Tag: girls’ basketball

by Mike Pavlichko

After hustling for four varsity seasons, Rutgers Prep’s Ava LaMonica reflects on her time as an Argonaut, and finishing on top in Somerset County

The 2024-25 girls’ basketball season hurt for Rutgers Prep, and then-junior Ava LaMonica. There was no division title – at least not outright – they got knocked out of the Somerset County Tournament by her hometown public school of Hillsborough, and lost to eventual Non-Public B group champion Gloucester Catholic in the South B finals.

That wasn’t want LaMonica was used to her first two years at the Somerset school.

But with everyone back, the team rededicated itself to its goals, and in the end, got two out of three.

Rutgers Prep finished as the No. 1 team in Central Jersey, in the Bellamy & Son Paving final rankings, as the Argonauts went 25-4, won the Skyland Conference Delaware Division with a 6-0 record, and beat Franklin in the Somerset County Tournament title game.

That makes it three county titles, three outright division titles, one shared, and two sectional championships in four years for LaMonica, who – along with Cali McCoy off the bench – is the only four-year Rutgers Prep varsity player to graduate this year.

She finishes as a member of the thousand-point, 500-rebound club, scoring 1,132 points and grabbing 527 rebounds over her career, and laid it all out there every time she was on the court, fighting for rebounds, diving after loose balls, and deflecting passes by the opposition to get the Argonauts out in transition.

And if she’s hasn’t had enough of the snow this winter, she’ll see plenty more most likely when she takes her talents to the University at Buffalo next year.

Click below to hear Rutgers Prep senior Ava LaMonica talk about the 2025-26 season, the Argonauts return as Somerset County Tournament champions, and her time spent alongside great players and head coach Mary Klinger:

by Mike Pavlichko

Rutgers Prep girls, back on top in Somerset County, are No. 1 team in Final Bellamy & Son Paving rankings

Sure, the Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball team won 20 games last year, but it still wasn’t up to Mary Klinger’s standards. The coach calls the regular season the “preseason.” A division title is nice, but the county and state tournaments are the goals. Win those, and it’s a good year for the Argonauts. In 2025, they won neither.

But this year, with much of the same crew back, the Argonauts returned to their familiar spot as Somerset County Tournament champions, and finish the year No. 1 in the Bellamy & Son Paving Girls’ Basketball Top Ten.

Led by four-year varsity standout Ava LaMonica – the team’s top scorer, who will be playing collegiately next year at Buffalo – as well as fellow seniors Ava Frith and Sophia Georgiades, as well as super sophomore Hailey Benbow – the Argos’ second-best scorer and top rebounder – Rutgers Prep (25-4) didn’t lose a single conference game this season, its three regular season losses coming to Red Bank Catholic, Cardinal O’Hara (PA), and Blair right before the state tournament. Their fourth came to Gloucester Catholic in the Non-Public South B Final.

Prep beat Franklin – the eventual Central Jersey Group 4 champ – in the Somerset County Final, and won the Skyland Division title with a 6-0 record.

Gill St. Bernard’s checks in at No. 2. With a 22-6 mark, the Knights won the Non-Public North B title with a victory over Saddle River Day, then lout to Gloucester Catholic in the state Non-Public Group B final at Rutgers, the same Rams’ team that beat Rutgers Prep in the semifinals. Gill lost its only meeting with Rutgers Prep this season, 51-44 in late January, in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Finishing third is St. Thomas Aquinas (24-7). The Trojans – with the senior trio of Jordan Barnes, Trista Whitney and Kayla Navarro – blew through the GMC this season, going 11-0 to win the Red American Division, and stormed to their seventh straight GMC Tournament championship, beating resurgent East Brunswick in the final. They would bow out to eventual state champion Red Bank Catholic in the Non-Public South A semifinals.

Checking in at four is Franklin (22-9). A Somerset County Tournament finalist under first-year head coach Jimmy Kreie, the Warriors returned to their former – and fairly recent – glory with a win in the Central Jersey Group 4 title game over neighboring Hillsborough. They were knocked out of the state tournament by Lenape in the state Group 4 finals.

Fifth is Hillsborough (21-7). The Raiders had won two sectional titles in a row – in North 2, Group 4 in 2024 and Central 4 last season – but fell at Franklin in the Central Jersey Group 4 title game.

East Brunswick checks in at No. 6 with a 23-6 record. Ava Catanho and Julianna DelosSantos-Branson led the Bears back to prominence this season, as they got to the GMC Tournament title game, where they lost to now seven-time reigning GMCT champion St. Thomas Aquinas.

