Franklin and Rutgers Prep tip off in the Somerset County Tournament final.
by Alec Crouthamel

Neighboring towns, Hillsborough and Franklin, battle for Central Jersey Group 4 crown

5.6 miles. Ten minutes (or fewer, depending on the amount of lead in your right foot).

That’s the distance on Amwell Road in Somerset County between Hillsborough High School and Franklin High School. And those two schools will face off in the Central Jersey Group 4 title game on Thursday evening, with the top-seeded Warriors (21-8) playing host to the defending Group 4 champions and third-seeded Raiders (21-6).

It’ll be a battle of experience levels, as Hillsborough looks for its third straight sectional title — winning North 2 Group 4 in 2024 and Central Jersey Group 4 last season — while Franklin reached its first sectional final since 2020 under first-year head coach Jimmy Kreie.

It all goes down in Franklin on Thursday evening. You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Alec Crouthamel, with pregame starting around 5:45 pm and tipoff at 6. Click here to listen.

Even after the Raiders lost a group of seniors from that title-winning squad, Hillsborough’s program culture kept some of the underclassmen ready for important action.

They’ve been needed, especially of late. Almost the entire rotation had to shift roles and/or positions with the absence of second-leading scorer Alexa Gaspar in the semifinals against East Brunswick. That preparation helped fuel a come-from-behind victory on the road, to help get Hillsborough to this point.

The Warriors have had mostly smooth sailing in the sectional tournament, winning three games against Shore Conference foes by an average of 40 points.

Junior forward Aleah Sunkins has continued to stake her claim as a top talent in the state, stacking the stat sheet while continuing to improve as a perimeter threat, paired with her ability to get downhill with force. She added a career-high 33 points against Jackson Township in a semifinal victory.

Franklin has a style — and plenty of athleticism and versatility to boot — as things are fully coming together down the stretch of Kreie’s first year at the helm.

It’ll be a heavyweight battle in the sectional title, and a rematch at that. The Warriors defeated the Raiders in Hillsborough 72-44 back on January 6th, but both coaches agree their respective teams have improved and evolved in the two months since that game.

Hillsborough may have the championship experience, but Franklin brings a title-winning coach himself — Kreie won the Non-Public B title with now-closed Montclair Immaculate last season — and a team hungry to reach the heights of the late 2010s, in its first sectional title appearance in six years.

Both teams will look to run and gun, but in the end, whichever team sticks to its plan and stays calm under pressure will likely walk away with the trophy.

Click below to hear preview interviews with both head coaches and Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel:


Hillsborough head coach Courtney Tierney

Franklin head coach Jimmy Kreie

by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA announces site designations for public school basketball tourney State semifinals

The NJSIAA has announced what sectional champions will play where next week, when the state high school basketball tournament moves to the group semifinal stage.

Groups 2 and 4 will play state semifinals on Tuesday, with Groups 1 and 3 taking their turn on Wednesday.  Winners move on to the state Group Finals at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, with Groups 2 and 4 playing on Saturday, and Groups 1 and 3 finishing up on Sunday.

Here are the assignments for next week’s State semifinals.

Tuesday, March 10 – Groups 2 and 4

  • Group 4 North 1 vs. North 2:  The Dunn Center, Elizabeth; boys at 5, girls at 7
  • Group 4 Central vs. South:  Deptford H.S.; boys at 5, girls at 7
  • Group 2 North 1 vs North 2:  Bloomfield H.S.; boys at 4:30, girls at 7
  • Group 2 Central vs. South:  Monroe Twp. H.S.; boys at 5, girls at 7

   

Wednesday, March 11 – Groups 1 and 3

  • Group 3 North 1 vs. North 2:  The Dunn Center, Elizabeth; boys at 5, girls at 7
  • Group 3 Central vs. South:  Central Regional H.S., Bayville; boys at 5, girls at 7
  • Group 1 North 1 vs. North 2:  Franklin H.S.; boys at 6, girls at 7:30
  • Group 1 Central vs. South:  Monroe Twp. H.S.; boys at 5, girls at 7

Based on those assignments, here’s where the remaining public schools in the tournament from the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area would land:

  • Montgomery, Hillsborough boys:  The Central Jersey Group 4 winner would play down at Deptford at 5 pm Tuesday against the South 4 winner, either Cherry Hill East or Lenape.
  • Hillsborough, Franklin girls:  The Central Jersey Group 4 winner would play down at Deptford at 7 pm Tuesday against the South 4 winner, either Lenape or Howell.
  • Colonia boys:  The North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 winner would play at The Dunn Center in Elizabeth Wednesday at 5 pm against the North 1, Group 3 winner, either Teaneck or Montville.
  • Bound Brook girls:  The Central Jersey Group 1 winner would play at  Monroe Twp. H.S. Wednesday at 7 pm against the South 1 winner, either Haddon Township or Wildwood.
by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA State Tourney Roundup: Colonia boys clinch 6th straight trip to sectional finals; Bound Brook girls overcome early abyss to reach finals; South Plainfield, Manville boys, Somerville girls bow out

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.

