Tag: holiday tournaments

by Mike Pavlichko

Ridge boys pull off big win, Devine nets 1,000 for Middlesex girls, as holiday tourney week wraps up with Friday, Saturday games

Unranked in the Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Top Ten, the Ridge boys’ basketball team came up with a huge victory Friday, topping No. 2 St. Joseph-Metuchen, 70-60, to take the title in their very own holiday tournament, the Whitey Dukiet All-American Holiday Classic in Basking Ridge.

It was the Falcons’ first loss of the season, dropping them to 5-1. Ridge is also 5-1.

The Red Devils rallied to come back in this one, down ten at the end of the first quarter, managing just eight points, and they trailed 32-21 at the half. But Ridge exploded for 49 points in the second half against St. Joe’s, which was also ranked in the statewide Top 20.

Ridge was led by Owen Chwatek with 21, one of three players in double figures, including Luke Kreitz, who not only scored 20, but also was a perfect 13-for-13 from the foul line, key down the stretch to the rally.

Here’s a closer look at Friday action on the boys’ side. Scroll down further for a look at girls’ holiday tournament action.

FRIDAY BOYS’ RESULTS:

Butch Kowal Tournament at Rahway: An all-GMC consolation game saw North Plainfield hand Timothy Christian its second straight loss after a 4-0 start, 59-58 in overtime. Nfii Bannavti led the Canucks with 18 points, while Chukwudi Raphael Mamah finished with a double-double, leading all scorers with 27 points, adding 15 rebounds. North Plainfield rallied from a 45-40 deficit heading into the final eight minutes to send the game to overtime.

Cougar Classic at Chatham: After splitting its first two games in the three-day round-robin format event, Watchung Hills (7-1) got a season-high 24 points from John Kelly, while three other players scored in double figures, en route to a 68-55 win over Cranford.

Cougar Holiday Classic at Montgomery: The host Cougars used a three-point barrage – 14 of them – to beat visiting Bridgewater-Raritan in the finale of the round-robin event, 88-46. Steve Donahue matched a career high of 27 points and set a new career high with six triples in the game. Read the full game story and hear postgame reaction here. Montgomery (6-0) is the last undefeated team left in the Skyland Conference. Bridgewater falls to 4-3 with the loss.

Falcon Holiday Tournament at Monroe: The host Falcons (5-1) took the trophy with a 47-40 win over Carteret (3-3), in a low-scoring game that was tied 15-all at the half. Mark Laughery and Nick Cicchetti each had 11 points to lead Monroe. The consolation game saw South Brunswick (1-4) cruise past New Brunswick (2-4) for its first win of the season, 72-21.

Mike Shello Holiday Tournament at Dunellen: Friday’s final saw Manville (4-2) get past host Dunellen at the Faber School, 44-31, behind 15 points from Tyler Kesolitz and 11 from Edryn Morales. Joel Cruz-Maiza had 12 in defeat for the Destroyers (1-5). In the consolation game, Highland Park (4-2) got by Academy for Urban Leadership Charter in overtime, 59-57.

Manville celebrates a win over Dunellen to take the Mike Shello Holiday Tournament title at the Faber School in Dunellen on December 29, 2023. (Source: @manville_bball on Twitter)

North Warren Holiday Extravaganza: The consolation game here went to Perth Amboy Magnet (3-4), which beat Somerset Tech (2-4) in an all-GMC matchup, 58-49.

Ravens Winter Classic at Robbinsville: After a 14-13 first quarter lead, North Brunswick (4-3) fell to their undefeated hosts (5-0) in the title game, despite a 19-point day from Brandon McCain, and 15 each from Tommy Koroma and Jack Garbolino.

Voorhees Holiday Tournament at Voorhees: A deep hole of 20-5 after one quarter doomed Wardlaw-Hartridge (0-6) in a 78-35 defeated to Mount Olive in the consolation game Friday afternoon.

FRIDAY GIRLS’ RESULTS:

Blue Devils Invitational at Shore Regional: After a loss to Monmouth, 46-11, in their opener, Sayreville bounced back for its first win of the season, a 47-10 drubbing of Jackson Liberty (0-7). Danielle Verlingo led the Lady Bombers with her first career double-double: 12 points and ten rebounds.

Chatham Tournament at Chatham: It was a third straight loss in the three-day, round robin showcase for Watchung Hills (1-6), which fell 60-49 to Cranford Friday.

Clem Santy Holiday Tournament at Dunellen: The trophy goes to Highland Park (3-2) in this one, which beat Manville (3-4) by a 45-39 score Friday afternoon behind a double-double from Vanessa Kohler, who had 17 points and 15 rebounds, and six steals to boot. Manville had three players in double figures, including leading scorer Valentina Barrios with 14. Middlesex (3-3) doubled up host Dunellen (3-2) in the consolation game, 52-26, behind 33 points from Jessica Devine, who cracked the 1,000 point mark in the game

Middlesex junior Jess Devine with hear teammates after scoring her 1,000th point against Dunellen in the consolation game of the Clem Santy Holiday Tournament in Dunellen on December 29, 2023. (Source: @GoJaysAthletics on Twitter)

Cougar Holiday Classic at Montgomery: In the round robin event’s finale Friday, the host Cougars (3-3) beat visiting Bridgewater-Raritan (1-6) by a 42-37 score, behind 17 points from Aliza Schulberg and 10 from Alia Johnson.

Falcon Holiday Tournament at Monroe: The host Monroe (5-1) beat visiting Westfield 50-46 for the title Friday afternoon, with three players in double figure scoring. Evangelina Francisco had 19, while Halley Cottrell dropping in 16 – including four triples – and Avery Labaska had ten. In the consolation game, Franklin (3-3) evened up its record at .500 with a 52-31 victory over winless Marlboro behind a 27-point night from Aleah Sunkins.

The Monroe girls’ basketball team won their Falcon Holiday Classic Friday with a 50-46 win over Westfield. (Source: @CoachVogtman on Twitter)

Holmdel Holiday Showcase at Holmdel: It was a clean sweep of both games for St. Thomas Aquinas in the eight-team, two-day event. The Trojans (5-2) held off Holmdel by, 56-53, despite a late rally by Holmdel, which was down nine entering the final quarter. Gianna Chuffo led the way with 12 points, while Jordan Barnes added 11, and the team hit seven triples on the day. Meanwhile, East Brunswick (5-2) split its two games, bouncing back from an opening loss to Colts Neck with a narrow 54-52 win over Jackson Memorial (4-1). Gabby Nieves led three players in double figures with 15 for the Lady Bears. And Mount St. Mary (4-3) got back on the winning track with a 44-38 decision over Colts Neck, led by Mia Gestosani’s 16 points.

John Wall Invitational at William Peace Univeristy, Raleigh, NC: Rutgers Prep (5-1) got a win Friday over Terry Sanford (NC) in the Frances A. Pulley bracket, 75-52, splitting its first two games. They’ll play Grace Christian School (NC) in Saturday’s 3:00 championship game.

KSA Events Holiday Tournament: In the Red Bracket of the round-robin showcase, Gill St. Bernard’s (8-0) beat Metropolitan (NY) handily, 73-32, behind a team-best 16 from Gandy Malou-Mamel, who also had ten rebounds for a double-double. Brooke Baisley added 14. In the Pink bracket, Pingry (4-2) beat Birmingham Community Charter (CA) by a 56-32 score, getting a team-high 15 from Ngozi, Nnaeto.

Lady Chiefs Holiday Showcase at Piscataway: The roubd-robin six-team event saw Colonia, Old Bridge, and host Piscataway all take on wins Friday, and all finish 3-0 in the three-day event. The Patriots (6-2) beat in-town rival Woodbridge (3-3) in Friday’s opener, 41-22, fueled by a 15-point day from senior Taylor Derkack, who’s closing in on the girls’ all-time scoring record set last year by former teammate Matti Chiera, who’s now at William Paterson. Piscataway (3-3) evened up its mark entirely thanks to the showcase, beating Edison (1-6) behind 17 from Olivia Smart for a 52-35 victory. And Old Bridge (4-3) topped the smallest school in the event, Spotswood (3-3) in a 45-41 finale to the afternoon. The Knights got a double-double out of Danielle Boateng, with 19 points and 10 rebounds. 

MCMS Holiday Tournament at East Brunswick Magnet: None of the local squads in the six-team tournament made the final. In the fifth-place game, Piscataway Magnet (2-4) topped East Brunswick Magnet (0-6) by a 51-11 score.,

Metuchen Bulldog Holiday Tournament at Metuchen: The title goes to Bernards (5-2), which beat Brearley in the event’s final Friday, 43-26, getting 13 from Aletha Reynolds, the only Mountaineer in double-figures in a low-scoring game. Host Metuchen dropped both games in their event, falling 35-23 to Governor Livingston to drop to 2-3 overall.

West Orange Holiday Showcase: Entering the tourney undefeated, the Lady Canucks (5-2) took two straight losses. After a 65-27 loss to Teaneck Wednesday, they fell by two to Paterson Eastside (5-2) Friday afternoon.

SATURDAY GIRLS’ SCHEDULE: 

John Wall Invitational at William Peace Univeristy, Raleigh, NC: Rutgers Prep (5-1) takes on Grace Christian School (NC) in Saturday’s 3:00 championship game.

Ridge Holiday Classic at Ridge: In the round-robin event, South Brunswick (3-3) and host Ridge (4-3) will go at it at 11:30 Saturday morning in Basking Ridge. The Vikings lost to state-ranked Bayonne in their opener before beating Hunterdon Central Thursday. The Red Devils topped Randolph and Payne Tech in their opening two games.

West Windsor-Plainsboro North Tournament: After wins in its first two games of the eight-team, three-day tourney against Matawan and Princeton – allowing just eight points in the opener and 47 total in two games, Somerville (4-0) will take on a solid Neptune team (5-2) in the 4:15 pm final Saturday afternoon.

SATURDAY BOYS’ SCHEDULE:

Albert E. Martin Buc Classic at Red Bank Regional: After a loss in the opening round but a Thursday win over Notre Dame, 50-47, East Brunswick will play in Saturday’s third-place game against Port Richmond (NY) out of Staten Island at 3:30.

ALJ Crusader Holiday Tournament: The final for this one will have JP Stevens, which is just 1-4 on the season, but their only win came in the opener to the event, a 57-29 win over East Brunswick Magnet. That puts them up against host AL Johnson (3-2) in the final at 7:30 pm. The 6:00 consolation game has Metcuhen facing EBM.

Huskies Holiday Classic at Matawan: The GMC will factor heavily into this one, with three of the four teams involved playing for the top four spots. The championship is at 3:15 and will feature Sayreville (6-1) taking on Holmdel (4-1). The Bombers beat host Matawan in the opener, then Old Bridge in the semifinals on Thursday. The third-place game has the Knights (3-4) facing Woodbridge (4-2) at 1:30. Perth Amboy (3-4) will take on Raritan (0-6) in the seventh place game to open the Saturday slate at 10 am.

Jameer Nelson Classic at Widener University: This is a one-off for Rutgers Prep (3-2), which will face Camden Eastside (4-0) at 2:45 today, before heading to the New Year’s Jump Off on January first to play Hudson Catholic.

LeGrand Tournament: Host Colonia (4-2) will look to sweep the round-robin event when the Patriots play Westfield (2-4) at 1:00 after winning its opener over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 39-32, then beating Union City 49-36 on Friday. Colonia has won two straight after starting the year 2-2. Aiden Derkack scored in double figures in both games of the event, averaging 15.5 points per game in those two.

Winter Holiday Classic at West Windsor-Plainsboro South: After Somerville narrowly edged Spotswood in one of Thursday’s semifinals, 60-56, the Pioneers (4-2) will play in Saturday’s 4:15 pm final against West Windsor-Plainsboro North (3-4), which beat the hosts and their district rival South 57-42 on Thursday in the other semi. South (1-5) will take on Spotswood (4-2) in Saturday’s third-place game, with tip scheduled for 2:30.

by Mike Pavlichko

Here’s how girls’ basketball teams from the GMC, Somerset County are faring in holiday tourneys

Holiday tournaments are wrapping up Friday and Saturday, if they haven’t already, and several GMC and Somerset County teams have had a pretty good time over the break from school, traveling far and wide to challenge themselves before the conference and division schedules kick into full gear come the New Year.

Here’s a closer look at how Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area girls’ high school basketball teams have done this week, beginning with a team-by-team look at the squads in the Bellamy & Son Paving Week Two Top Ten:

#1 Rutgers Prep: The Lady Argonauts (4-1) took their first loss of the season om Thursday in the John Wall Invitational at William Peace University in Raleigh, NC, Thursday, falling 68-65 to Thomas Dale out of Virginia. Chloe Escanillas led with 20 points in a game where Thomas Dale rallied from a four-point deficit heading into the final quarter. Next up, they get Terry Sanford (NC) at 1:30 Friday afternoon. They’ll be back home for school, and a matchup with No. 3 Gill St. Bernard’s next Thursday night at 6 pm, a game that can be heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

#2 St. Thomas Aquinas: One of three teams in the Holmdel Holiday Showcase, the Trojans topped Ranney Wednesday on Day One of the eight team event, 57-47, to improve to 4-2 under first-year STA head coach Tim Corrigan. Gianna Chuffo led the way with 21 points, while Leah Kerney added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Also in the showcase are East Brunswick and Mount St. Mary. Both lost their openers: the Lady Bears (4-2) fell to Colts Neck Wednesday, while Mount (3-3) lost 53-47 to host Holmdel. Friday’s schedule features Mount St. Mary taking on Colts Neck at 10 am, Aquinas battling the hosts at 1:30, and East Brunswick taking on Jackson Memorial at 3:15.

#3 Gill St. Bernard’s: The Knights (7-0) already have two wins down at the KSA Events Holiday Tournament in Kissimmee, FL. In their Red Bracket opener, they beat Horizon (FL) 68-29 behind 18 points from Sidney Quinn, while both Brooke Baisley (10 points, 11 rebounds) and Gandy Malou-Mamel (12 points, 14 rebounds) had double-doubles. They beat Perkiomen Valley (PA) Thursday, 49-33, getting 21 from Baisley, while Malou-Mamel nearly had another double-double, with 10 points and 9 boards. Friday, they look to make it a 3-0 run when they take on Metropolitan Campus (NY) at 10 am. Pingry is in the same event, and playing Brimingham Community Charter (CA) at 10 am in the Pink Bracket. THe Big Blue went 1-1 with a Tuesday win over St. Thomas More (LA), 63-20, but lost to Ketcham (NY), 39-34, on Thursday in Pink bracket play.

#4 North Plainfield: the Lady Canucks (5-1) took their first loss of the season Wednesday in the West Orange Holiday Showcase, falling to Teaneck, 65-27. Layla Gutierrez led North with 11 points. Next up is Paterson Eastside on Friday in the consolation game at 1 pm.

#5 Monroe: Hosting their own Falcon Holiday Tournament, Monroe (4-1) will play Westfield at 2 pm in Friday’s final after a 52-28 win over Marlboro. Halley Cottrell scored a game high 27 points, while Sophia Rivas chipped in 11. Franklin is also in that tournament, and will play in Friday’s 10 am consolation game against Marlboro, after dropping its opener to the Blue Devils, 46-37.

#6 South Brunswick: At the Ridge Holiday Classic, the Vikings (3-3) split their first two games in the six-team, round-robin showcase. They lost to state-Bayonne in their opener on Wednesday, 47-34, but came back to beat Hunterdon Central, 36-27, on Thursday, getting 13 points from Meher Vig and seven boards from Leilani Pinder. They’ll play the host Red Devils (4-3) at 11:30 Friday. Ridge won its first two games, edging Randolph 40-34 in their opener, then drubbing Payne Tech out of Newark, 65-30.

#7 Hillsborough: The Raiders (4-2) won the John Molinelli Tournament at Hopewell Valley, going 2-0 in the two-day event. They beat their hosts on Wednesday, 64-21, then dropped Pennington in the final Thursday, 51-41. Francesca Schiro poured in 32 points and had three treys in the win.

#8 Woodbridge, #9 Colonia, #10 Spotswood: The Barrons are in the all-GMC Lady Chiefs Holiday Showcase at Piscataway, where they dropped their first two games, the second of which came down to the wire. On Tuesday, Old Bridge beat Edison 48-37, Colonia beat Spotswood 49-38, and Piscataway topped the Barrons, 61-37. Thursday’s round robin action continued with the Lady Chiefs beating Spotswood 44-35, Old Bridge topping the Barrons 38-37, and Colonia cruising past Edison 56-31. Friday’s schedule features Woodbridge vs. Colonia at 10 am, followed by Edison against Piscataway at 11:30, and Old Bridge taking on Spotswood at 1 pm.

Other holiday tournaments…

Sayreville: The Lady Bombers (0-6) dropped their opener in the Blue Devils Invitational at Shore Regional High School, 46-11 to Monmouth. That put them in the losers bracket against Jackson Liberty at 10:30 Friday moorning.

Bound Brook: The Lady Crusaders (6-0) picked up a 52-17 win over Koinonia on Wednesday in their own holiday tournament, then took the championship with a narrow 53-50 win over Oak Knoll. Jamaiya McLeod led all scorers with 19 points in the final, while Sara Thiessen had a double-double of ten points and ten rebounds. The Crusaders are on Central Jersey Sports Radio on Tuesday, January 9th, hosting Somerville.

Watchung Hills: The Warriors (1-5) went 0-2 in the Chatham Tournament, dropping their opener to their hosts, 67-40, on Tuesday, then falling to Madison on Wednesday, 69-54.

Dunellen, Highland Park, Manville, Middlesex: Three GMC teams and one from Somerset County make up the Clem Santy Holdiay Tournament at Dunellen’s Faber School. In Wednesday’s first games, Highland Park beat Middlesex 54-45, while Manville beat Dunellen, 40-17. The consolation game today features Middlesex (2-3) taking on Dunellen (3-1) at 2:30, while the final is at 5:30 between the Owls (2-2) and Mustangs (3-3).

Montgomery, Bridgewater-Raritan: Just like on the boys’ side, these two will square off in the Cougar Holiday Classic hosted by Montgomery. The Cougars (2-3) beat Allentown, 47-41 in Wednesday’s opener, while the Panthers (1-5) fell to Westampton Tech, 70-33.

South Amboy, South River: The Rams topped Henry Hudson Wednesday in their opener at the Keansburg Holiday Classic, 42-36, then beat Keansburg in Thursday’s final, 53-40. The Rams (4-2) got a double-double from Natalia Vera Cruz in the title game, with 22 points and 13 rebounds.

Woodbridge Academy, East Brunswick Magnet, Perth Amboy Magnet, Piscataway Magnet: Woodbridge beat EB in their opener Wednesday at East Brunswick Magnet, 37-21, while Robbinsville topped Perth Amboy Magnet 49-17. PA and Woodbridge will square off today at 1 pm, while East Brunswick plays at 11.

Bernards, Metuchen: The Mountaineers (4-2) knocked off the Bulldogs (2-2) by a 40-33 score in the opener of the Metuchen Bulldog Holiday Tournament, setting up Bernards and Brearley in today’s 2 pm final. Host Metuchen gets Governor Livingston at noon in the consolation.

Immaculata, JFK: Both played in the Rico Parenti showcase, with Immaculata (4-2) winning its third straight game in the finals, a 54-52 edging of Plainfield. Giovanna Drajin finished with 18 points to lead IHS, which beat Columbia out of Maplewood 62-44 in Wednesday’s opener. Kennedy (0-6) lost to Plainfield on the opening day, 63-46, then fell to Columbia 63-44 in the consolation game Thursday.

Carteret, Perth Amboy: The two rivals were in the Roselle Park Tournament, and the Lady Ramblers (5-1) took the title in an all-GMC final, 43-32 over Perth Amboy (1-5). Anilah Diggs led Carteret with 15 points in the final on Thursday, a day after beating Keyport 44-13 in a solid defensive effort. The Panthers got their first win of the season in Wednesday;s opener, a 42-17 win over host Roselle Park.

Somerville: The Lady Pioneers (4-0) are in the finals of the West Windsor-Plainsboro North Tournament, which concludes tomorrow, after a pair of wins Wednesday and Thursday in the eight-team event. They beat Matawan Wednesday, 48-8, then got by Princeton, 50-39 on Thursday. They now play Neptune at 4:15 Saturday in the final.

by Mike Pavlichko

Big day on the holiday tournament slate for GMC, Somerset County boys hoopsters

Holiday tournament season is in full swing across New Jersey, and dozens of boys’ basketball teams have been – or will be – in action this week. Here’s a look at all the GMC and Somerset County teams in action this week, including past results and upcoming matchups. 

We begin with a look at the teams in the Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Week Two Top Ten:

#1 St. Thomas Aquinas: So much for the Trojans “trying to figure it out.” A team that lost all but one player with (minimal) varsity experience to graduation and transfers is now 6-0. And if they are still trying to figure it out? Well, that’s for the rest of the GMC to worry about. Meanwhile, STA won its opening game Wednesday down at the Vikings Invitational at St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, DE, beating East New York Family Academy 66-29. Aiden Ur led four players in double figures with 19 points. Thursday at 9 pm, they play Thurgood Marshall (NY) in the final.

#2 St. Joseph-Metuchen: The Falcons are joined by Ridge in the Whitey Dukiet All-American Holiday Classic up at Livingston High School, and both teams won their opening games. Joe’s beat Morris Knolls 84-54 to improve to 5-0 on the season, behind another 25 points from Jeremy Clayville. The senior has been the top scorer in four of the team’s first five games, and is averaging 26.4 points a game. The Red Devils also won their opener against host Livingston, 63-50, on 16 points from Quinn Dashefsky. Those wins pit Ridge and St. Joe’s against each other in Friday’s championship game at 2 pm.

#3 Rutgers Prep: The Argonauts (3-1) are playing just one-game in a showcase at Widener University, the Jameer Nelson Classic. They’ll face Camden Eastside (3-0) Saturday at 2:45 pm.

#4 Colonia: The Patriots (3-2) opened up play in their very own, three-day LeGrand Tournament with a 39-32 win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Sophomore Aiden Derkack led the way with 13 points, and he’s now scored in double figures in all five games so far. This is a round-robin tournament, so Colonia faces Union City (0-4) Friday at 1 pm following Westfield and Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 11. Then, Saturday, the event finishes up with Union City and SPF at 11, followed by Colonia taking on Westfield at 1:00.

#5 Hillsborough: The Raiders (3-1) are in the Oratory Holiday Tournament in Summit, and will host Morristown-Beard (1-2) Thursday at 3 pm. That’s followed by Newark Academy and Oratory playing at 6 pm. Friday, the consolation game is at 1:30; the final is at 6 pm.

#6 Gill St. Bernard’s: The Knights (4-1) are hosting their own Knights Holiday Basketball Tournament, and picked up an 80-26 win over Pope John (0-5) in their opener Wednesday, getting 11 points from Kobe Closeil and 13 boards from Stanley Njekwe. Also in the tournament is Bernards, which is also 4-1 after a 58-39 win over The Patrick School (0-2). Connor Laverty had a double-double – his first of the season – of 16 points and 10 rebounds. That means Bernards and Gill will play in today’s final at 1 pm up in Peapack-Gladstone.

#7 Watchung Hills: The Warriors (6-1) suffered their first loss of the season in the opener of the Cougar Classic at Chatham to their hosts, 54-50, but they rebounded Wednesday with a 55-49 win over New Providence, fueled by a team high 13 points from Zack Patetta, while Dean Smith added nine rebounds. The round-robin format finishes up on Friday, with a 1:30 pm matchup for the Warriors against Cranford (4-2). 

#8 Montgomery: The Cougar Holiday Classic will feature the host school and a Somerset County rival in the finals. Monty (5-0) was a 72-39 winner over North Hunterdon Wednesday, getting a game-high 20 points from sophomore Ethan Lin, his third straight double-figure scoring game. And Bridgewater-Raritan (4-2) topped Princeton Wednesday 59-45, picking up its second win in a row, as Matt Lyne led all scorers with 18 points. Now, the Cougars and Panthers will face off in the final at 4 pm Friday. Montgomery has won its last four meetings with Bridgewater, dating back to 2017.

#9 Piscataway: The Chiefs aren’t in a holiday tournament, but will try to rebound from a loss to Immaculata Wednesday in a Thursday game at Morristown at 5:30,

#10 South Plainfield: The Tigers (3-3) host their own Anthony J. Cotoia Tournament, featuring three GMC schools, but dropped their opener to Edison on Wednesday, 61-49. The Eagles improved to 2-3 with the win, getting a big game from Ricky Harvey, who led all scorers with 26 points. He’s now averaging 11 points a game and has scored 20-plus in three of the Eagles’ first five games. In Wednesday’s other game, JFK lost to McNair of Jersey City, 58-54, despite 22 points from Gurshan Nahal. That sets up Thursday afternoon’s consolation game between the Tigers and Mustangs at 3:00, while Edison takes on McNair at 5 for the championship.

Other holiday tournaments…

East Brunswick: The bears beat Ranney, 75-60, in the third game of the round-robin Albert E. Martin Buc Classic at Red Bank Regional. That puts them up against Tottenville (NY) Thursday at 3:30. A win would put them in the 5:00 final Saturday, while a loss puts them in the third-place game at 3:30.

East Brunswick Magnet, JP Stevens, Metuchen: That trio all is in the ALJ Crusader Holiday Classic at Johnson Rejional in Clark, where play opens Thursday with JP taking on EB Magnet at 6 pm, while Metuchen plays Johnson at 7:30. Saturday, the consolation game is at 6 pm, while the final tips at 7:30.

North Plainfield, Timothy Christian: Both lost their opening games on Wednesday and will play each other in Saturday’s 5 pm consolation game. Timothy Christian (4-1) took its first loss of the season against Rahway, 58-45, while the Canucks lost 90-37 to Rumson-Fair Haven. The Indians and Bulldogs will play at 7:30 Saturday in the final.

Bound Brook: The host Crusaders (2-3) got an 80-56 win over STEMCivics Wednesday in the annual Crusader Classic, and now will play Great Oaks Charter in Thursday’s 7 pm final.

Carteret, Monroe, New Brunswick, South Brunswick: The Falcon Holiday Tournament at Monroe is an all-GMC affair. Carteret (3-2) got by South Brunswick (0-4) in the opener Wednesday, 46-39, on 11 points from Michael Gomm, while the Falcons (4-1) crushed New Brunswick (2-3) 71-18, jumping out to an 18-2 lead after one quarter, and never looking back. They allowed only four in the third and two in the fourth period. Myles Marabuto pumped in 20 for Monroe, which now takes on the Ramblers at 4 pm in Friday’s final. South and New Brunswick square off in the noon consolation game.

Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, Woodbridge: Three of the four GMC teams – the Knights, Bombers and Barrons – won their opening games in the eight-team Huskies Holiday Classic at Matawan. Old Bridge (3-3) beat Raritan 56-30 in Wednesday’s opener, while Sayreville (5-1) topped host Matawan, 89-74. Woodbridge (4-1) beat Manalapan, 72-63, but Perth Amboy (3-3) lost to Holmdel 67-60. This is a three-day tournament, and the first of the GMC teams in action today plays Manalapan at 11:45 in the loser’s bracket, followed by the semifinals featuring the other three GMC teams. Old Bridge and Sayrveille play at 1:30, while Woodbridge gets Holmdel (3-1) at 3:15 pm.

South Amboy, South River: The Rams (3-3) were 81-69 winners over Keansburg, as sharpshooter Alex Grospe dropped a 41-point game, and even had eight steals. It was his second straight game of 40-plus points, his third this year, after never topping 20 in a game in two prior seasons. He’s now averaging 33.5 points per game. The Rams will play Henry Hudson in the final Thursday afternoon at 12:30, following the 11 am consolation between South Amboy (5-1) and Keansburg. The Governors suffered their first loss of the season in their tourney opener, 74-63 to Henry Hudson.

Dunellen, Highland Park, Manville: The Destroyers (1-4) – hosting their own Mike Shello Holiday Tournament at the Faber School in town, got their first win of the season in the tourney opener against Urban Leadership, 68-43. Manville (3-2) topped Highland Park (3-2) in the opener, 71-37, so now it’s the Mustangs and Destroyers at 7 pm Friday in the final, while the opener at 4 has the Owls taking on Urban Leadership in the consolation game.

Perth Amboy Magnet, Somerset Tech: In the North Warren Holiday Extravaganza, PA Magnet (2-4) fell to their hosts, 51-40, while Somerset Tech (2-3) also lost its opener, 77-58 to Central Jersey College Prep. They’ll face each other at 10 am Friday in the consolation game.

North Brunswick: The Raiders (4-2) topped Middletown North 56-47 Wednesday in the Ravens Winter Classic at Robbinsville, rebounding off a pre-Christmas loss to Pingry. Now, North Brunswick gets host Robbinsville – a 72-51 winner over Bordentown in its opener in the Classic’s final at 1 pm Friday.

Middlesex, Piscataway Magnet: The Blue Jays (3-2) beat Piscataway Magnet (1-6) by a score of 70-61 Wednesday in the opening round of the Roselle Park Holiday Hoopfest, while the hosts topped Keyport 52-44. That sets up a final of Middlesex and Roselle Park at 2 pm Thursday, following the 11 am consolation between P’way Magnet and Keyport.

Somerville, Spotswood: The Winter Holiday Classic at West Windsor-Plainsboro South features Somerville and Spotswood from the GMC, and both won their opening round games of the thre-day event on Wednesday. The Pioneers (3-2) won their third straight after an 0-2 start, beating South Hunterdon 71-56 behind Brady Scheier’s 27 points. Spotswood (4-1) got 30 points from Kiye Walker in an 80-70 win over Northern Burlington. Thursday’s games feature Somerville and Spotswood in the 4:15 semifinal game. The other features West Windsor-Plainsboro’s two schools – North and South – facing off at 2:30. Saturday’s slate includes the seventh place game at 11, fifth place at 12:45, the consolation at 2:30, and the final at 4:15 pm.

Wardlaw-Hartridge: The Rams open up play in the Voorhees Holiday Tournament out in Glen Gardner at 3 pm against the ir hosts, while Delaware Valley and Mount Olive play in the 1:00 opener. Friday’s consolation game is at 1, followed by the final at 3 pm.

Calvary Christian: They open the Patriot Holiday Invitational at the University of Valley Forge in Pennsylvania at 4 pm Thursday against Baptist Regional. The consolation and final are Friday at 12:30 and 3:30, respectively.