Bound Brook (25-4) – re-ignited by freshman sensation Peytan Pugh – finishes at No. 7, thanks to a Mountain Division championship, going 8-0 in divisional play. They nearly knocked off Rutgers Prep in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals, and reached the Central Jersey Group 1 title game, falling on the road to top-seed New Providence.

Finishing eighth is Bernards (24-5), which started the year 10-0, and was the Skyland Conference Valley Division champion at 11-1. They lost to defending champion Madison in the North 2, Group 2 semifinals.

At No. 9, it’s Colonia. After a down season, head coach Jill Bachonski has the Patriots looking solid, finishing 20-4, and going 8-0 to win the GMC Red National Division. They reached the GMC Tournament semifinals, falling to eventual champion St. Thomas Aquinas.

And No. 10 is Piscataway, making its season debut in the final rankings of the year. The Lady Chiefs finished 17-9, and went 6-0 to win the White American Division title, reaching the GMC Tournament semifinals, where they lost to East Brunswick.

Below are the complete final Bellamy & Son Paving Girls’ Basketball Top Ten rankings for 2025-26:

by Mike Pavlichko

New Providence three-point barrage dooms Bound Brook; Pioneers take second straight CJ1 title in 57-42 win

It’s not every day New Providence hits 12 three-pointers in a game – even if they have hit at least ten on four separate occasions this year, including 13 in an early January game against Fair Lawn – but they have that potential.

Saturday at home in the Central Jersey Group 1 final, they needed to hit against second-seed Bound Brook, and that’s exactly what the top-seeded Pioneers did, en route to a 57-42 victory that claimed their second straight sectional title, and third in the last four seasons.

Bound Brook never led, but it wasn’t like they never had a chance. They never trailed by double-digits in the first half, and were only down eight at halftime. This is the same team that fell behind 17-2 in the semifinals against Roselle Park – and the state’s top scorer in Sidney Smith – but rallied to take a double-digit halftime lead and win.

But New Providence (28-1) is the defending Group 1 champion for a reason. Senior Annie Conover led the way with 26 points, including six threes. Four of those came in the first half, and she had 14 at the break.

But it was sophomore Addy Fitzgerald – the only non-senior in the starting five – who may have buried Bound Brook. Even though the Crusaders had their opportunities as late as midway through the fourth quarter – and they had many throughout the game as well – Fitzgerald had three big third quarter treys, and finished with 14 points on the day.

Bound Brook (25-4) was led by Peytan Pugh, who had 22 points, two from beyond the arc, while senior Ty’asjah Ferguson added eight. Lauren Polakiewicz added six, on a pair of third-quarter triples.

Bound Brook senior Ty’asjah Ferguson drives to the basket in the Central Jersey Group 1 title game at New Providence on March 7, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

New Providence moves on to the state Group 1 semifinals Wednesday at 5 pm at Monroe Twp. H.S. against the winner of the South Jersey Group 1 final, featuring second-seed Wildwood at top-seed Haddon Twp.

Click below for postgame reaction on New Providence’s Central Jersey Group 1 title from head coach Cap Pazdera and senior Annie Conover, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

New Providence senior Annie Conover. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
by Mike Pavlichko

Rutgers Prep girls clinch 6th straight trip to sectional finals, win 79-46 over Stuart Day, to set up championship rematch with Gloucester Catholic

No matter how many finals they make, or championships they win, it never gets old for Rutgers Prep head coach Mary Klinger.

The top-seeded Argonauts easily won their Non-Public South B semifinal game Thursday night in Somerset, defeating fifth-seed Stuart Day, 79-46.

Another laugher from the start, Prep led 24-9 after one quarter and 42-16 at the half, with many outstanding performances throughout.

Natalia Valdez was on fire from downtown, hitting six times from beyond the arc, and finishing with a 20-point night. Ava LaMonica added 13 points and eight rebounds, Cali McCoy finished with 14 – and was 4-of-4 from the foul line, while Ava Frith added eight, and 11 rebounds.

Next up for the Argonauts (25-3), a trip down to Jackson Twp. High School (formerly Jackson Liberty) for the Non-Public South B championship against a familiar foe: Gloucester Catholic.

The second-seeded Rams pummeled third-seed Wildwood Catholic, 72-29, at home Thursday night to improve to 24-4.

Last year, Gloucester Catholic beat Prep 46-33 in the sectional final, before losing to Montclair-Immaculate – in the school’s final game before it closed last summer – in the Non-Public B Final at Rutgers.