Click below to hear Colonia head coach Jose Rodriguez talk about the Patriots’ win over Mendham with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko.

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 Elon.

Bound Brook will visit top-seed New Providence in Saturday’s sectional final.

Click here to read Alec Crouthamel’s game story, including postgame reaction from Pugh and head coach Jen Derevjanik, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen.

  • (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

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
The final scoreboard between Bound Brook (62) and Roselle Park (41).
by Alec Crouthamel

Bound Brook shakes off rough first quarter, topples Roselle Park for first sectional title appearance since 2020

Just by looking at the final score, it looked like second-seeded Bound Brook girls basketball worked a ho-hum, big-time victory in the Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals against sixth-seeded Roselle Park.

But for those watching — and listening on Central Jersey Sports Radio — it was anything but.

The Crusaders (25-3) trailed 17-2 in the first quarter, but rallied back to take a double-digit halftime lead, and continued to build in the second half for a 62-41 victory over the upset-minded Panthers (18-8).

Bound Brook clinched a win, and its first appearance in the sectional title since 2020, when it won the Central Jersey Group 1 title and was won the Group 1 semifinal to end the COVID-19-shortened season.

Freshman guard Peytan Pugh paced the Crusaders with 17 points, while continuing her work as the state’s steals leader with countless swipes at the ball, turning into extra possessions on the offensive end. Bound Brook had three other scorers in double figures, as senior wing Ty Ferguson added 14 — all in the second and fourth quarters — while Lauren Polakiewicz made a trio of three-pointers for 12 points, and Jayden Campbell scored ten.

Roselle Park star guard Sidney Smith — the leading scorer in the state — finished with a game-high 26 points and was the only Panther in double figures. She finished five points shy of her season average, as the Crusaders threw multiple different looks and defenders at her to try to contain her premiere shotmaking.

Roselle Park took all of the momentum to start, playing uptempo on both ends of the floor as Smith scored eight points in the opening quarter and the Panthers’ supporting cast helped lead the way, as Hannah Djokic knocked down two three-pointers and Otilla Dobre added another.

After a 17-2 start, Bound Brook stabilized things a bit with two straight baskets to end the frame down by 11.

Then once the second quarter tipped off, the Crusaders were off to the races.

They outscored Roselle Park 28-7 in the quarter, as their own uptempo style got going, led by multiple steals from Pugh to set up transition opportunities. Bound Brook opened the quarter on a 16-0 run to take the lead back, and eventually went into the locker room with a double-digit lead, at 34-24. The trio of Pugh, Polakiewicz, and Ferguson combined for 24 of the 28 second-quarter points, as the Crusaders snatched all of the momentum back and kept it the rest of the way.

The Panthers wouldn’t go down without a fight, though. Early in the third quarter, Smith put on a heroic scoring run to get Roselle Park back within four, knocking down fallaway jumper after fallaway jumper. But Pugh knocked down a three in the final minute of the quarter and gave Bound Brook some breathing room with a seven-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Roselle Park gave the Crusaders an inch, and they took it a mile to open the fourth quarter. They outscored the Panthers 18-6 and put the game away with an increased focus on attacking the basket and continuing to double-team — and sometimes even triple-team — Smith, daring the superstar scorer to give the ball up and force someone else to beat them.

In the sectional semifinals, Bound Brook shook off a rough start and battled to dominate the final 24 minutes of the game to snap a six-year sectional title appearance drought. The Crusaders will move on to face New Providence in the Central Jersey Group 1 championship game, set for Saturday between the section’s top two seeds.

Click here to listen to postgame comments from Bound Brook head coach Jen Derevjanik and freshman guard Peytan Pugh, with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel, presented by the Sportsplex at Metuchen:


by Alec Crouthamel

Bound Brook heads into Central Jersey Group 1 semifinal, with a tall task at hand against Roselle Park

Some of the more eye-popping individual stat-holders in the state of New Jersey will all face off in Bound Brook on Wednesday.

