Colonia entertains North Hunterdon in the opening round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 playoffs on February 27, 2026. (Source: Hudl)
Six of 14 boys’ basketball teams in the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area won their opening round NJSIAA state tournament games Friday night, after waiting two days to play due to the aftermath of this weekend’s blizzard.
(We’re still waiting on a Non-Public North B score from the Wardlaw-Hartridge game against Pioneer Academy, which was a 4:30 pm tip.)
In the meantime, here’s a brief recap of the night’s games involving CJSR-area teams, followed by full results in sections where those teams remain alive, and the upcoming schedule. Please note, while we have Saturday’s full schedule with times, many Monday times have not yet been announced, but we will update this story as those become available.
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3
No. 1 seed Colonia (17-10) snapped a mini two-game losing streak that included a loss in the GMC Tournament semifinals to Piscataway and a three-point tune-up loss last Saturday to Northern Highlands with a 71-41 win over 16th-seed North Hunterdon. The Patriots built a 33-20 halftime lead and controlled the rest of the way, led by Jayden Johnson’s 26 points, a career high for the junior and just his second double-digit scoring game in this, his first varsity season. Jayce Rodriguez added 20 for COlonia, which will now host ninth-seed Somerville in the quarterfinals Monday at 7 pm.
The Pioneers (16-11) were 43-30 upset winners at 8th-seed Randolph Friday night, getting 13 points fro Tim LaCanna, and another 11 from James Hampton. It was a low-scoring game, with Somerville leading 17-13 at the half after the teams played to a 5-5 second quarter; the Pioneers held the Rams to single-digit scoring in all four quarters of the game.
Meanwhile, in the other half of the bracket, sixth-seed South Plainfield was a 70-55 home winner over 11-seed Cliffside Park. The Tigers (17-10) got a mammoth 30-point night from Andrew Bena, five shy of a career high, and his third 30-plus point game this season; he also had two baskets from downtown and was 4-of-4 at the foul line. Boresa Juwala added 11 for South Plainfield, which will travel to third-seed Millburn Monday in the quarterfinal round. The Millers (23-4) were 70-55 winners at home Friday night over 14th-seed Nutley.
Central Jersey Group 1
The only winners from the CJSR area in this bracket will square off in the quarterfinals Monday, as Middlesex and Manville both won their first round games Friday night. The Blue Jays (19-8) were 70-46 winners over 14th-seed South Hunterdon, getting 19 from Jax Robel and 17 each from Julian Samuels and Chris Kozak. Meanwhile, the Mustangs (18-8) were 63-45 winners over Dunellen, led by Josh D’Ambrosio’s 19 points – including three treys. He was the only Manville player in double figures.
Middlesex beat Manville head-to-head in a GMC-Skyland crossover game back on January 20th, 56-39, while Manville won their lone meeting last year by eleven, 57-46.
Non-Public North B
Seven-seed Timothy Christian (8-18) was the only area team to win here, beating 10th-seed Koinonia, 74-54. The Tigers had four players in double figures and were paced by Anthony Snyder with 18, followed by Nathanael Sleman with 17. Both recorded double-doubles, both logging 13 rebounds each, while Aidan Badger had a triple-double of 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3
- (1) Colonia def. (16) North Hunterdon, 71-41
- (9) Somerville def. (8) Randolph, 43-39
- (5) Mendham def. (12) Payne Tech, 55-42
- (4) Warren Hills def. (13) Summit, 60-52
- (3) Millburn def. (14) Nutley, 76-72
- (6) South Plainfield def. (11) Cliffside Park, 70-55
- (7) Cranford def. (10) North Plainfield, 64-52
- (2) Chatham def. (15) Fort Lee, 89-43
Central Jersey Group 1
- (1) Thrive Charter def. (16) Keansburg, 96-25
- (8) Henry Hudson def. (9) Bound Brook, 54-47
- (12) New Providence def. (5) Piscataway Magnet, 77-50
- (4) Shore def. (13) Roselle Park, 65-41
- (3) Middlesex def. (14) South Hunterdon, 70-45
- (7) Manville def. (11) Dunellen, 63-45
- (10) Dayton def. (7) South Amboy, 56-39
- (2) Point Pleasant Beach def. (15) Perth Amboy Magnet, 64-23
Non-Public North B
- (9) Wardlaw-Hartridge at (8) Pioneer Academy, 4:30 pm; winner at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s
- (6) Montclair-Kimberley def. (11) Franklin School, 57-32
- (7) Timothy Christian def. (10) Koinonia, 74-54
Non-Public South B
- (8) St. Rose def. (9) Princeton Day, 62-33
- (5) Bishop Eustace def. (12) Noor-ul-iman, 87-21
- (4) Doane Academy def. (13) Moorestown Friends, 96-56
- (6) Ranney def. (11) Calvary Christian, 64-26
- (10) Wildwood Catholic def. (7) Gloucester Catholic, 66-63
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 (QUARTERFINALS)
Central Jersey Group 4
- (8) Freehold Twp. at (1) Hillsborough, 1 pm
- (5) Jackson Twp. at (4) East Brunswick, 1 pm
- (6) Trenton at (3) Montgomery, 1 pm
- (7) Sayreville at (2) Marlboro, 11 am
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4
- (9) Columbia at (1) Piscataway, 11:30 am
- (5) Bayonne at (4) Plainfield, 3 pm
- (6) Perth Amboy at (3) Union, 1 pm
- (10) Ridge at (2) Linden, 7 pm
Central Jersey Group 2
- (8) Holmdel at (1) Wall, 12 pm
- (5) Manasquan at (4) Delaware Valley, 1 pm
- (6) Johnson at (3) Ocean Twp., 12 pm
- (7) Rumson-Fair Haven at (2) Metuchen, 12p
MONDAY, MARCH 2 (QUARTERFINALS)
Note: Not all game times have been announced. This schedule will be updated as game times are set.
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3
- (9) Somerville at (1) Colonia, 7 pm
- (5) Mendham at (4) Warren Hills
- (6) South Plainfield at (3) Millburn, 7 pm (tentative)
- (7) Cranford at (2) Chatham
Central Jersey Group 1
- (8) Henry Hudson at (1) Thrive Charter
- (12) New Providence at (4) Shore
- (6) Manville at (3) Middlesex, 5 pm
- (10) Dayton at (2) Point Pleasant Beach
Non-Public South A
- (9) Union Catholic at (1) Paul VI, 7 pm
- (5) Red Bank Catholic at (4) St. Joseph-Metuchen, 7 pm
- (11) St. Thomas Aquinas at (3) St. Peter’s Prep, 6 pm
- (7) Camden Catholic at (2) Christian Brothers Academy, 6 pm
Non-Public North B
- (9) Wardlaw-Hartridge/(8) Pioneer Academy at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s
- (5) Morristown-Beard at (4) St. Mary-Rutherford
- (6) Montclair-Kimberley at (3) Morris Catholic
- (7) Timothy Christian at (2) Roselle Catholic
Non-Public South B
- (8) St. Rose at (1) Rutgers Prep
- (5) Bishop Eustace at (4) Doane Academy
- (6) Ranney at (3) Holy Spirit
- (10) Wildwood Catholic at (2) Holy Cross Prep
Discover more from Central Jersey Sports Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.