Tuesday Boys’ Holiday Tournament Roundup: Immaculata, South Plainfield, Metuchen, Piscataway Tech take trophies; Bridgewater-Raritan, Montgomery stay undefeated

With Tuesday wins in holiday tournaments, a number of boys’ basketball teams in the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area will be heading into the New Year on the right note, with a trio of Somerset County squads still undefeated.

That would include Montgomery and Bridgewater-Raritan, both of whom went 2-0 at Montgomery’s Cougar Classic, while Pingry also is unbeaten, having won two games down at the KSA Events Holiday Tournament in Orlando.

Here’s a look at the results in so far for Tuesday, December 30th.

Montgomery, Bridgewater-Raritan sweep Cougar Classic…

The Cougars are ranked No. 1 in the latest Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten, but by next week, maybe Bridgewater-Raritan will be in, too.

Everyone knows what the Cougars have done the last two seasons – winning a pair of Central Jersey Group 4 titles, and last year making it to the state finals at Rutgers – and even with some key losses, their young-ish team hasn’t missed a beat.

Tuesday, they finished off a 2-0 homestand in their own Cougar Classic, beating North Hunterdon 71-47, getting 20 points from Penn-bound senior Ethan Lin. Monty has had a challenging schedule, starting with a “home” win over Don Bosco Prep in the NJBCA Tip-Off Classic. They’re 6-0, scoring nearly 71 a game, and winning by nearly 24 per contest.

And then there’s Bridgewater-Raritan. With a 61-33 win over Princeton on Tuesday, the Panthers improved to 7-0 on the season. Senior Brandon Ur led the way with 18 points, but there are a bevy of newcomers to the varsity squad who have stepped up, according to head coach Gene McAteer, now in his 18th season. All that has Bridgewater off to its best start since Tim Ortelli was the coach, back in 2004-05. That team went 22-3 and won the North 2, Group 4 title, the fourth in program history, and its most recent.

Click below to hear Bridgewater-Raritan head coach Gene McAteer talk about the Panthers’ red-hot start to the season – and how they got there – with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Metuchen downs Voorhees to take Artie Flaherty Holiday Tournament…

The Bulldogs (5-0) won their own tournament when they beat Voorhees 59-42 at home on Tuesday afternoon. Cameron Hayes-Durina led all scorers with 21 points, also hitting nine free throws in the win, and pumping in 46 points over the two games, including a 25-spot against Brearley back on Monday. After the New Year’s break, Metuchen visits Carteret (3-4) Saturday in GMC White National Division play.

Brearley topped Franklin School (Jersey City) in the Consolation Game, 74-48.

Immaculata tops Sayreville in Battle at The Bomb Shelter final…

After holding on for a one-point win over Union in the opening game Monday, the Spartans (4-1) built a big lead at the half and hung on again – this time by ten – in a 71-61 win over the host Bombers (5-2). ‘Lata led 41-26 at the break, and it was enough cushion to withstand Sayreville Bryce Higgins led the way with 20 points, while Riley Gorman scored 18 for the second night in a row. Chidi Chukruwah led the Bombers in defeat with 22, while Ziyan Jones added 13 and Sam Jones scored 11, including three triples.

South Plainfield drops Edison for Anthony J. Cotoia Tournament win…

Boresa Jawula scored 20 points to lead all scorers and give the Tigers (5-1) a 73-45 win over the Eagles (4-2) in an all-GMC final. South Plainfield controlled nearly wire-to-wire, taking a 17-7 lead at the end of one, and a 39-20 advantage at halftime. All 13 players who got in the game for the Tigers scored in a balanced offensive night, with no one but Jawula hitting double figures. Dheeraj Samparaboyina led Edison with 18, while Dennis Toth had 13, and Lee Horton added ten.

Piscataway Magnet needs extra basketball to top Roselle Park in Hoopfest final…

In the title game at the Roselle Holiday Hoopfest, the Raiders (6-1) beat host Roselle Park, 75-69 in overtime, behind 24 points from A.J. Skara, while Kyle Malchiodi added another 20, including three triples. Kenneth McKindra also had three from beyond the arc, and finished with 16 points.

In the Consolation Game, Middlesex got by Keyport 74-48, pulling away in the second and third quarters after finishing the first eight minutes tied at 14. Jax Robel scored 20 for Middlesex, while Mark Melchiorre added 18 and Julian Samuels scored 16.

Watchung Hills falls to Millburn in Summit tourney…

The Peter Teirney Holiday Basketball Tournament trophy went to unbeaten Millburn (6-0), which beat Watchung Hills (3-3) in the final, 62-44, behind 14 points from Chace Redler. Watchung Hills had three players in double-figures in the loss, led by Will Randolph’s 15 points, and another 11 from Timmy Robertson.

OTHER TOURNAMENT SCORES…

Butch Kowal Holiday Tournament at Rahway HS
Scotch Plains-Fanwood 59, Matawan 27
Westfield 66, Carteret 41
Roselle 62, Perth Amboy 58
Rumson-Fair Haven 62, Rahway 51

Albert E. Martin Buc Classic at Red Bank Regional High School
5th Place Game: Ranney 68, Middletown South 52
3rd Place Game: East Brunswick 64, Red Bank Regional 42
Championship Game: Marlboro 53, Red Bank 51

Middlesex/Shore Holiday Tournament at South Amboy
Consolation Game: South Amboy 53, South River 49
Championship Game: Henry Hudson 66, Keansburg 43

Ravens Winter Classic at Robbinsville HS
Consolation Game: Robbinsville 82, North Brunswick 57
Championship Game: Johnson 50, Bordentown 38

Winter Showcase at Paul VI, Wayne
St. Joseph-Metuchen vs. St. Mary’s Ryken (MD)

Freehold Classic at Freehold Boro HS
East Brunswick Magnet vs. Freehold Boro
Holmdel 77, Spotswood 47

KSA Events Holiday Tournament at Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando
Grey Bracket
Pingry 73, Chicago Christian (IL) 47
First Baptist Academy (FL) 37, Bishop Eustace 35

Pingry will now face First Baptist Academy in the Grey Bracket Semifinals on Court 1 and 1 pm Wednesday, while the other semifinals will feature North