The second-seeded Crusaders (24-3) head into a battle of star guards, taking on upset-minded Roselle Park, the sixth seed, in the Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals. Bound Brook can secure a spot in the sectional final for the first time since 2020, while the Panthers’ (18-7) third-year head coach, Staci Hartzler, has led the program to new heights recently, in the sectional semifinal for the first time in at least 20 years — as far back as this writer could find the records.

This upcoming matchup features the state’s top scorer and three-point shooter (Roselle Park’s Sidney Smith), second-leading rebounder (Panthers’ sophomore Emma Gregoire), and top steals leader (Crusaders’ freshman guard Peytan Pugh). They’ll all take the court in Bound Brook on Wednesday evening for a 5:30 tipoff. You can hear that game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Alec Crouthamel, with pregame starting around 5:15. Click here to listen.

The Crusaders come into the matchup with a gaudy win-loss record and a nail-biting 66-61 win in the quarterfinals over seventh-seeded Thrive Charter in the quarterfinals, avenging a loss in that same matchup last season in the sectional semifinals.

Two of their three losses came in the same week against local powers, falling to Rutgers Prep in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals before losing to Gill St. Bernard’s seven days later. But Bound Brook has nearly run the table against the entire rest of its schedule.

Pugh has burst onto the scene as a freshman, leading the team in points, rebounds, assists, and, of course, steals. She’s also finding her stride at the right time, fresh off her second triple-double of the season with 26 points, ten rebounds, and 13 steals to tie her season-high, even dishing out five assists, as well.

Surrounding Pugh are two other productive guards, with Ti’asjah Ferguson serving as the top slasher on the team and Lauren Polakiewicz leading the way from the perimeter. Both scored in double-figures in the quarterfinals and will certainly be relied on to come up with big-time buckets if another close game goes down.

But Roselle Park will have revenge on its mind, just as the Crusaders did against Thrive.

The Panthers lost in this very matchup in the sectional quarterfinals last year, their first appearance in the round since 2009, as part of the first winning season for Roselle Park since that same year.

Smith, signed to play Division I basketball at Elon next year, gets plenty of attention for her scoring, especially after her fifth 40-point performance of the season in an upset win over Keansburg in the quarterfinals. But the Panthers feature some dangerous size and rebounding as well.

Both Gregoire and senior Madison Wilkes average double-digits on the boards per game, and they’ve put up video game numbers of their own, including six games with 20 or more boards this year for Gregoire.

A handful of the Garden State’s top individual performers will do battle in Bound Brook, as each team looks to snap multi-year sectional title droughts led by their respective star guards.

Click below to hear a preview interview with Bound Brook head coach Jen Derevjanik, with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel:

by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals (Boys): (1) Hillsborough 73, (5) Jackson Twp. 44

Top-seed Hillsborough got 15 points each from Jack Toth and Aaron Feath – with Feath hitting three times from downtown – to beat fifth-seed Jackson Township in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals, 73-44, sending the Raiders to their first sectional title game since they won their only championship, in 2015.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko call all the play-by-play from Hillsborough High School on March 3, 2026.

by Mike Pavlichko

Girls’ Basketball Roundup: Franklin, Hillsborough claim CJ4 semifinals wins, but Metuchen, Bernards see their seasons come to an end

Two Central Jersey Sports Radio-area girls basketball teams are on to the same sectional final in the NJSIAA state tournament, but two others saw their seasons come to an end Tuesday night.

Third-seed Hillsborough will play at top-seed Franklin Thursday night for the Central Jersey Group 4 championship, after both teams won Tuesday.

But Metuchen saw it’s season come to and end down the Shore, while Bernards lost on its home floor to defending North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 champion Madison.

Scroll through for recaps, audio, and links to separate stories, followed by an updated upcoming schedule with dates and times.

Central Jersey Group 4

Despite missing Alexa Gaspar, who was out sick, Hillsborough improved to 21-6 and moved on to its third straight title game with a 60-49 win at second-seed East Brunswick. Isabella Ruh logged her 18th double-double of the season in 27 games, scoring 17 points and adding 15 rebounds. The Raiders were North 2, Group 4 champions in 2024, winning their first-ever sectional title, then followed it up by winning Central Jersey Group 4 last year – and the state Group 4 title two games later.

Click here to read our game story, and hear postgame comments from Hillsborough head coach Courtney Tierney.