Click below for postgame reaction from Rutgers Prep head coach Mary Klinger with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

The final scoreboard between Bound Brook (62) and Roselle Park (41).
by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – Central Jersey Group 1 Semifinals (Girls): (2) Bound Brook 62, (6) Roselle Park 41

Second-seed Bound Brook got 17 points and 16 steals from state steals leader and freshman sensation Peytan Pugh in a 62-41 home win over 6th-seed Roselle Park in the Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals, sending the Crusaders to their first sectional championship since 2020.

Click below to listen to Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Bound Brook High School on March 4, 2026.

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

Sunday NJSIAA State Tourney Notebook: Big challenges ahead for Piscataway boys, Metuchen girls, while Ridge nearly pulls second huge upset

The tip-off of the NJSIAA state basketball tournament had to wait two days, but we’ve seen a lot of basketball since things actually got underway on Thursday, and it was everything it always was: blowouts, expected wins, upsets and thrilling action.

With an off-day on Saturday before a full week ahead – starting with Group 1 and 3 sectional quarterfinal action Monday, and wrapping with public sectional title games Friday and Saturday – we thought we’d look back at a few storylines from the first three days of play.

Piscataway is ready for the challenge…

Everyone knows North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 on the bots’ side is an absolute best. Piscataway is far from chopped liver at 23-7, to be sure; they reached the GMC finals a little over a week ago for the second year in a row, and both years under head coach Bob Turco, who instilled a defensive philosophy that instantly turned the Chiefs into contenders in Middlesex County. But a couple of big state-ranked teams finished behind them in power points. Statewide No. 8 Linden – runner-up in the Union County Tournament to Roselle Catholic – got the two seed right behind Piscataway, while 16th-ranked Elizabeth got the seven seed.

Piscataway senior Donald Nwaigwe heads to the basket in the GMC Tournament semifinals against Colonia at Monroe Twp. High School on February 18, 2026. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

And what happened in the first round? Ridge knocked them the Minutemen, 54-53 Thursday night, on a buzzer-beater by Sidd Narayanabhatla. Keep in mind, that game was on the road as well. It just proves anything can happen year.

Then there’s Plainfield, the No. 6-ranked team in New Jersey, which got the fourth-seed, behind Linden. The Cardinals got through the first two rounds easily, beating 13-seed Bridgewater-Raritan 66-39, then fifth-seed Bayonne, 85-58. Meanwhile, Piscataway has rebounded nicely with three straight wins heading into Tuesday night’s semifinal matchup with fourth-seed Plainfield. Can they take them? It’s a huge challenge, no doubt, but that’s why they play and that’s why we watch.

Click below to hear Piscataway head coach Bob Turco talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Back to the Red Devils…

Speaking of upsets, that Ridge win over Elizabeth was a big one, and the Red Devils’ nearly pulled off a second one at Linden Saturday evening. The Tigers led 26-25 at the half, but trailed for the first 15 minutes and 59 seconds. They went ahead on a bucket with one second left before halftime. Ridge wouldn’t lead again, but kept it tight before falling by ten, 55-45. It was Linden’s lowest scoring output this post-season – including the Union County Tournament – and since a 50-41 loss to Union Catholic on February fifth.

What’s more remarkable is where Ridge came from. They started the season 0-4, and we first saw them this year in a December 21st loss to Delbarton up at FDU, 50-47. That left them at 0-4, but with a slew of injuries. From that point forward, though, Ridge won six of its next eight games, and finished the season a highly respectable 15-13. Among them were two losses to Gill St. Bernard’s, and one each to Rutgers Prep, Montgomery and Hillsborough, all four of which are state-ranked, with the Raiders jumping in at No. 20 last week.

Senior Sidd Narayanabhatla handles the ball for Ridge against Delbarton in a December 21, 2025 game at FDU_Madison. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

It was certainly a season of perseverance for Ridge, and they will have a large part of the core back next year, so there are some bright times ahead for the Red Devils, and a lot of good in 2025-26 off which to build for the future.

Click below to hear Ridge head coach Bill Lester talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

One half gone, what about the other?

Perhaps even more remarkable than Colonia’s four straight sectional titles in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 – all since the COVID year, when there were no state playoffs – is the fact that beyond that, Ramapo has been a thorn in their side. The Raiders have won North 1, Group 3 each of the last four seasons, and met Colonia in the state semis. And all four seasons, Ramapo has gotten the upper hand, all on neutral floors, whether it was at Phillipsburg in 2022 and 2023, Bloomfield in 2024, or at Elizabeth last season.

Even before COVID, they’d been a royal pain. While Colonia lost in the sectional final in 2020, they won it in 2019 – head coach Jose Rodriguez’ first season on the bench – and lost to Ramapo in the semis.

Well, no matter what the Patriots do – and they’re a remarkable story on their own, starting the year 2-6, but 15-4 since – that won’t happen this year. That’s because the Raiders, who were the six seed in North 1, Group 3, got knocked out in the first round on a late bucket by Morris Knolls, 68-67. That means someone else will win that section for the first time since 2018, when Demarest edged Ramapo 37-36 in the title tilt.

Metuchen is ready for anyone, and here comes Manasquan…

Shore Conference basketball is quite the beast indeed. On the girls’ side, you’ve got Red Bank Catholic, St. John Vianney, Manasquan, and just a notch down this year, Rumson-Fair Haven and usually St. Rose, though they’re having a down year, finishing 7-16 with a first round loss in the states.

The Warriors, meanwhile, are No. 7 in the state, and the top-seed in Central Jersey Group 2, where they’ve won the state Group 2 title each of the last two seasons. So, Metuchen knows what it’s up against.

Victoria Zaniecki – in the middle, with balloons – is Metuchen’s top scorer and rebounder. (Source: @metuchenbball on Instagram)

And even though they’re 15-13 and the 12-seed, they’re in the semifinals against Manasquan, coming off a 37-34 win in a rare 12/13 matchup over Robbinsville down at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor. Victoria Zaniecki has been a double-double machine; she went for 16 points and 12 rebounds against the Ravens Saturday evening, her 16th double-double of the season and fourth straight, including both games of the state tournament.

Click below to hear Metuchen head coach Kathy Glutz talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

Bernards continues terrific season, seeking first finals trip in nearly two decades…

The Mountaineers continue to roll on this season, with a 24-4 record, and are looking to make some history. Well, more than they’ve already made. Last year’s squad set a new program record for wins with 23, and they followed that up with 24 this season, a new mark.

After a 45-25 win over seventh-seed Hanover Park Saturday afternoon, seventh-seeded Bernards is a win away from its first sectional finals berth since 1998, when they lost to – get ready for it – Montgomery in Central Jersey Group 1. The year before, Bernards won their one and only title, beating Highland Park in the finals at Sayreville, bowing out in the state semis to Burlington Township, finishing 22-3.

That’s the kind of job Brett Bisconti has done in seven years at the helm, instilling a winning culture in his team. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have a group that has won 47 games in the last two years, including top scorer and rebounder Aletha Reynolds, then adding in a young freshman like Jane Freisen, who’s second on the team from downtown with 40 treys, second only to Reynolds’ 56.

A look ahead…

While the Group 1 and 3 publics and non-publics have only gotten in one round, Groups 2 and 4 are on to the semifinals, and we can get a picture of some possible championship game matchups.

The Montgomery boys have won the last two Central Jersey Group 4 titles, both on their home floor, both times as the top seed. In 2024, they were 63-37 winners over second-seed Monroe, and last year beat third-seed West Windsor-Plainsboro North 80-41. This year, they’re the third-seed, with Hillsborough the No. 1, despite the fact the Cougars beat them twice in the regular season: 53-37 at home on January 13th, and 53-38 on February 7th in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals.

Should the Cougars win at second-seed Marlboro (21-5) Tuesday in the semis, and the Raiders beat five-seed Jackson Twp. (18-6) at home, we’ll get a rubber match at Hillsborough. Can the Cougars claim a third win over the Raiders this season, for all the marbles in CJ4?

Meanwhile, just about any way you slice it in North 2, Group 4, it should be a great final. While Piscataway is the top-seed, fourth-seed Plainfield is pretty much the favorite against the Chiefs in Tuesday’s semifinals. If Donald Nwaigwe, Isaiah Fowler and Co. can pull this one off, they’d most likely get two-seed Linden, which is also having a great year. And if it’s Plainfield? Boy, that would be a great one, too.

On the girls’ side, we’d be surprised if top-seed Franklin didn’t take care of business with fifth-seed Jackson Twp. The Lions are 16-10, Franklin 20-8, and we’re not saying it will be easy, but they’re a battle-tested team, with New Jersey losses to Rutgers Prep (twice), Gill St. Bernard’s, Demarest, Immaculate Heart and Morris Catholic. Those are some solid teams, which means they’ve beaten everyone they should.

As far as the other teams in the semis, third-seed Hillsborough and second-seed East Brunswick, the Warriors haven’t played the Lady Bears, but did beat Boro – the defending state Group 4 champions – 72-44 back on January 6th. But the rematch between ‘Boro and EB should be interesting; as Hillsborough won their GMC-Skyland crossover back on January 22 at home, 70-52.

by Mike Pavlichko

Updated NJSIAA State Tournament schedule with boys’ and girls’ times for first round play

With the weekend snowstorm pushing back the first two rounds of the public sectionals in the NJSIAA state basketball tournament, most games stayed at the same times, just pushed two days later.

Monday, the NJSIAA postponed Tuesday’s first round for public sectionals in Groups 2 and 4, moving them to Thursday, when the quarterfinals were supposed to take place. That pushes the quarterfinals to Saturday, but keeps the rest of the schedule in tact, with semifinals still set for next Tuesday, March 3.

Then, on Tuesday, the state athletic association moved Wednesday’s first round for public schools in Groups 1 and 3 to Friday, the original date for the quarterfinals. That pushes the quarters back to next Monday, March 2, but the semifinals remain on Wednesday, March 3, with the rest of the schedule as originally planned as well.

No changes were made to the Non-Public tournament, with first round in the sectionals still set for this Thursday for Group A North and South; Friday will be Group B North and South.

Here’s the updated schedule of first round play for all sections where Central Jersey Sports Radio area teams are in the bracket:

BOYS’ BASKETBALL – FIRST ROUND

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Central Jersey Group 4

  • (16) Old Bridge at (1) Hillsborough, 6:30 pm
  • (9) Franklin at (8) Freehold Twp, 6 pm
  • (12) Hightstown at (5) Jackson Twp., 6:30 pm
  • (13) Edison at (4) East Brunswick, 5 pm
  • (14) Manalapan at (3) Montgomery, 5:30 pm
  • (11) Hunterdon Central at (6) Trenton, 5:30 pm
  • (10) South Brunswick at (7) Sayreville, 7 pm
  • (15) Princeton at (2) Marlboro, 6 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

  • (16) JP Stevens at (1) Piscataway, 7 pm
  • (9) Columbia at (8) Dickinson, 6 pm
  • (12) Scotch Plains-Fanwood at (5) Bayonne, 4:30 pm
  • (13) Bridgewater-Raritan at (4) Plainfield, 7 pm
  • (14) Ferris at (3) Union, 6 pm
  • (11) North Star Academy at (6) Perth Amboy, 6 pm
  • (10) Ridge at (7) Elizabeth, 7 pm
  • (15) Westfield at (2) Linden, 7 pm

Central Jersey Group 2

  • (16) Bordentown at (1) Wall, 5:30 pm
  • (9) Robbinsville at (8) Holmdel, 5:30 pm
  • (12) Roselle at (5) Manasquan, 7 pm
  • (13) Spotswood at (4) Delaware Valley, 7 pm
  • (14) Governor Livingston at (3) Ocean Twp., 5:15 pm
  • (11) Monmouth at (6) Johnson, 7 pm
  • (10) Point Pleasant Boro at (7) Rumson-Fair Haven, 6:30 pm
  • (15) Delran at (2) Metuchen, 6 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

  • (16) Newark West Side at (1) Newark Collegiate, 7 pm
  • (9) Bernards at (8) Weequahic, 7 pm
  • (12) Hanover Park at (5) Hackettstown, 7 pm
  • (13) Rutherford at (4) Madison, 6 pm
  • (14) Snyder at (3) Ridgefield Park, 7 pm
  • (11) Becton at (6) Caldwell, 7 pm
  • (10) Hillside at (7) Voorhees, 7 pm
  • (15) McNair at (2) Lyndhurst, 6 pm

Non-Public South A

  • (9) Union Catholic at (8) St. Augustine, 4 pm; winner at (1) Paul VI
  • (12) St. John Vianney at (5) Red Bank Catholic, 5:30 pm
  • (13) Donovan Catholic at (4) St. Joseph-Metuchen, 7 pm
  • (14) Notre Dame at (3) St. Peter’s Prep, 6 pm
  • (11) St. Thomas Aquinas at (6) Immaculata, 7 pm
  • (10) Pingry at (7) Camden Catholic, 7 pm

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

  • (16) North Hunterdon at (1) Colonia, 7 pm
    (9) Somerville at (8) Randolph, 5 pm
  • (12) Payne Tech at (5) Mendham, 7 pm
  • (13) Summit at (4) Warren Hills, 7 pm
  • (14) Nutley at (3) Millburn, 4:15 pm
  • (11) Cliffside Park at (6) South Plainfield, 6 pm
  • (10) North Plainfield at (7) Cranford, 7 pm
  • (15) Fort Lee at (2) Chatham, 7 pm

Central Jersey Group 1

  • (16) Keansburg at (1) Thrive Charter, 7 pm
  • (9) Bound Brook at (8) Henry Hudson, 5:30 pm
  • (12) New Providence at (5) Piscataway Magnet, 4 pm
  • (13) Roselle Park at (4) Shore, 4 pm
  • (14) South Hunterdon at (3) Middlesex, 5 pm
  • (11) Dunellen at (7) Manville, 7 pm
  • (10) Dayton at (7) South Amboy, 6 pm
  • (15) Perth Amboy Magnet at (2) Point Pleasant Beach, 5:30 pm

Non-Public North B

  • (9) Wardlaw-Hartridge at (8) Pioneer Academy, 4:30 pm; winner at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s
  • (11) Franklin School at (6) Montclair-Kimberley, 4:30 pm; winner at (3) Morris Catholic
  • (10) Koinonia at (7) Timothy Christian, 5 pm; winner at (2) Roselle Catholic

Non-Public South B

  • (9) Princeton Day at (8) St. Rose, 6 pm; winner at (1) Rutgers Prep
  • (12) Noor-ul-iman at (5) Bishop Eustace, 6:30 pm
  • (13) Moorestown Friends at (4) Doane Academy, 6 pm
  • (11) Calvary Christian at (6) Ranney, 4:30 pm; winner at (3) Holy Spirit
  • (10) Wildwood Catholic at (7) Gloucester Catholic, 5:30 pm; winner at (2) Holy Cross Prep

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL – FIRST ROUND

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26

Central Jersey Group 4

  • (15) Manalapan at (1) Franklin, 5:30 pm
  • (9) Sayreville at (8) Freehold Twp., 4 pm
  • (12) Monroe at (5) Jackson Twp., 4:30 pm
  • (13) Trenton at (4) Hunterdon Central, 5 p
  • (14) West Windsor-Plainsboro South at (3) Hillsborough, 4:30 pm
  • (11) Old Bridge at (6) Princeton, 4p
  • (10) Montgomery at (7) Marlboro, 4 pm
  • (15) Hightstown at (2) East Brunswick, 7 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

  • (16) Scotch Plains-Fanwood at (1) Bayonne, 7 pm
  • (9) Woodbridge at (8) North Star Academy, 5:30 pm
  • (12) Linden at (5) Columbia, 4:30 pm
  • (13) Ridge at (4) Plainfield, 5 pm
  • (14) Perth Amboy at (3) Piscataway, 5 pm
  • (11) Union at (6) Elizabeth, 5 pm
  • (10) Watchung Hills at (7) Bridgewater-Raritan, 5 pm
  • (15) JP Stevens at (2) Westfield, 5 pm

Central Jersey Group 2

  • (16) Ocean Twp. at (1) Manasquan, 5 pm
  • (9) Spotswood at (8) Delaware Valley, 5:30 pm
  • (12) Robbinsville at (5) Bordentown, 5 pm
  • (13) Metuchen at (4) South River, 4:30 pm
  • (14) Holmdel at (3) Johnson, 5 pm
  • (11) Governor Livingston at (6) Piscataway Magnet, 4 pm
  • (10 Delran at (7) Point Pleasant Boro, 5 pm
  • (15) Wall at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven, 5 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

  • (16) Harrison at (1) Caldwell, 5 pm
  • (9) Ridgefield Park at (8) Snyder, 5 pm
  • (12) West Morris at (5) Rutherford, 4 pm
  • (13) Weequahic at (4) Voorhees, 5 pm
  • (14) Newark West Side at (3) Madison, 4 pm
  • (11) Hoboken at (6) Hackettstown, 4 pm
  • (10) Newark Collegiate at (7) Hanover Park, 4 pm
  • (15) Lyndhurst at (2) Bernards, 7 pm

Non-Public North A

  • (9) Oak Knoll at (8) Montclair-Kimberley; winner at (1) Morris Catholic
  • (12) Holy Angels at (5) Mount St. Dominic, 4 pm
  • (13) Newark Academy at (4) DePaul, 5:30 pm
  • (14) St. Elizabeth at (3) Pope John, 5:30 pm
  • (11) Kent Place at (6) Pingry, 4:15 pm
  • (10) Paramus Catholic at (7) Dwight-Englewood, 4 pm
  • (15) Morristown-Beard at (2) Immaculate Heart, 5:30 pm

Non-Public South A

  • (9) Princeton Day at (8) Union Catholic, 4:30 pm; winner at (1) Red Bank Catholic
  • (12) Our Lady of Mercy at (5) Trinity Hall, 4:30 pm
  • (13) Immaculata at (4) St. Thomas Aquinas, 4:30 pm
  • (14) Mount St. Mary at (3) Paul VI, 5 pm
  • (11) Notre Dame at (6) Camden Catholic, 5 pm
  • (10) St. Rose at (7) Bishop Eustace, 6 pm
  • (15) Donovan Catholic at (2) St. John Vianney, 5 pm

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

  • (16) Warren Hills at (1) Somerville, 5:30 pm
  • (9) Carteret at (8) Summit, 5 pm
  • (12) Randolph at (5) Chatham, 5 pm
  • (13) North Plainfield at (4) Cranford, 5 pm
  • (14) Orange at (3) Millburn, 7 pm
  • (11) Fort Lee at (6) North Hunterdon, 5:45 pm
  • (10 South Plainfield at (7) Mendham, 5 pm
  • (15) Cliffside Park at (2) Colonia, 5 pm

Central Jersey Group 1

  • (16) Dunellen at (1) New Providence, 4 pm
  • (9) Middlesex at (8) Shore, 6 pm
  • (12) Highland Park at (5) Brearley, 4:30 pm
  • (13) Henry Hudson at (4) South Amboy, 4:30 pm
  • (14) College Achieve Central at (3) Keansburg, 4 pm
  • (11) Florence at (6) Roselle Park, 5:30 pm
  • (10 Manville at (7) Thrive Charter, 5 pm
  • (15) Dayton at (2) Bound Brook, 4:30 pm

Non-Public South B

  • (9) Holy Cross Prep at (8) Doane Academy, TBA; winner at (1) Rutgers Prep
  • (12) Noor-ul-iman at (5) Stuart Day, 4 pm; winner at (4) Holy Spirit
  • (11) Ranney at (6) Moorestown Friends, 3:45 pm; winner at (3) Wildwood Catholic
  • (10) Calvary Christian at (7) Koinonia, 6:30 pm; winner at (2) Gloucester Catholic

MONDAY, MARCH 2

Non-Public North B

  • (8) Pioneer Academy at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s, 4 pm
  • (5) Eastern Christian at (4) Villa Walsh, Wednesday 4 pm
  • (6) Mount St. Dominic at (3) Hudson Catholic, TBA
  • (7) Roselle Catholic at (2) Saddle River Day, 7 pm
by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA postpones Day One of state high school basketball tournament, moving Tuesday’s games to Thursday

A record-setting (if not, close to it) blizzard that socked New Jersey Sunday into Monday and will have people cleaning up for a while has forced the NJSIAA to postpone Tuesday’s opening day of the state high school basketball tournament.

Public school sections in Groups 2 and 4 would have begun play Tuesday, with the second round originally set for Thursday, the sectional semis next Tuesday and finals next Friday.

But Mother Nature had other ideas, and there appeared to be enough padding in the schedule to make the change.

Now, as reported by NJ.com, the first round for Groups 1 and 3 will be this Thursday, which likely moves the second round to Saturday, allowing for at least one day in between, and still two days between Saturdays quarterfinals and the originally-scheduled Tuesday sectional semifinals next week.

The rest of the schedule has not been changed, but there’s a possibility it could, depending on what areas of the state got hit the hardest, including restoration of power. Media reports seem to indicate the Jersey Shore got the worst of the storm, along with coastal flooding. As of 9 am Monday, the National Weather Service reported 20 inches of snow in Perth Amboy in Middlesex County as well as Chatham in Morris County, but 24 inches in Freehold.

Below is a full list of Tuesday games now set for Thursday in both the boys’ and girls’ tournaments, for sections that include CJSR-area teams. As of now, they should be the same game times, just on different days, but as Central Jersey Sports Radio learns of any changes, they will be updated here:

BOYS’ STATE TOURNAMENT – THURSDAY SCHEDULE

Central Jersey Group 4

  • (16) Old Bridge at (1) Hillsborough, 6:30 pm
  • (9) Franklin at (8) Freehold Twp, 6 pm
  • (12) Hightstown at (5) Jackson Twp., 6:30 pm
  • (13) Edison at (4) East Brunswick, 5 pm
  • (14) Manalapan at (3) Montgomery, 5:30 pm
  • (11) Hunterdon Central at (6) Trenton, 5:30 pm
  • (10) South Brunswick at (7) Sayreville, 7 pm
  • (15) Princeton at (2) Marlboro, 6 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

  • (16) JP Stevens at (1) Piscataway, 7 pm
  • (9) Columbia at (8) Dickinson, TBA
  • (12) Scotch Plains-Fanwood at (5) Bayonne, 4:30 pm
  • (13) Bridgewater-Raritan at (4) Plainfield, 7 pm
  • (14) Ferris at (3) Union, 6 pm
  • (11) North Star Academy at (6) Perth Amboy, 6 pm
  • (10) Ridge at (7) Elizabeth, 7 pm
  • (15) Westfield at (2) Linden, 7 pm

Central Jersey Group 2

  • (16) Bordentown at (1) Wall, 5:30 pm
  • (9) Robbinsville at (8) Holmdel, 5:30 pm
  • (12) Roselle at (5) Manasquan, 7 pm
  • (13) Spotswood at (4) Delaware Valley, 7 pm
  • (14) Governor Livingston at (3) Ocean Twp., 5:15 pm
  • (11) Monmouth at (6) Johnson, 7 pm
  • (10) Point Pleasant Boro at (7) Rumson-Fair Haven, 6:30 pm
  • (15) Delran at (2) Metuchen, 6 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

  • (16) Newark West Side at (1) Newark Collegiate, TBA
  • (9) Bernards at (8) Weequahic, 7 pm
  • (12) Hanover Park at (5) Hackettstown, 7 pm
  • (13) Rutherford at (4) Madison, 6 pm
  • (14) Snyder at (3) Ridgefield Park, 7 pm
  • (11) Becton at (6) Caldwell, 7 pm
  • (10) Hillside at (7) Voorhees, 7 pm
  • (15) McNair at (2) Lyndhurst, 6 pm

GIRLS’ STATE TOURNAMENT – THURSDAY SCHEDULE

Central Jersey Group 4

  • (15) Manalapan at (1) Franklin, 5:30 pm
  • (9) Sayreville at (8) Freehold Twp., 4 pm
  • (12) Monroe at (5) Jackson Twp., 4:30 pm
  • (13) Trenton at (4) Hunterdon Central, 5 pm
  • (14) West Windsor-Plainsboro South at (3) Hillsborough, 4:30 pm
  • (11) Old Bridge at (6) Princeton, 4p
  • (10) Montgomery at (7) Marlboro, 4 pm
  • (15) Hightstown at (2) East Brunswick, 7 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

  • (16) Scotch Plains-Fanwood at (1) Bayonne, 7 pm
  • (9) Woodbridge at (8) North Star Academy, 5:30 pm
  • (12) Linden at (5) Columbia, 4:30 pm
  • (13) Ridge at (4) Plainfield, 5 pm
  • (14) Perth Amboy at (3) Piscataway, 5 pm
  • (11) Union at (6) Elizabeth, 5 pm
  • (10) Watchung Hills at (7) Bridgewater-Raritan, 5 pm
  • (15) JP Stevens at (2) Westfield, 5 pm

Central Jersey Group 2

  • (16) Ocean Twp. at (1) Manasquan, 5 pm
  • (9) Spotswood at (8) Delaware Valley, 5:30 pm
  • (12) Robbinsville at (5) Bordentown, 5 pm
  • (13) Metuchen at (4) South River, 4:30 pm
  • (14) Holmdel at (3) Johnson, 5 pm
  • (11) Governor Livingston at (6) Piscataway Magnet, 4 pm
  • (10 Delran at (7) Point Pleasant Boro, 5 pm
  • (15) Wall at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven, 5 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

  • (16) Harrison at (1) Caldwell, 5 pm
  • (9) Ridgefield Park at (8) Snyder, 5 pm
  • (12) West Morris at (5) Rutherford, 4 pm
  • (13) Weequahic at (4) Voorhees, 5 pm
  • (14) Newark West Side at (3) Madison, 4 pm
  • (11) Hoboken at (6) Hackettstown, 5:30 pm
  • (10) Newark Collegiate at (7) Hanover Park, 4 pm
  • (15) Lyndhurst at (2) Bernards, 7 pm
by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – SCT Girls’ Semifinals: (1) Rutgers Prep 55, (5) Bound Brook 49

Top-seed Rutgers Prep got 11 points from Hailey Benbow and 10 from Natalia Valdez in a 55-49 win over fifth-seed Bound Brook in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals, sending them back to the title game.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas call all the play-by-play from Franklin High School in Somerset, NJ on February 14, 2026.