, while Sadie Finn added 12 and five rebounds. Next up is defending Group 4 runner-up West Orange (5-1) Monday at 5:10 pm.

And the Spartans dropped to 1-6 with a loss to Bayonne, despite a game-high 22 from Alexa Regan and 11 from Rhainya Brown. Immaculata led 30-25 at halftime, and was down just three going into the final stanza before being outscored 21-9 over the final eight minutes. Next, they’ll get Roselle Catholic in Monday’s 1:10 pm opening game.

Holmdel Holiday Invitational at Holmdel HS
Holmdel 54, Mount St. Mary 49
Colts Neck 78, Piscataway 47
East Brunswick 67, Marlboro 47
Manasquan 66, Somerville 25
Hudson Catholic 79, Ranney 47

Just as the boys, the East Brunswick girls are still undefeated as well, now 5-0 after a resounding win over Marlboro. Ava Catanho led the Bears with 35 points, while Sophia Tannura added 17. Catanho, just a sophomore, is averaging 21.1 points per game for the Bears after scoring at a 17.3 point per game clip as a frosh last season. East Brunswick will play host Holmdel at 1:30 Monday afternoon in the second day of the round robin event.

Mount St. Mary (1-3) got 15 points apiece from Calleigh Kreitz and Lucy Burke in a losing effort, though they trailed by just one at the half. Next up on Monday, they get 1-2 Ranney, coached by former Rutgers women’s basketball player Mauri Horton, in her first season leading the team.

Piscataway (1-3) got a double-double – 17 points and 14 boards – from Alyssa Iduh, along with three triples, in a losing effort. The Chiefs also got 12 from Caelyn Cook and 11 from Violet Azcona. Piscataway is back in action Monday in the round-robin event against Marlboro (3-2) at 11:45 am.

And Somerville (41-) took a tough first loss of the season to Manasquan, falling behind big early: 20-7 after one quarter. Amaya Miller scored 11 to lead the Pioneers, who are back in action Monday at 5 pm against Colts Neck (3-2).

Mercer County Community College Showcase at MCCC, West Windsor
Monroe 57, Hightstown 22
Hillsborough 57, Ewing 38

The Falcons (3-2) won their second straight game, both at the MCCC Showcase, beating Hightstown a day after taking out Trenton on Saturday afternoon. Kiera Longo led the way with 18, while Sophia Rivas had a 15-point night, all coming from downtown.

Hillsborough (5-1) was led by Kayla Cebedo and Alexa Gaspar, each with 17 points. Gaspar’s total was a season high, and she also recorded a double-double with ten rebounds, and hit three times from beyond the arc.

KSA Events Holiday Tournament at Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando
Pink Bracket
Pingry 45, Timber Creek (FL) 42
Mendham 37, Hopewell Valley 28

The Big Blue had a big second quarter, erasing a 25-13 halftime deficit to win by one. They’ll face Mendham (2-1) at 10 am on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve, in the Pink Bracket Championship Game.