Meanwhile, in Franklin, the top-seeded Warriors were 66-34 winners over fifth-seed Jackson Twp., getting a career-high 33 points from junior Aleah Sunkins. A strong third quarter helped Franklin pull away. The final will be Thursday instead of Friday – the designated day for Group 2 and 4 sectional finals – since Franklin is hosting District 5 NJSIAA wrestling that night

Click here to read our game story, and hear postgame comments from Franklin head coach Jimmy Kreie.

  • (1) Franklin def. (5) Jackson Twp., 66-34
  • (3) Hillsborough def. (2) East Brunswick, 60-49

Central Jersey Group 2

The 13th-seed, Metuchen, ran into the buzzsaw that is state power Manasquan Tuesday night, losing to the top-seed 53-18. The Bulldogs got shutout 16-0 in the first quarter, too big a hole to climb back from, and trailed 30-4 at the half. Victoria Zaniecki had a double-double in the losing effort – 12 points and ten rebounds – as their season comes to a close at 15-14.

  • (1) Manasquan def, (13) Metuchen, 53-18
  • (2) Rumson-Fair Haven def. (3) Johnson, 45-38

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

Second-seed Bernards saw its season come to an end with a 51-40 loss to four-time defending champion and third-seed Madison. The Mountaineers couldn’t find their shot from the get-go, going the first ten minutes without a field goal, and trailed 11-2 at one point. They were able to climb back in the third quarter and cut the deficit to 35-34, but Madison hit some big threes – and their foul shots – and gradually built a lead they would never relinquish. Senior Aletha Reynolds scored 14 points and had ten rebounds to record a double-double in her final high school game – she’s committed to Catholic University in Washington, D.C. – while Maddie Frame added 11; each of them had a pair of treys in the game.

Click here to listen to postgame comments from Bernards head coach Brett Bisconti with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas.
  • (1) Caldwell def. (4) Voorhees, 67-44
  • (3) Madison def. (2) Bernards, 51-40

THURSDAY, MARCH 5

Central Jersey Group 4 Final (Girls)

  • (3) Hillsborough (21-6) at (4) Franklin (21-8), 6 pm

Non-Public North A Semifinals (Boys)

  • (4) DePaul at (1) Morris Catholic, 7 pm
  • (6) Pingry at (2) Immaculate Heart, 5:30 pm

Non-Public South A Semifinals (Boys)

  • (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 (Boys)

  • (4) Villa Walsh at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s, 5 pm
  • (3) Hudson Catholic at (2) Saddle River Day

Non-Public South B Semifinals (Boys)

  • (5) Stuart Day at (1) Rutgers Prep, 5 pm
  • (3) Wildwood Catholic at (2) Gloucester Catholic, 5 pm

by Mike Pavlichko

Boys’ Basketball Roundup: Montgomery, Hillsborough advance to meet in Central Jersey Group 4 final; Piscataway falls to defending Group 4 champion Plainfield

Somerset County basketball fans will get the matchup they wanted to see this Friday night, as both top-seed Hillsborough and third-seed Montgomery – neighbors along Route 206 – will meet in the Central Jersey Group 4 final Friday night, after both won sectional semifinal games on Tuesday.

Central Jersey Sports Radio-area boys’ basketball teams went 2-1 Tuesday evening, with top-seed Piscataway falling to defending Group 4 state champion Plainfield at home.

Scroll down for brief recaps and links to coverage in separate stories, complete with postgame comments from the head coaches, then check out the upcoming schedule below.

Central Jersey Group 4

Top-seed Hillsborough was locked in a tight game with fifth-seed Jackson in the first half, which saw seven ties, and five lead changes. The last change came when Hillsborough took a late 30-28 heading into the locker room, after which they pulled away in the third quarter for a 73-44 win that sends them to a sectional title game for the first time since the Raiders won their only title, in 2015.

Click here to read our game story, and hear postgame reaction from sophomore Aaron Feath and head coach Tim Palek, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen.

Meanwhile, two-time defending CJ4 champion Montgomery will get a crack at a three-peat, after they came from behind to beat second-seed Marlboro on the road, 61-49, behind 30 points from senior point guard Ethan Lin, one shy of a career high.

Click here to read our game story, and hear postgame comments from Montgomery head coach Kris Grundy.

  • (1) Hillsborough def. (5) Jackson Twp., 73-44
  • (3) Montgomery def. (2) Marlboro, 61-49

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

Top-seed Piscataway had all it could handle against fourth-seed Plainfield – the defending state Group 4 champions and sixth-ranked team in New Jersey – in taking a 73-57 loss at home. The Chiefs hung in early with the game tied 17-all after one, but a 24-8 second quarter proved to be too much a hole for Piscataway to dig out of.

