Tag: Morris Catholic

by Mike Pavlichko

PHOTO GALLERY: Non-Public Group B Girls Final – Rutgers Prep vs Morris Catholic

Morris Catholic won the Non-Public Girls’ Basketball Group B title with a 53-49 victory over Rutgers Prep at Jersey Mike’s Arena on the campus of Rutgers University on March 8, 2024.

Here’s our photo gallery from the game, as shot by Dharen Faraon.

  • Rutgers Prep senior Mikayla Blakes is introduced before the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep senior Leah Crosby is introduced before the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep sophomore GiGi Battle is introduced before the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • The Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball team stands for the national anthem at Jersey Mike’s Arena before Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep cheerleaders are ready to go in the stands before the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • The Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball team takes the floor before the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s GiGi Battle shoots a foul shot in the first half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Mikayla Blakes drives in the first half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Ava LaMonica holds the ball in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Mikayla Blakes tries to avid a defender in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Zahra Alexander moves with the ball in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • GiGi Battle of Rutgers Prep waits for a rebound in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep sophomore GiGi Battle tries to lay one up in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Mikayla Blakes of Rutgers Prep shoots a free throw in the first half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep sophomore Ava LaMonica looks for a pass in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Mikayla Blakes tries to get through traffic Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Mikayla Blakes watches her layup in the first half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Ava LaMonica makes a low post move in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Mikayla Blakes gets off an off-balance layup Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Ava LaMonica of Rutgers Prep drives the lane in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep senior Mikayla Blakes and head coach Mary Klinger talk at halftime of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Mikayla Blakes of Rutgers Prep elevates for a shot in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep head coach Mary Klinger on the sidelines during the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Mikayla Blakes takes a jump shot in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • The Rutgers Prep bench watches play in the second half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Ava LaMonica brings the ball up the floor in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Ava LaMonica of Rutgers Prep drives the basket in Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Ava LaMonica puts up a wild shot in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep senior Chloe Escanillas brings the ball up the floor in the second half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • GiGi Battle of Rutgers Prep drives the basket in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep’s Mikayla Blakes looks to pass in the second half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Chloe Escanillas of Rutgers Prep looks to drive to the hoop ion the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Mikayla Blakes of Rutgers Prep is stripped of the ball while driving to the basket in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep sophomore GiGi Battle looks to make a move in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep senior Mikayla Blakes follows through on a jump shot in the second half of the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Mikayla Blakes of Rutgers Prep drives up the floor late in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Rutgers Prep breaks the huddle after a fourth quarter time out in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • From left to right, GiGi Battle, Leah Crosby, Chloe Escanillas and Mikayla Blakes return to the floor after a fourth quarter time out in the Non-Public Group B title game against Morris Catholic at Rutgers on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Morris Catholic hoists its second straight Non-Public Group B trophy after beating Rutgers Prep at Rutgers University on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • Morris Catholic players celebrate with their Non-Public Group B trophy after beating Rutgers Prep at Rutgers University on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
  • The Pauldo twins – Mia and Mya – hold the Non-Public Group B trophy after beating Rutgers Prep at Rutgers University on March 8, 2024. (Photo: Dharen Faraon)
by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – NJSIAA Tournament Non-Public Group B Final (Girls): Morris Catholic 53, Rutgers Prep 49

Despite a game-high 21 points from Vanderbilt commit and senior Mikayla Blakes, and a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds from sophomore GiGi Battle, Rutgers Prep fell for the second straight season in the Non-Public Group B title game, 53-49, to Morris Catholic.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko call all the play-by-play live from Jersey Mike’s Arena on the campus of Rutgers University on March 8, 2024, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

by Mike Pavlichko

Morris Catholic beats Rutgers Prep in a battle of the state’s top two teams to win second straight Non-Public Group B title

This year was different, but not different enough, for the Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball team.

In the 2023 Non-Public Group B final an early lead evaporated and a third-quarter surge by Morris Catholic did in the Argonauts.

This time, the score was tied at 22 at the half, and there was no big run. But Morris Cathlolic edged ahead a few minutes into the third. The game went into the fourth quarter close, never more than two possessions.

But in the end, Rutgers Prep had some missed shots, and missed opportunities that cost them the game.

In her final game with Prep, Vanderbilt-bound senior Mikayla Blakes led all scorers with 21 points, while sophomore GiGi Battle – part of a core that will return next year with Leah Crosby and Ava LaMonica – notched her fourth career double-double with a solid 14 point, 13 rebound game.

Rutgers Prep didn’t have a great night from the field, shooting 18-of-46, but kept their lead – and stayed in it when behind – with a perfect night from the foul line, shooting 18-for-18.

The Pauldo twins for Morris Catholic were again the focal point for the Crusaders, up by a possession, running the clock down because any defender who doesn’t give Mia or Mya space can get left in the dust by either. It allowed them to run over 40-seconds off the clock on their penultimate possession, which started with about 90 seconds to go in the game.

Mia Pauldo finished with 20, while Mya Pauldo had 16.

Rutgers Prep’s season finished 24-5, with a fourth straight county title and third straight Non-Public South B title. They came into the game ranked No. 2 in New Jersey, with Morris Catholic No. 1.

The Crusaders will finish as the state’s top-ranked girls’ basketball team, 27-1, Morris County Tourney champs, and Non-Public Group B state champions.

Click below for postgame reaction from Rutgers Prep, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

For all the marbles: Rutgers Prep to face Morris Catholic in Non-Public B rematch for state title, and state’s No. 1 ranking

It’s the final game of the year, and it’s the top two ranked girls’ basketball teams in the state squaring off for a state title.

Yes, please.

Friday afternoon, Rutgers Prep (24-4) will face Morris Catholic (26-1) at Rutgers University’s Jersey Mike’s Arena for the Non-Public Group B state title, with everything on the line. Not only will the winner be the state champ in Non-Public Group B, but with the Argonauts ranked No. 2 in the statewide NJ.com Top 20, and Morris Catholic No. 1, that top ranking in the state is also up for grabs.

You can hear the game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, beginning with pregame at 2:45 pm and tip-off at 3 from Piscataway, with Mike Pavlichko on the call. Click here to listen.

Prep is gunning for its third state title in two years. They won Group B in 2022, and went all the way to the Tournament of Champions final with a chance to knock off the state’s then-No. 1 team in St. John Vianney, but lost.

Last season, with no more TOC – it was eliminated by the NJSIAA following the 2022 event – Prep went to the Group B final, but fell to Morris Catholic down in Toms River.

So, here’s the rematch between two teams that have had very similar seasons, especially when looking at common opponents. Both have beaten Franklin (Prep three times, the Crusaders once), as well as Red Bank Catholic and Montclair Immaculate.

Both also play a national schedule against top-flight teams; both lost to Long Island Lutheran, and by similar margins. The Argonauts fell 77-55 to LuHi in the Rose Classic Super Jam on January 13th, while Morris Catholic lost to them 81-58 a little more than a month later, on February 17th.

In last year’s meeting in the Non-Public B final, Prep had an early lead that Morris Catholic narrowed by halftime, but after the break, the Crusaders stormed out of the gates. After the game, Argos’ head coach Mary Klinger – who has more than 700 wins now in her career – said matter-of-factly, “We got punched in the mouth.”

Painful as it was, she’s rewatched that game several times, vowing to correct the things her team didn’t do right in that game, with one thing beyond her control: Prep just didn’t have the shooting touch in the decisive second half.

Both teams have just about every key player back from last year’s teams.

Rutgers Prep is led by Vanderbilt-bound McDonald’s All-American Mikayla Blakes, the only New Jersey player on the roster for that elite high school game. She’s scoring at 20.5 points per game, and also leads the team in blocks (25) and steals (90).

Three others score in double-figures: Sophomore Gigi Battle is at 11.6 a game, but also turned in a stellar defensive effort against St. Rose in the South B final. Senior Chloe Escanillas averages 11.1 with a team-best 66 treys on the year – one more than Blakes – while sophomore Ava LaMonica is averaging an even 11 points per game.

Morris Catholic is led by the Pauldo twins, Mia and Mya. Both are juniors, Mia – the point guard – averaging 19.9 points per game with 89 treys and a team best 147 assists for 5.4 a game, while Mya is scoring 14.9 per game with 55 triples on the season.

Mia is ranked No. 7 by ESPNW in the Class of 2025, and Mya is at 46, the only two New Jersey girls’ hoopsters ranked in their Top 60. Blakes, the Rutgers Prep senior, is the highest ranked New Jersey player in her class, at No. 6 in the HoopGurlz/ESPNW Top 100.

Crusaders’ senior Alexis Rosenfeld is the top rebounder, at 8.6 per game, while also leading the team with 40 blocks on the season.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko preview the Non-Public Group B state final with Rutgers Prep veteran head coach Mary Klinger:

by Mike Pavlichko

Fronio’s 11 Ks help advance Rutgers Prep into North B semis with 6-1 win over Morris Catholic

Just like Rutgers Prep’s season on the whole, obstacles had to be overcome in order to come out on top.

Sophomore Zach Fronio struck out eleven while Ethan Nepomuceno and Li Perez each drove in two runs to get the third-seeded Argonauts past 6th-seed Morris Catholic Friday in a Non-Public North B quarterfinal game in Somerset.

Fronio picked up his second win of the year (2-2) when it mattered most, in the state tournament, after a 15-day layoff since his last start, a 2-0 loss to Pennington in the Prep B Tournament Final.

But that wasn’t all. The injury bug has been nipping at two starters – Andrew Parisi and Cody Rullo, and neither played today. That put Maddox Chu behind the plate, and he and Fronio worked together masterfully.

Prep scored first in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Nick Pizzie.

Then, after Morris Catholic tied it in the top of the fourth on a sac fly to center by Nate Eckerson, the Argonauts responded with three in their half of the inning, when they sent eight hitters to the plate.

Pizzie led off with a single, and after James jackman struck out, Nepomucino hit an RBI double. Evan Laub singled, then Fronio drove in a run with a ground-out to short, and Chu singled in another run.

Nick Pizzie of Rutgers Prep drives in the first run of the game with a single in the second inning of a 6-3 win over Morris Catholic in the Non-Public North B Quarterfinals in Somerset on May 26, 2023. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)

Morris Catholic got a run back in the sixth on an RBI single by Alex Kibler, who came in to relieve starter Sean Hegarty on the mound in the top of the inning, with Hegarty batting for himself in the lineup.

But Prep added two more insurance runs in the sixth to make it 6-2. With the bases loaded, Perez hit a ball deep in the hole that was fielded by the shortstop, but the throw to first was not in time and aggressive baserunning by the Argos plated a second run.

Max Treonze – who started at first, but flipped positions with Fronio to close out the game – saw his first action on the mound since getting drilled in the nose with a fastball a couple of weeks ago. He got a first pitch groundout back to him, then hit Nick Scerbak, who got to second on a wild pitch. Then after a walk to Declan Norton and a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Ryan Osterhoudt drove him in with an RBI single.

But that was all they would get as Treonze struck out Kibler to end the game.

The victory puts Rutgers Prep – which won the Somerset County Tournament as the 12-seed after starting the season 1-6 – at 13-4 heading into next week’s Non-Public North B semifinals, where they’ll face the seventh-seed Gill St. Bernard’s. The Knights upset second-seed St. Thomas Aquinas 8-3 Friday afternoon.

According to the NJSIAA state tournament schedule, that game is to be completed by Wednesday, but it could be played a day early, on Tuesday, because Rutgers Prep has its prom Wednesday evening.

Click below for postgame reaction presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Rutgers Prep pitcher Zach Fronio
Rutgers Prep head coach Larry Santowasso
by Mike Pavlichko

Post-halftime Morris Catholic surge dooms Rutgers Prep as frenetic comeback falls short in Non-Public B Final

“They punched us in the mouth,” said Rutgers Prep coach Mary Klinger, in the season’s post-mortem.

It didn’t look like it would be that way, though, especially with a much better start this time around than an early season loss to Morris Catholic in December.

Prep got the start it wanted, leading by as many as 13 points in the first quarter, and ending it with a 21-11 lead. Morris Catholic chipped away and got it to five by halftime, but it was after that when the Crusaders played their best basketball.

A 29-13 run through the next eight minutes gave the Crusaders a 55-45 lead at the end of three. While Rutgers Prep would eventually tie the game at 63 on a drive to the basket by Mikayla Blakes, the junior missed the and-one free throw, then got called for a reach-around foul at the other end of the floor, her fifth.

And from that point on, the Crusaders pulled away with Mya Pauldo hitting all her free throws down the stretch, sending the Lady Argonauts to a 71-63 defeat in the Non-Public Group B Final at RWJBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Blakes finished with 24, while senior Katie Ledden – in her last high school game before heading up to Kingstown to play for Rhode Island – finished with 17, including a pair of first-quarter treys during Prep’s early run.

Rutgers Prep finishes its season as the Non-Public South B Champions – their second straight sectional title – with a record of 25-6, while Morris Catholic finishes at 26-3, the Group B state champs.

The win also makes a strong case for state-ranked No. 4 Morris Catholic to finish as the No. 1 team in the state, with top-ranked St. John Vianney losing in the Non-Public A final Saturday to Immaculate Heart, No. 2 Paul VI out of the tournament, and Morris Catholic beating No. 3 Rutgers Prep

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

Click below to hear for postgame reaction brought to you by SportsPlex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Experience of regular and postseason has Rutgers Prep ready for another state championship

When Mary Klinger’s team takes the floor for the opening tip-off Sunday afternoon against Morris Catholic in the quest for a second straight state title – and her program’s fourth overall – it will be much improved from the last time the Argonauts faced the Crusaders.

That was December 17th – Game Two of the season for both squads – in the She Got Game Classic down at St. John Vianney in Holmdel. Klinger will tell you it was not one of Prep’s best.

And the numbers bear it out, too. The Argonauts like to start hot, hitting baskets, then falling back into that full-court press, creating turnovers, and do it all over again. But they trailed after the first quarter.

And while they came back to go ahead by 13 with just three minutes to go in the third quarter, the next eleven minutes saw the Crusaders rally for a three-point win, 72-69.

Klinger doesn’t think it will happen again, and she’s got good reason to feel that way. It was only the second game with last year’s seniors gone, with this year’s senior Katie Ledden and junior Mikayla Blakes taking on additional roles. It was only the second start for GiGi Battle, a freshman who – along with fellow rookie Ava LaMonica – has been a key contributor this year.

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

Now with a full season behind them, a Somerset County Tournament title and a Non-Public South B trophy on their resume, they are a much different team.

And so it will be when Rutgers Prep (25-4) takes on Morris Catholic (26-3, North B Champ) Sunday at Toms River North’s RWJBarnabas Arena for the Girls’ Non-Public Group B title. Tip-off time is 2 pm, and you can hear all the live play-by-play on Central Jersey Sports Radio beginning at 1:45 with the pregame show. Justin Sontupe and Raj Shah will bring you all the action. Click here to listen.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Rutgers Prep head coach Mary Klinger:

How They Got Here:

Rutgers Prep: #3 seed, beat #14 Moorestown Friends 76-25 in first round, beat #6 Trenton Catholic 91-43 in the quarterfinals, beat #3 St. Rose 70-47 in the semifinals, beat #1 Wildwood Catholic 70-40 in the sectional final

Morris Catholic: #2 seed, first round bye, beat #7 Wardlaw-Hartridge 89-16 in the quarterfinals, beat #5 Lodi Immaculate 88-57 in the semifinals, beat #4 Montclair-Immaculate 55-49 in the sectional final

State Championship History:

Rutgers Prep is seeking its second straight state title, and fourth overall, though unlike the other three, this is the end of the line. All three times, the Argonauts went on to the Tournament of Champions, but that was eliminated this year by the NJSIAA across all sports.

  • 2016: Non-Public Group B Champion over Saddle River Day
  • 2017: Non-Public Group B Champion over Queen of Peace
  • 2018: Non-Public Group B runner-up to Saddle River Day)
  • 2022: Non-Public Group B Champion over Saddle River Day

Morris Catholic has won the group title twice, and been to this game eight times, but is making its first appearance since 2014.

  • 2004: Non-Public Group B Champion over St. Rose
  • 2005: Non-Public Group B runner-up to Sacred Heart
  • 2006: Non-Public Group B Champion over Trenton Catholic
  • 2007: Non-Public Group A runner-up to Red Bank Catholic
  • 2008: Non-Public Group A runner-up to St. John Vianney
  • 2012: Non-Public Group B runner-up to Gill St. Bernard’s
  • 2013: Non-Public Group B runner-up to Paramus Catholic
  • 2014: Non-Public Group B runner-up to St. Rose
by Mike Pavlichko

Morris Catholic brings two highly-touted sophomores, win over Rutgers Prep into rematch with Argonauts for state title

Head coach Billy Lovett sees a lot of parallels and similarities in his life right now.

Having played for the legendary Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s in the 1990s, he has given his team the same experiences, playing in national showcases far from New Jersey that create great moments for his players, and top-notch exposure – like the John Wall Holiday Invitational.

He played in that tournament before it was even called that, back when it was the Raleigh Times Holiday Festival, which celebrated its 50th year this past December.

Other similarities are less intentional, like the fact this his team is very much like the Rutgers Prep team they will meet Sunday in Toms River for the Non-Public Group B state title.

Both focus on defense, which fuels their offense, which wins them championships.

Sunday’s game between Non-Public South B winner Rutgers Prep (25-4) and North B Champ Morris Catholic (26-3) tips off at 2 pm at Toms River North’s RWJBarnabas Health Arena, and you can hear it live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with Justin Sontupe calling all the play-by-play, and Raj Shah providing the color. Click here to listen to the live broadcast.

The Crusaders began the season in the national rankings, and though they’ve since dropped out, they and Rutgers Prep are both Top 5 teams, with Morris Catholic No. 4, and Rutgers Prep No. 3. Only Paul VI (which both lost to this season) and St. John Vianney (which neither has played) are ahead of them.

Sophomore twins Mia and Mya Pauldo lead the way – two of the top point guards in the sophomore class – with Mia averaging a team-leading 17.3 points and 5.7 assists per game, while grabbing a team-best 91 steals. Mya is averaging 10.9 points a game, but just behind her sister in assists, with six fewer on the year.

And they can shoot the three. Surely, everyone knows Rutgers Prep can, and they have hit on 192 this season, but Morris Catholic has hit on a whopping 275, and average just a shade under 10 per game.

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

And then there’s the fact these two played each other in Game 2 of their respective seasons. The Crusaders won 72-69 in the She Got Game Classic on December 17th, wiping out a 13-point deficit with three minutes to go in the third quarter.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with Morris Catholic head coach Billy Lovett: