Colonia takes on Mendham in a rematch of last year’s North 2, Group 3 final in this year’s semifinals at Colonia on March 4, 2026. (Source: Hudl
What a run by Colonia.
The four-time defending North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 boys’ basketball champions are back looking for a fifth straight state title, after a win in the sectional semis Wednesday night, while the Bound Brook girls came back from a disastrous start at home against Roselle Park to reach the Central Jersey Group 1 final, its first since the 2020 season, which came to an end in the midst of the state playoffs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the four Central Jersey Sports Radio-area teams in action Wednesday night, the Patriots and Crusaders moved on, but the South Plainfield boys lost in the North 2, Group 3 semis at Chatham, while the Somerville girls also lost to Chatham, at home, in their North 2, Group 3 semifinal.
Read on for recaps and links to game stories, plus results, then the upcoming schedule for the boys and girls heading into sectional championships this weekend.
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 (Boys)
In a rematch of last year’s sectional final, top-seed Colonia trailed 6-1 after the first quarter against fifth-seed Mendham. That’s right: 6-1. That’s not even a football score. But great teams find a way, and the Patriots did just that. They rebounded with a 15-7 second quarter to take a 16-13 lead at the break, and led 28-20 going into the fourth. The first part of the quarter was a stalemate. Slowly, the Minutemen chipped away. All of a sudden, with about two minutes to go, the game was knotted at 28. But down the stretch, the Patriots hit their foul shots, and ratcheted up the defense. In the final minute, they forced Mendham – looking for a three to tie, down 33-30 – into a well-defended triple that missed, got the rebound, and hit one of two at the other end to put the game out of reach with four seconds and change to go.
Jayce Rodriguez finished with 12 points, and had two big free throws down the stretch. Desmond Rudanovic added eight and four rebounds, while Dylan Chiera chipped in with five.
It’ll be the sixth straight trip to the North 2, Group 3 final for Colonia (19-10), and head coach Jose Rodriguez – the GMC Coach of the Year – has now made the finals in every single year one was held, the only exception behind the 2021 COVID season, when the state tournament was not played. They are 5-1 in finals, winning in Rodriguez’ first year, losing in the final in 2020, then winning four straight from 2022 through 2025. Now they have a chance to win their fifth straight and sixth in seven trips to the finals since Rodriguez took over.
Meanwhile, sixth-seed South Plainfield fell at second-seed Chatham in the other North 2, Group 3 semifinal, 65-57. A tight game throughout, the Tigers and Cougars were tied 17-17 after one, and led 26-25 at the half. Down two going into the fourth quarter, 49-47, South Plainfield got outscored 16-8 over the final eight minutes to take the loss. Their season ends at 18-11, and they still have the distinction of being the only team to beat GMC Tournament champion St. Joseph-Metuchen this year, 55-54 back on January 27th. The Falcons are still alive in the Non-Public South A playoffs, facing Paul VI Thursday night at 7 at home in the semifinals.
- (1) Colonia def. (5) Mendham, 34-30
- (2) Chatham def. (6) South Plainfield
Central Jersey Group 1 (Girls)
Second-seeded Bound Brook will play in their first sectional title game since 2020, after a 62-41 win. But it didn’t look good from the start, as the Crusaders found themselves in a 17-2 hole against sixth-seed Roselle Park, which features the top girls’ scorers in the state, Sidney Smith, averaging 30 points a game. But Bound Brook rallied big, and took a double-digit lead into the locker room at halftime.
Freshman Peytan Pugh finished with 17 points for Bound Brook (25-3), while Jayden Campbell grabbed 12 rebounds, and Pugh fueled the comeback with 16 steals. Smith – who scored her 2,000th point in an opening round rout of Florence last week – still got her points, finishing with 25 in her final high school game before heading off to Siena.
Bound Brook will visit top-seed New Providence in Saturday’s sectional final.
- (1) New Providence def. (5) Brearley, 63-32
- (2) Bound Brook def. (6) Roselle Park, 62-41
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 (Girls)
Top-seed Somerville got stunned at home by fifth-seed Chatham, falling 45-26 in the sectional semifinals. This was another one with a slow start, as the Cougars led 7-2 after one. But unlike the Colonia boys, the second quarter also belonged to Chatham, which extended its lead to 22-10 at the half, then sealed the deal over the final eight minutes. Amaya Miller finished with 17 points, while Kaylee Lauber was next up with four. The Pioneers finish their season at 21-17.
- (5) Chatham def. (1) Somerville, 45-26
- (7) Mendham def, (3) Millburn, 45-29
Central Jersey Group 1 (Boys)
Manville’s season came to an end in the sectional semifinals, as the sixth-seeded Mustangs (19-9) fell at second-seed Point Pleasant Beach, 49-35.
- (1) Thrive Charter def. (4) Shore, 73-25
- (2) Point Pleasant Beach def. (6) Manville, 49-35.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, MARCH 5
Central Jersey Group 4 Final
- (3) Hillsborough (21-6) at (4) Franklin (21-8), 6 pm (LIVE on CJSR)
Non-Public North A Semifinals (Girls)
- (4) DePaul at (1) Morris Catholic, 7 pm
- (6) Pingry at (2) Immaculate Heart, 5:30 pm
Non-Public South A Semifinals (Girls)
- (4) St. Thomas Aquinas at (1) Red Bank Catholic, 5:30 pm
- (3) Paul VI at (2) St. John Vianney, 5:30 pm
Non-Public North B Semifinals (Girls)
- (4) Villa Walsh at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s, 5 pm
- (3) Hudson Catholic at (2) Saddle River Day, 4:30 pm
Non-Public South B Semifinals (Girls)
- (5) Stuart Day at (1) Rutgers Prep, 5 pm
- (3) Wildwood Catholic at (2) Gloucester Catholic, 5 pm
Non-Public South A (Boys)
- (4) St. Joseph-Metuchen at (1) Paul VI, 7 pm
- (3) St. Peter’s Prep at CBA, 6 pm
Non-Public North B (Boys)
- (4) St. Mary-Rutherford at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s, 7 pm
- (3) Morris Catholic at (2) Roselle Catholic, 7 pm
Non-Public South B (Boys)
- (5) Bishop Eustace at (1) Rutgers Prep, 7 pm
- (3) Holy Spirit at (2) Holy Cross Prep, 6 pm
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
Central Jersey Group 4 Final (Boys)
- (3) Montgomery at (1) Hillsborough, 6 pm
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Final (Boys)
- (2) Chatham at (1) Colonia, 2 pm
Central Jersey Group 1 Final (Girls)
- (2) Bound Brook at (1) New Providence, TBA
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