Click here to read Alec Crouthamel’s game story, including postgame reaction from Piscataway head coach Bob Turco.

  • (4) Plainfield def. (1) Piscataway, 73-57
  • (2) Linden def. (3) Union, 54-35

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 (SEMIFINALS)

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

  • (5) Mendham at (1) Colonia, 6 pm
  • (6) South Plainfield at (2) Chatham, 7 pm

Central Jersey Group 1

  • (4) Shore at (5) Thrive Charter, 7 pm
  • (6) Manville at Pt. Pleasant Beach, 5:30 pm

THURSDAY, MARCH 5 (SEMIFINALS)

Non-Public South A

  • (4) St. Joseph-Metuchen at (1) Paul VI, 7 pm
  • (3) St. Peter’s Prep at CBA, 6 pm

Non-Public North B

  • (4) St. Mary-Rutherford at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s
  • (3) Morris Catholic at (2) Roselle Catholic

Non-Public South B

  • (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
(3) Montgomery (24-4) at (1) Hillsborough (22-7), 6 pm

by Mike Pavlichko

Top-seed Franklin gets complete game from entire cast to top Jackson Twp., 72-44, reach first sectional final since 2020

The Franklin girls’ basketball program has had a few tough years since COVID, when you consider they had won the Tournament of Champions in 2017, then again in 2019 with a perfect 34-0 record, and might have done it a third time had the entire planet not been hit by a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic.

This year, not so much, under first-year head coach Jimmy Kreie, who has picked up quickly what the rivalry games mean down here in Central Jersey, having grown up in Bergen County.

His top-seeded Warriors will face another rivalry game Thursday night, thanks to a 66-34 home win over fifth-seed Jackson Twp. Tuesday in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals of the state tournament, to send them to their first sectional final since 2020.

Junior phenom Aleah Sunkins scored a career high 34 points in the victory, but it was the balance the rest of the way that stood out to Kreie: another 11 from Alivia Steward, eight from Gianna Mattia, and four each from Nola Bright, Jamila McRiney, and Kayla Duncan.

Franklin got out to an 18-7 lead after one, and was up 36-21 at the half before breaking the thing wide open with a 25-8 third quarter before the benches emptied and the starters had some time to rest.

Now, in the final, the Warriors will meet third-seed Hillsborough, a 60-49 winner at two-seed East Brunswick Tuesday night. The final initially was set to be Friday, but had to be moved because Franklin’s gym is hosting District 9 wrestling for the NJSIAA on Friday. Start time will be 6 pm.

Click here to listen to postgame comments from Franklin head coach Jimmy Kreie, with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

by Mike Pavlichko

Hillsborough girls knock off East Brunswick, 60-49 in CJ4 semis, earn chance to three-peat as sectional champions

Tuesday night’s Central Jersey Group 4 semifinal for the Hillsborough girls’ basketball team was a roller coaster, and from the start they were a little out of sorts.

But by the second half, the Raiders figured things out, and the rest of the game was like coasting to the ride’s finish line on a straightaway.

It all amounted to a 60-49 win for second-seeded Hillsborough at third-seed East Brunswick, sending the Raiders to a third straight sectional final, after they won North 2, Group 4 in 2024, and Central Jersey Group 4 last season, along with the overall state Group 4 Championship.

Isabelle Ruh notched her 18th double-double of the season in 27 games – and second straight in the state tournament – with a 17-point, 15-rebound night, while Morgan Bice added 13 and Kayla Cebedo added 15.

Head coach Courtney Tierney said with Gaspar out, some players had to slip into different roles, and it took a little while to get accustomed to that. But once they did, the Raiders (21-6) looked like the championship team they’ve been the last two seasons.

But they will have a stiff test Thursday night in the final at top-seed Franklin. To begin with, the game was moved one day earlier to accommodate a state wrestling event Franklin is hosting on Friday. Tip-off will be 6 pm.

That also means they’ll have one less day to prepare for the Warriors (21-8), who beat them in their only regular season meeting this year, 72-44, back on January 6th in Hillsborough.

East Brunswick’s season ended at 23-6. Sophomore Ava Catanho finished with 17 points – tying Ruh for game-high honors – and added nine rebounds.

Click below to hear postgame comments from Hillsborough girls’ basketball coach Courtney Tierney with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko: