Tag: Matt Bloom

by Mike Pavlichko

Rutgers Prep boys will get to defend 2023 SCT title, clinching fourth straight finals berth with semifinal win over Hillsborough

Somerset County Tournament top-seed Rutgers Prep used the three-ball and teamwork to come from behind and advance to its fourth straight county title game, thanks to a 69-58 come-from-behind home win over fourth-seed Hillsborough on Thursday night.

The Argonauts will face Montgomery – making its first-ever trip to the county final – in the SCT title game Saturday at 3 pm, following the girls’ game at 1 pm between Rutgers Prep and Gill St. Bernards, with both games being broadcast live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

It was raining threes in the first half – primarily by the Argonauts (18-6) – who overcame a 10-0 deficit to start the game and successfully sunk five three-point baskets to take a 15-14 lead after the first quarter.

It was a three pointer from Jacob Canton that ended the drought for Rutgers Prep, equalizing a three point basket from the Raiders’ Zion Harrison on the other end.

There was a steady diet of fouls on both sides but plenty of aggressive movement in the paint by both offenses, stingy defense, and fast action up and down the court.

Junior Myles Parker led the way for Rutgers Prep with 12 first-half points including a pair of three pointers and a posterizing one-handed slam-dunk.

That was after he fell hard to the floor with just under 4:00 to play in the first quarter and was left holding his neck. But he came back into the game and led the charge the rest of the first half.

Parker was held in check in the second half to only five points, but had another posterizing dunk.

No Parker? No problem.

Seeing the tight defense on Parker, Jacob Canton took the baton and ran with it in the second half compiling 22 points overall on the night.

Senior Jayden Green was the bellcow for the Raiders (15-8) with ten points at the first half break, but he was held to just two points in the second half.

Click below for postgame reaction from Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Vin Ebenau, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Rutgers Prep’s Jacob Canton and head coach Matt Bloom

by Mike Pavlichko

Top-ranked Rutgers Prep playing for SCT top seed Tuesday night at No. 4 Montgomery

Don’t get us wrong: this game won’t be easy for either team.

But when No. 1 Rutgers Prep visits No. 4 Montgomery in a huge Skyland Conference crossover battle Tuesday night – which can be hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio by clicking here – an Argonaut victory should clinch the top seed in the Somerset County Tournament.

The same is on the line for the Cougars, but they would likely also need to beat Hillsborough at home Saturday afternoon to wrap up that top seed.

Both teams are playing very good basketball late in the season. For Prep, there was a good deal of roster turnover, this season due to graduation, but they’ve made it work. Three of their four losses have come to top programs in showcases or one-offs like St. Benedict’s and St. Rose.

Historically, Rutgers Prep has won five straight against Montgomery, going back to the 2019-20 season. Since then, they are 23-0 against Somerset County public schools. But the last team to beat them was Montgomery – which did it twice – in 2018-19.

None of that matters now. None of those players are still around, of course. Now, it’s a matchup of the only two schools from the CJSR coverage area that are in the statewide Top 20. 

Now, it’s for the top-seed in the SCT.

Prep’s biggest challenge came to date came last week at Hillsborough. And though it was a tight game throughout, the Argonauts pulled ahead late and won on the road, behind a 25 point night from Jacob Canton, and 14 from Andrew Kretkowski.

Tuesday night’s game will be broadcast live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas calling all the action. Tip-off is set for 6:00 in Skillman, with pregame at 5:45 pm.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Chris Tsakonas talk with Rutgers Prep head coach Matt Bloom:

by Mike Pavlichko

“One day at a time” has worked well for Rutgers Prep as Argonauts visit Hillsborough for a big one

Losing as much talent as they did in the off-season, things could have gone the other way for Rutgers Prep.

But Matt Bloom has taken a tone of patience this year, not getting ahead of himself, and it’s led the Argonauts – the No. 1 team in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten the last few weeks – to a 10-4 record so far, unbeaten in Skyland Conference (6-0) and Delaware Division (5-0) play.

That mark may face its toughest challenge tonight when the Argonauts head to sixth-ranked Hillsborough (10-2, 4-0) for a game that could go a long way to determining who will get the top seed in the Somerset County Tournament, with the seeding meeting now less than two weeks away.

Hillsborough all but knocked Gill St. Bernard’s out of the race, beating the Knights twice. Rutgers Prep beat them in their only meeting before the SCT seeding; their rematch is the night after the seeding takes place. And both Boro and Prep still have to play Montgomery, which can make its claim in those games, too.

But as Bloom has said, “One day at a time.”

That patience has helped with players like junior Myles Parker (14.7 ppg, 2.8 steals per game) who can shoot, play defense, get steals and rebound. The senior leadership has come from guys like Husan Zakir and Jayden Jenkins. They may have scored fewer than 30 points between them, but Bloom says their influence is felt in other ways.

You can hear tonight’s game on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko and Dylan Allen calling all the action. Tip-off is at 7:00, pregame at 6:45; click here to listen.

by Mike Pavlichko

Somerville’s hot start will be tested again Friday by Montgomery in battle of 3-0 teams

Head coach Matt Bloom doesn’t want to take the credit for the team being 5-1 under his leadership, 3-0 this year, and 2-1 at the end of last year when he took over late in the season.

But he is the one main difference from the early part of last season through today, which finds the Pioneers unbeaten through three weeks heading into this Friday’s clash with equally-unbeaten, 3-0 Montgomery.

You can hear that game on Central Jersey Sports Radio with Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas on the call live from Brooks Field in Somerville. Kickoff is 7:00, pregame is at 6:45; click here to listen.

Also back from last year is Quinn Carran – the team’s top returning receiver – who had 158 yards on just five catches, with three of them going for touchdowns, as well as runningback Terrell Mitchell, who was the top rusher last year, with 725 yards and seven touchdowns.

They’ll be seeking revenge for a loss last year at Montgomery, which saw the Cougars rally from a 14-13 halftime deficit to win 27-20 down in Skillman.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with Somerville head coach Matt Bloom about the Pioneers’ 3-0 start and the matchup with Montgomery:

by Mike Pavlichko

With a full year ahead, Pioneers hoping Bloom will bring boom times back to Somerville

We’re not even going to talk about what happened in the first seven games of the 2022 football season for Somerville. All you have to know is the good news that Matt Bloom is back for his first full season as head coach.

Bloom took over with just two games left in a year that started going off the rails early. And all Bloom did was get the team to win its final two games of the season to make the playoffs. Both were must-win games, and they got Ws at home against Hillsborough and at South Brunswick on Cutoff Weekend.

This year, with some speedy skill players back, the Pioneers are looking to continue the momentum.

They’re already off to a good start, with a season-opening 41-7 win at Voorhees in their Week Zero game Friday night. In fact, it all started with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the game by speedster Terrell Mitchell. Quarterback Brendan Pacheco went on to throw two touchdown passes, one to Quinn Carran who also had a 55-yard punt return for a TD.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s interview at Big Central Media Days with Somerville head coach Matt Bloom and two-way senior lineman Braeden Kaye:

by Mike Pavlichko

Piggee’s “and-one” with :02.9 left makes Rutgers Prep boys Somerset County Tournament Champions

Gill St. Bernard’s had double-digit leads in every quarter but the first, and Rutgers Prep led the game for just 2.9 seconds. But that was all they needed.

Senior Cameron Piggee gave the Argonauts their first lead of the game – with 2.9 seconds to go as he slashed through the lane, scored as he drew contact, then coolly hit his free throw, putting Prep up 69-67 in a game Gill led virtually wire-to-wire.

After the inbound, with no timeouts left, Gill’s Mario Castro-Sanchez heaved a 50-footer from the near sideline near mid-court, but it wasn’t close, completing a sweep by the Rutgers Prep girls and boys of the SCT.

Piggee finished with 20, including four three-point baskets. Junior Jadin Collins chipped in 16, and Senior Franklin Jones added 15 for Prep, which will head into the state tournament at 20-7.

Castro-Sanchez led the way for Gill (18-7) with 20 points, while junior Nick Losada added 19.

Click below for postgame reaction sponsored by SportsPlex at Metuchen:

Rutgers Prep senior Cameron Piggee
Rutgers Prep Head Coach Matt Bloom
by Mike Pavlichko

Another war on tap in SCT Boys’ Final as Rutgers Prep and Gill St. Bernard’s will rematch

Last year’s Somerset County Tournament title win for Gill St. Bernard’s was a blowout over Rutgers Prep.

This year, Gill won a regular-season matchup with the Argonauts at the buzzer, then Prep turned it around at home and handled the Knights, who were in it, but never really threatened.

What’s next today?

You never know what can happen when Rutgers Prep and Gill St. Bernard’s meet, and today at Montgomery High School will be no exception when the top-seeded Argonauts take on the second-seeded Knights in the SCT title game, which you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio as part of a girls’/boys’ doubleheader.

Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the action, starting with pregame at 12:45 pm for the 1:00 girls game – also between top-seed Prep and second-seed Gill – then with the boys’ final starting at 3 pm. Click here to listen to the live broadcast for free.

Here’s a complete preview of the championship game, with audio from both coaches, analysis, stats, and more.

SOMERSET COUNTY TOURNAMENT BOYS’ FINAL:
#1 Rutgers Prep (19-7) vs. #2 Gill St. Bernard’s (18-6)
When: Saturday, February 18 at 3 pm
Where: Montgomery High School
Listen Live: Central Jersey Sports Radio, pregame begins at 2:45 pm

Jordin Collins of Rutgers Prep brings the ball up the floor in the second half against Gill St. Bernard’s on January 24, 2023. Collins finished with a game-high 22 points. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

#1 Rutgers Prep
Head Coach: Matt Bloom – 6th season, 111-32)

Having just played an all-out battle with Franklin on Thursday night, with a quick turnaround to Saturday, Bloom says his players will have watched film on the day in between, and go through some walk-throughs in an hour-long practice. Mental and physical healing is needed after an all-out banger against the Warriors, which literally drew blood; point guard Jordan Atkins had to come out of the game briefly after getting hit, and came back with a bandage in the area above his eye.

Expect much of the same Saturday afternoon. Atkins runs the point so well, even to the point of a play that won’t show up in the box score. Against the Warriors, after Jake Novielli hit back-to-back threes to get his team back in the game, Atkins got a pass on a drive and quickly realized the better play was to kick it back out. He did so, to Johnny Nsenkyire on the wing, and he hit a three-ball to stop the Franklin win. It was a critical moment. But the fact is, those moments also don’t happen without the offensive finish. Jadin Collins is one of those guys, leading in every scoring category, and he’s the team’s top rebounder, too. He can play defense, to boot, with a team-leading 105 steals. John Kelly has been playing great defense for the Argonauts, and Cameron Piggee has been nailing it from downtown since his return from injury.

Follow Sportsplex at Metuchen on Instagram for the latest on open gym sessions on their courts and turf!

Projected Starting Five:

  • PG Jordan Atkins (6-0, Sr): 8.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 140 assists
  • G Cameron Piggee (6-2, Sr): 14.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 50 treys
  • G Franklin Jones (6-5, Sr): 8.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 27 blocks
  • G Jadin Collins (6-1, Jr): 20.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 105 steals
  • F John Kelly (6-7, Jr): 11.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg

Coach’s Interview:

SCT History (1-5):

1988 – #1 Bridgewater-Raritan West beat #2 Rutgers Prep 94-66
2011 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #2 Rutgers Prep 68-59
2017 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #3 Rutgers Prep 71-61
2018 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #2 Rutgers Prep 56-54
2020 – #1 Rutgers Prep beat #3 Watchung Hills 71-57
2022 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat Rutgers Prep 84-63

Gill St. Bernard’s head coach Mergin Sina talks to his team before a matchup at Rutgers Prep on January 24, 2023. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

#2 Gill St. Bernard’s
Head Coach: Mergin Sina – 13th season, 272-69

Head coach Mergin Sina was working with a completely new lineup in the preseason, and as it was coming together, it took another blow, the return of Jon Ismaijli to his native Serbia. Back to the drawing board, sort of. The results have been typical Gill St. Bernard’s, even without household names like Mackenzie Mgbako and Naas Cunningham, who transferred after last year.

Senior Mario Castro-Sanchez has shouldered the burden of the scoring this year, also leading the team in the three-point department, and can dish the ball to people like fellow senior Nick Losada, who hit the game winning three as time expired in the first meeting with Rutgers Prep, in Gladstone in early January. Freshman Dorsett Mulcahy can run the point, too, and looks more and more like his older brother on the court than than off it, with great moves off the dribble-drive. But he’s not the only Rutgers connection; Scarlet Knight head coach Steve Pikiell’s son, Kevin, also is on the team.

Projected Starting Five:

  • G Mario Castro-Sanchez (6-1, Sr): 22.5 ppg, 68 assists, 95 treys
  • G Andy Hearn (6-1, Sr): 4.6 ppg, 8 treys
  • G Nick Losada (6-2, Jr): 14.3 ppg, 47 steals, 46 treys
  • G Luke Ruggerio (6-3, Sr): 2.1 ppg
  • F/C Ebrahim Kaba (6-8, Jr): 9.2 ppg, 17 treys

Coach’s Interview:

Gill St. Bernard’ Head Coach Mergin Sina

SCT History (8-2):

2011 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #2 Rutgers Prep 68-59
2012 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #2 Bridgewater-Raritan 88-72
2013 – #1 Ridge beat #2 Gill St. Bernard’s 69-56
2014 – #3 Hillsborough beat #1 Gill St. Bernard’s 53-52
2015 – #3 Gill St. Bernard’s beat (1) Ridge 48-39
2016 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #3 Somerville 66-51
2017 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #3 Rutgers Prep 71-61
2018 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #2 Rutgers Prep 56-54
2019 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat #3 Watching Hills 73-53
2022 – #1 Gill St. Bernard’s beat Rutgers Prep 84-63

by Mike Pavlichko

Battle tested Rutgers Prep boys will battle Franklin a third time, this time for a trip to the SCT title game

The Argonauts boys’ basketball team earned its No. 1 seed in the Somerset County Tournament the hard way, with some gritty basketball games in the top division in the conference.

After a buzzer-beater loss at Gill St. Bernard’s, they took firm control with a solid rematch on their home floor. But they didn’t just have to beat the Knights. They also had to gut out tough games like their two matchups with resurgent Franklin this year, including a 90-82 road victory on opening night, and a6 62-55 home win just under a month later on January 12th.

Thursday night, Rutgers Prep (18-7) and Franklin (16-9) will square off for a third time, this time with a trip to Saturday’s Somerset County Finals on the line. It’s a game you can hear live on Central Jersey Sports Radio at 7 pm, with pregame at 6:45 following the girls’ matchup between the same teams at 5 pm.

Mike Pavlichko and Dom Savino will call all the action. Click here to listen.

For Prep, they are seeking a third straight trip to the Somerset County Tourney title tilt, and fourth in the last five tournaments. They lost to Gill St. Bernard’s in both 2017 and 2018, missed the final in ’19, won it in 2020 by beating third-seed Watchung Hills, then after a one-off Skyland Pod tournament in 2021, fell to top-seed Gill St. Bernard’s last season.

The games with Franklin this year have been good ones. The first one on opening night, December 15th, saw the teams knotted up at 15 after one quarter before Rutgers Prep pulled out to a 14-point halftime lead, and a fourth-quarter rally by the Warriors fell short, losing by eight.

In the second one, it was a similar pattern. Prep led 14-11 after one, then 35-22 at the half, before Franklin made a move in the third quarter and fell short. Jadin Collins scored 23 in both games for the Argonauts.

Click below to hear Rutgers Prep head coach Matt Bloom talk about his team’s season and the matchup with Franklin:

by Mike Pavlichko

Gill St. Bernard’s may have upper hand, but after buzzer-beating win, top SCT seed up for grabs in battle at Rutgers Prep tonite

In a series that has been dominated by Gill St. Bernard’s over the years – which has won 17 of the last 19 meetings between the schools, there’s a lot legitimately on the line tonight when the 2nd-ranked Knights travel to Somerset to square off against No. 3 Rutgers Prep.

Gill (12-3, 7-0 Skyland Delaware) is in the driver’s seat, of course, thanks to a buzzer-beating three-point shot by Nick Losada that gave the Knights a 67-65 win at home back on January 5th. A win, and they lock up the Skyland Conference’s top division title, and the top-seed in the Somerset County Tournament.

But a Rutgers Prep win would likely leave them co-champs, and then you can let the debate begin.

You can hear tonight’s game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio with pregame beginning at 6:45 pm and tip-off at 7. Mike Pavlichko and Chris Tsakonas will call all the action. Click here to listen.

The Argonauts (11-6, 5-1) have not won in this series very often, but there have been some close games. In addition to this month’s previous matchup, Prep beat them in 2020, played to an eight-point game in February 2019, and lost by two in the county final the year prior.

Add to that the fact that Rutgers Prep has been without captain Cameron Piggee for a good chuck of the season, including the prior matchup this month with Gill, in which the Knights drained 12 three-pointers, while the Argos only hit one.

Click below for preview interviews with both head coaches:

Chris Tsakonas with Gill St. Bernard’s head coach Mergin Sina
Mike Pavlichko with Rutgers Prep head coach Matt Bloom

by Mike Pavlichko

Somerville’s Bloom officially appointed full-time football coach

“You learn a lot about what to do from the people before you.”

That thought from Matt Bloom may best sum up the reason the Somerville Board of Education officially appointed him as the full-time football coach at the high school at its meeting Tuesday night, after he took over with just two games to go in the season from first-year head coach Ian Pace.

Though the move was not disclosed publicly and inspired a bit of a sense of mystery around the Big Central Conference, there’s no mystery as to why Bloom now has the job. He was the lone holdover from the highly successful Jeff Vanderbeek/Dallas Whitaker era, which saw the program go 57-8 under the two head coaches – winning a state title in 2017 and reaching two other sectional finals – after losing 25 straight from 2012 through 2015.

Bloom went 2-1 after being elevated from offensive line coach to head coach in time for the Pioneers’ October 14th home game against Hillsborough. With a 2-5 record at that point – in part due to a forfeit against Mastery Charter of Camden for using an ineligible transfer – and needing to likely win two games to clinch a playoff berth, Somerville did just that.

They beat the Raiders 35-14 at Brooks Field, then came up with an equally as critical and convincing 41-28 road win at South Brunswick on the Friday night of Cutoff Weekend to make the postseason at 4-5, though they eventually dropped a first-round game at Seneca.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko’s exclusive interview with Matt Bloom upon being approved by the Board of Education as Somerville’s full-time head football coach: