Tag: playoffs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


by Alec Crouthamel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plainfield guard Micah Gordon (5) skies for a dunk.
by Alec Crouthamel

Top-seeded Piscataway falls to Plainfield in North 2 Group 4 semifinals

You could feel it walking into the building. Playoff basketball intensity.

Or, to be more specific, before walking into the building, in a line that stretched nearly the entire length of Piscataway High School ahead of the North 2 Group 4 semifinal between the top-seeded Chiefs (23-8) and fourth-seeded Plainfield.

In the end, though, the Cardinals’ (22-5) top-end talent and pressure on both sides of the floor propelled Plainfield to a 73-56 road victory, continuing its quest to defend its Group 4 state title from last year.

The Cardinals took the “basketball is a game of runs” adage to the extreme, working three different “Killshots” — a run of 10-0 or more, coined by college basketball data scientist Evan Miyakawa — to pull ahead for good and keep the game out of reach.

Plainfield star guard Micah Gordon led all scorers with 23 points, as part of a quartet of Cardinals in double-figures. Forward Rashawn Williams added 18 points as a force at the basket, while Devin Thomas added 11 and Tylor Hunter scored ten points.

Senior forward Isaiah Fowler led Piscataway’s offense in one of his top scoring performances of the year, scoring a team-high 22 points with four three-pointers. Guards Josh Lima and Landon Pernell also added 13 and 12 points, respectively.

Both teams came out of the gate throwing haymakers, with a combined five three-pointers in the first quarter. The Chiefs caught fire near the midway point of the frame, building up a 17-10 lead with an 11-3 run.

That was when Plainfield woke back up.

The Cardinals worked an extended 18-0 run to take a double-digit lead for the first time, as their backcourt pressure and uptempo offense took Piscataway completely out of its rhythm. It felt like an avalanche falling on the Chiefs with multiple backcourt steals in a row, as Gordon electrified the always-raucous Plainfield faithful with a dazzling array of finishes at the basket.

Piscataway managed to slow it down on offense and worked its way back into the game towards the end of the first half, knocking down two straight treys to cut the deficit to five points. But just when it seemed like the Chiefs were landing their counterpunch — with an equally frenzied home crowd of their own — the Cardinals landed another blow with an 11-0 run to end the first half, going into the locker room with a commanding 41-25 lead.

Plainfield kept the foot on the gas to open the third quarter, as well. Piscataway senior forward Donald Nwaigwe drew an and-one in the post, but Thomas and Gordon each knocked down deep three-pointers to stretch the Cardinals’ lead to 20 points in the half’s opening minutes.

Even with the big-time deficit, the Chiefs had one final burst left in them, working a 13-2 run to cut the deficit to nine points. Plainfield kept up the trend and responded accordingly, ripping off another 10-0 run, ending the third quarter with an 18-point lead and all of the momentum.

The Cardinals slowed the pace down with the big lead in the fourth quarter and worked some timely buckets, including six points from Williams.

In a battle of teams of similar size and uptempo style, Plainfield came away victorious thanks to its devastating spurt-ability and took control for good.

The Cardinals will face off against second-seeded Linden — who defeated the three-seed Union in the opposite semifinal — for a chance at a second straight sectional title in their third straight appearance. Piscataway’s season comes to a close in Bob Turco’s second year at the helm, moving a round further than a season ago.

Click below to hear postgame reactions from Piscataway head coach Bob Turco with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel, presented by the Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Manville guard Josh D'Ambrosio (3) directs traffic for the Mustangs against Middlesex in the Central Jersey Group 1 quarterfinals.
by Alec Crouthamel

Manville boys rally, stun Middlesex in Central Jersey Group 1 quarterfinals

Midway through the third quarter, Manville was on the ropes.

In the Central Jersey Group 1 quarterfinals, the sixth-seeded Mustangs (19-8) trailed Middlesex 36-22 on the road, with a rising home crowd.

But just as it looked like the playoff matchup was going to slip away from Manville, they struck back.

The Mustangs ended the third quarter on an 11-2 run, and kept their foot on the gas to eventually pull away late and stun the third-seeded Jays (19-9) 47-44. Senior Josh D’Ambrosio finished with a game-high 22 points – 14 in the second half – and knocked down a go-ahead three with under two minutes to play to take the lead for good.

As the final buzzer sounded to end a frenetic final minute, Manville came out of the fray with a victory, before being promptly mobbed by the section’s worth of students who made the trip down Route 28.

Middlesex opened the game rolling on both sides of the floor, complementing an aggressive and opportunistic defense with a balanced scoring attack on offense. Five different Jays scored in the opening quarter.

They took a nine-point lead into halftime, led by 13 points from Jax Robel. He finished with a team-high 19 in the loss, as the Mustangs’ defense held him without a point in the final quarter. As a team, Middlesex knocked down six three-pointers in the opening half, but made none in the second half.

Once the teams exited the locker room after halftime, it was clear Manville had a different intensity than the opening 16 minutes.

The Mustangs attacked the basket and set up threes of their own on offense, and did a much better job matching up on the defensive side, forcing turnovers and bad shots.

The late run to end the third quarter was just as much due to Manville’s defensive intensity as its deliberation and efficiency on offense. In addition to D’Ambrosio taking more scoring initiative, the Mustangs got a major boost from junior forward Jonathan Gosk with seven points in the third quarter alone. He finished as the team’s second-leading scorer with ten points.

Manville trailed by five at the end of the third, and the momentum fully swung the visitors’ way quickly to start the fourth. D’Ambrosio drew a three-shot foul to open the scoring, and freshman guard Levan Chankotadze added a three-pointer of his own to take the lead for the first time in the half.

The two teams went back and forth from there, including a go-ahead three-point play chance from Chris Kozak, but Manville found its footing from the perimeter and knocked down its free throws late to seal the upset victory. D’Ambrosio scored 11 of the Mustangs’ 14 fourth-quarter points.

Manville moves on to the semifinal round for a third straight year, where it will face the winner of the opposite quarterfinal between second-seeded Point Pleasant Beach and tenth-seeded Dayton. The location will depend on the winner of the game. Middlesex’s season comes to a close with a 19-9 record.

Click below for postgame reactions from Manville head coach Bill Rooney and guard Josh D’Ambrosio with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel, presented by the Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

NJSIAA State Tournament Girls’ Basketball Preview: Schedules with times for first round, and a section-by-section breakdown for CJSR-area teams

This story has been updated after the NJSIAA Monday postponed Day One of the high school basketball tournament to Thursday. As of 6pm Monday, play in all other sections of the tournament remain “as is.” Check back with Central Jersey Sports Radio for the latest.

The 2026 NJSIAA state tournament gets underway this week for basketball, but as of now, a day later than originally planned. Groups 2 and 4 have had their opening round moved to Thursday, with quarterfinal play now pushed off to the weekend.

As of now, Groups 1 and 3 still will begin play Wednesday, In the non-public Sections, A North and South begin Thursday, and B North and South begin play Friday.

The good news is: there’s plenty of padding in the schedule to make it all work.

Sectional semifinal rounds take place the following week, with sectional finals for publics on Friday, March 6 (Groups 2 and 4) and Saturday, March 7 (Groups 1 and 3), all at high seeds. Non-Public sectional finals are Monday, March 9 at neutral sites.

Here’s a section-by-section look at the state tournament, with full schedules at the end of this story, organized by day.

Central Jersey Group 4

While Hillsborough is the defending champion (actually, they’ve won two-in-a-row, taking North 2, Group 4 the year before over Elizabeth) and they’ve had a good season, it’s Franklin that got the top seed here. The Lady Warriors will be coming off a loss to Rutgers Prep in the Somerset County Tournament title game, but led by Aleah Sunkins, they are very good, and had to knock off the top-seed in Non-Public South B – Gill St. Bernard’s, the defending SCT champion – to get there. They are good enough to make a deep run. And what;s more, with the Raiders on the other half of the bracket as a third seed, they could very well meet up in the finals. Franklin beat Hillsborough at home on January 6th pretty handily, 72-44, but were just 5-4 at the time under first-year head coach Jimmy Kreie. Since that win, they are 13-5.

Of course, East Brunswick is also in the bracket, the two-seed on Hillsborough’s side, and they could have something to say about that. The Bears made the GMC Tournament final, falling to St. Thomas Aquinas, 62-41. They also lost at Hillsborough on January 22nd, 70-52, in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Honestly, anything could happen here.

Central Jersey Group 2

Defending champion Manasquan is one of few returning winners – at least in the sections we’re following – to earn a No. 1 seed this year, and they are the odds-on favorite in this section. South River earned a top-four seed, and gets a familiar opponent in 13th-seed Metuchen, though – inexplicably – they haven’t played this season. They did last year, when Metuchen was 21-5, and South River was 2-23, and Metuchen won big, but the Rams are much improved, so those results are probably quite irreleveant.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

Bayonne gets the top-seed here, and defending champion Westfield is the second-seed. Piscataway could be a contender here as the third-seed. They’ll get 14-seed Perth Amboy in the opening round, their first meeting with the Panthers in four seasons. The Lady Chiefs are good, but this is a tough section in which to make a deep run. Woodbridge also has had a good year and could make a run here.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

The Bernards’ girls have had a tremendous season, and started the season 10-0 before picking up their first loss against Roselle Park, and the state’s top scorer Sydney Smith, who’s still averaging 30 points per game. They should get through a good chunk of the bracket, with a potential semifinal matchup – if all goes chalk – against third-seed and defending champion Madison on their side of the bracket. Caldwell is the top-seed. and sits in the other half, while Voorhees is the four-seed; they’re a familiar foe, as the teams split two regular season meetings this year in the Skyland Conference Valley Division, which the Mountaineers won this year.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

The Somerville girls have had a fine year, and got the well-deserved top seed here, but second-seed Colonia has been very good, too. Both could make deep runs, and it could be a fun title game if they both get there. North Plainfield also could be a surprise team here, as could any with a player like Layla Gutierrez, who has gone off for 42 and 50 points on separate occasions this season, and is averaging 19.3 points per game.

Central Jersey Group 1

Defending champion New Providence earns the top-seed here, so Bound Brook – which got the two-seed – is on the other side of the bracket. The Crusaders (22-3) will get a young 15-seed in Dayton in the opening round, and anything but a run to the finals might be a disappointment. They are clearly good enough to get it done. Bound Brook hasn’t lost to a public school all year, with their only losses coming in the regular season to Union Catholic and Gill St. Bernard’s. They nearly knocked off eventual Somerset County Tournament champion Rutgers Prep in the semifinals, with a second-half rally falling short. Freshman Peytan Pugh has been a game-changer, and this group should be good for a while. Still, they should be in this thing a while.

Non-Public North A

The Pauldo twins may be gone, but three-time defending champion Morris Catholic is the No. 1 seed again and remains the favorite here to potentially meet two-seed Immaculate Heart in the finals. Pingry is here as a six-seed, and gets 11-seed Kent Place School in the opening round.

Non-Public South A

Defending champion Paul VI got the three-seed, and Red Bank Catholic has the No. 1 seed, with the only opening round bye here in a 15-team field, with St. Thomas Aquinas getting the four-seed. The seven-time defending GMC Tournament champions are looking for their first sectional title since they were Bishop Ahr, back in 1985. They draw 13-seed Immaculata in the opening round, and should get through to the semifinals, but they would meet the Shore Conference Champion Caseys there, as they’re in the same half of the bracket. And should they pull a major upset there, their likely opponent in the finals would be two-seed St. John Vianney. Tough to get by one, if not both. SJV is the top-ranked girls team in the state, and RBC two, but probably only until the next rankings come out; the Caseys beat Vianney by four in the Shore Conference Tournament final Friday night.

Non-Public North B

This is an eight team bracket, and the opening round isn’t until next Monday, March 2, although teams can play early if agreed upon, and it looks like one game already has been moved up to Wednesday according to their online schedule: 5th-seed Eastern Christian at Villa Walsh. Nonetheless, Gill Gt. Bernard’s (19-5) opens as the top-seed against eighth-seed Pioneer Academy (1-13). So they should easily win that one, then just need to get out of the semis against Villa Walsh or Eastern Christian before likely facing second-seed Saddle River Day or Hudson Catholic, which they beat on January 3rd in the Garden State New Year’s Ball in Newark, 49-42.

Non-Public South B

Very likely we get a rematch of last year’s final in this one. Rutgers Prep is the top-seed and has a first-round bye, as does the team that beat them last year in the sectional final down at Jackson Liberty H.S., second-seed Gloucester Catholic. Both have been excellent all year, and only need to win two games to get there, none against any competition they can’t beat/

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Please note that early-round dates and/or times could be affected by school closures due to the weekend blizzard. This list will be updated, if necessary, as any postponements are announced.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

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, 5:30 pm

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 Thursday
  • (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

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

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 State Tournament Boys’ Basketball Preview: A look at all sections with CJSR-area teams, with complete first round schedules

This story has been updated after the NJSIAA Monday postponed Day One of the high school basketball tournament to Thursday. As of 6pm Monday, play in all other sections of the tournament remain “as is.” Check back with Central Jersey Sports Radio for the latest.

The 2026 NJSIAA state tournament gets underway this week for basketball, and already we’ve had some schedule changes, as Tuesday’s opening round for Groups 2 and 4 has been shifted to Thursday, with the quarterfinals bumped to the weekend. Wednesday play remains untouched, for now, for Groups 1 and 3. In the non-public Sections, North and South A begin Thursday, while North and South B begin play Friday.

Sectional semifinal rounds take place the following week, with sectional finals for publics on Friday, March 6 (Groups 2 and 4) and Saturday, March 7 (Groups 1 and 3), all at high seeds. Non-Public sectional finals are Monday, March 9 at neutral sites.

Here’s a section-by-section look at the state tournament, with full schedules at the end of this story, organized by day.

Central Jersey Group 4

Montgomery – the two-time defending champion in this section, and a Group 4 finalist last year – has some bulletin-board material for what it hopes is a long state tournament run. The Cougars (21-4) feel they got a bad break from the seeding formula, ending up No. 3 behind Marlboro and Hillsborough, with the Raiders getting the top seed. And they should feel that way. After all, they beat Hillsborough twice, by 16 on the road on January 13th, then again at home in the Somerset County Tournament, 53-38. All four losses this year have come to state-ranked teams: Rutgers Prep twice, and once each to Linden and now-SCT champion Gill St. Bernard’s. The Raiders did beat Rutgers Prep, but shouldn’t head-to-head count for something, too?

In any event, Montgomery is still the favorite here, and the team to chase. Hillsborough should be a contender to get to the title game, but a rematch with Franklin – which they lost to, 62-57, back on December 18, just three games into the season – potentially awaits in the second round if the Warriors can pick up a first-round road win at Freehold Twp.

Fourth-seed East Brunswick also should be a contender, and we could see a Bears-Raiders semifinal matchup for a trip to the finals if things go according to chalk. Sayreville is also very good, and the seventh-seeded Bombers could be a dark horse here.

Central Jersey Group 2

There are only a couple area teams here, and on opposite ends of the spectrum – and the bracket. Wall earned the one-seed here, while Metuchen got the two. The 23-4 Bulldogs will open with 15-seed Delran, and – if they advance – would get the winner of the 10/7 game between Point Pleasant Boro and Rumson-Fair Haven. They have a favorable path as the two-seed, with home court through the semifinals, if they get that far. Spotswood is on the other side of the bracket as the 13-seed, and they get Delaware Valley, the four-seed at 19-8, which beat Group 4 Hunterdon Central Friday night, 69-62 in overtime, for their first-ever the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament championship.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4

What a brutal section! Two excellent state powers in Linden and Plainfield – the second of which won Group 4 last year – got the two- and fourth-seeds, respectively. GMC Tournament runner-up Piscataway gets the top-seed here, and after 16th-seed JP Stevens, they would get either ninth-seed Columbia or eighth-seed Dickinson. Linden, at least, is in the other half of the bracket from Piscataway, but the Chiefs – if they make it to the semifinals – would likely get four-seed Plainfield. They draw four-seed Bridgewater-Raritan in the opening round, which would be a huge upset for the Panthers if they pull it off. Bridgewater had won eight straight to start the season, then lost eight of their next 13, but have since won five straight, albeit not against anyone in the same stratosphere as the Cardinals.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2

Bernards is the only area team here, and they’ll open up on the road with Weequahic. A win should pit them against the top-seed Newark Collegiate in the quarterfinals.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

Four-time defending champion Colonia got off to a 2-6 start, then went 14-2 the rest of the way heading into Wednesday’s GMC Tournament semifinals. They dropped that game to Piscataway, and in a state tourney tune-up, they lost Saturday at Northern Highlands, 57-54. But the bottom line is this team figured it out, after losing so many key players in the off season – the biggest of which were Aiden Derkack and R.J. Wortman – and have the horses to compete and get to another final. They could get last year’s title game opponent, Mendham, in the semis this time, if it works out, with the highest seed on the other side of the bracket being Chatham, the two-seed.

Don’t count out 6th-seed South Plainfield here; anyone who can knock off now-GMC Tournament champion St. Joseph-Metuchen – as they did, 55-54, at home on January 27th – has a chance to win a title. And if they get to the final, it could be against Colonia. And while the Patriots beat them in the North 2, Group 3 title game in 2022, and knocked them out in the semis in 2023 and 2024, the teams split this year. South Plainfield beat them on January 6th at home, 56-42, in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. That was Colonia’s sixth loss in their first eight games. But the Patriots returned the favor in a GMC Tournament rematch, 51-48, in the quarterfinals. Round 3 anyone? In Colonia’s gym? Best playoff atmosphere in the GMC in that cramped, deafeningly loud gym? We’ll take it!

Central Jersey Group 1

Dominated by College Achieve Central two years ago, they’re no longer in the NJSIAA. Dominated by Thrive Charter a year ago, they’re still here, but likely not for long, under the NJSIAA’s playoff success formula, which moves non-traditional public schools to larger sections based on playoff wins and titles. That’s no solace to all the other tiny public schools in the bracket, like nine-seed Bound Brook, which will be on the road to open against eight-seed Henry Hudson, and – if they win – would likely have to go down to Trenton to face Thrive (formerly Trenton Catholic).

Manville also has had a fine season – they beat Bound Brook twice after having not beaten them in two decades – and gets the six-seed here, opening up at home with 11-seed Dunellen. But before they get a crack at Thrive, they’ll have to get by a strong second-seed in the semis, Point Pleasant Beach.

Non-Public South A

GMC Tournament Champion St. Joseph-Metuchen will open up as the four-seed here, hosting 13-seed Donovan Catholic in the opening round Thursday night. After that, they’d get the winner of five-0seed Red Bank Catholic and 12-seed St. John Vianney, then would have to beat the top-seed Paul VI before a potential final against two-seed CBA, which would be down at Lenape High School in Medford Lakes, a neutral site. No doubt it’s a gauntlet, and a big step up in the later rounds from what they play in the GMC. Time to really give the program a test in the first season back for Mark Taylor’s rejuvenated program.

Non-Public North B

Gill St. Bernard’s lost to Roselle Catholic in last year’s final, with a controversial ending that cost head coach Mergin Sina the first two games of the season. But whatever, he got his money’s worth, and it didn’t affect the Knights at all. With just two losses – to St. Peter’s Prep and Linden, neither of whom could they face in the states – and winners of 20 in a row, we should be looking at a rematch between top-seed Gill and the second-seeded Lions. Both have opening round byes, and should likely cruise to the finals. We’ve seen the Knights several times this year; they are no joke. They play big boy basketball. See ya in Paterson on March 9th, where Kennedy High School hosts the neutral site boys’ and girls’ North B finals.

Non-Public South B

And while Rutgers Prep may have lost three times to Gill St. Bernard’s this season – most recently in the Somerset County Tournament final Saturday, 84-73 – they’re very good, too. They got the top seed and a first-round bye with a 16-9 record, and could potentially face 8th-seed and defending champion St. Rose in the second round, if things go to chalk. It may not be easy – the state tournament never is – but anything short of a finals appearance would be a disappointment. If they get to the neutral court finals at Lenape, they should face either two-seed Holy Cross Prep or three-seed Holy Spirit.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Please note that early-round dates and/or times could be affected by school closures due to the weekend blizzard. This list will be updated, if necessary, as any postponements are announced.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

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, TBA
  • (13) Summit at (4) Warren Hills, 7 pm
  • (14) Nutley at (3) Millburn, 5:30 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

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, 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

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

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, winner at (2) Holy Cross Prep

by Mike Pavlichko

Girls’ Non-Public Power Points Update: Despite SCT loss, Gill St. Bernard’s should earn a top-seed in state tourney, along with finalist Rutgers Prep

With playoff qualification in high school basketball closing Saturday at the NJSIAA cutoff, it looks like Gill St. Bernard’s loss in the Somerset County Tournament Saturday will not keep them from getting a top seed in their playoff section, with Rutgers Prep also expected to earn one.

Below is a look at all the area teams in the Central Jersey playoff brackets, based on NJ.com power point standings as of 2 pm on Sunday, February 15, 2026. It should be noted that the standings could change as the NJSIAA confirms records and details of the formula heading into Tuesday’s seeding meeting in Robbinsville, at which point the brackets will be announced. They become official (pending any discrepancies) as of noon on Wednesday.

First round action begins on Tuesday, March 24th.

Below is our analysis of the sections, and unofficial projected matchups, in the North Jersey, Section 2 playoff sections. Click on the header for each section to visit the NJ.com standings for that section. Please note that unlike football, there is no “head-to-head” jump of teams, unless they are tied in power points, in which case head-to-head is merely the first of several tiebreakers.

Who gets home games and byes depends on how many teams qualify in each section, with some having fewer than 16 eligible teams. There is a 16-game minimum to qualify for the postseason, and some teams won’t make it, while others who have not had much success could opt-out.

Non-Public North A:

Morris Catholic (19-5) seems poised to get the top-seed here, looking for its fourth straight sectional title, winning hear last year after two straight in North B in 2023 and 2024. Barring any opt-outs, it’s a 15-team section and field, and they would have an opening round bye, while everyone else plays. The only area team here is Pingry (13-9), which will finish sixth, right in the middle of the pack, but should open up with a home game in the first round.

Here are the projected first round matchups:

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

Non-Public North B:

Despite the loss to Franklin Saturday in the SCT semis – a very good Franklin team, by the way – Gill St. Bernard’s (18-5) still has an enormous enough lead that this is pretty much a lock, ahead of Saddle River Day (14-9) by almost ten points. Hudson Catholic (14-9) and Villa Walsh (13-10) round out the top four, and with Eastern Christian (15-7) at five, all those teams should get first-round byes. It’s a 14-team section to begin with, but teams 12-14 – St. Vincent, Golda Och and Pioneer Academy didn’t meet the 16-game minimum to qualify.

That leaves Mother Seton (12-6) as the only other area team here in the seven spot, behind Mary Help of Christians (13-6), but ahead of St. Dominic (12-11), Roselle Catholic (5-18), St. Mary-Rutherford (8-16) and Hawthorne Christian (6-15)

Assuming a small 11-team field, the top five would get byes. Here are the projected first round matchups:

  • (11) Hawthorne Christian at (6) Mary Help of Christians, winner at (3) Hudson Catholic
  • (10) St. Mary-Rutherford at (7) Mother Seton, winner at (2) Saddle River Day
  • (9) Roselle Catholic at (8) St. Dominic, winner at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s
  • Second Round: (5) Eastern Christian at (4) Villa Walsh

Non-Public South A:

Red Bank Catholic is the solid No. 1 here, and should be the only team that gets a bye in what should be a 15-team section, as long as nobody opts out. After St. John Vianney (22-2) at No. 2, with Paul VI (20-1) at three, St. Thomas Aquinas (20-5) rounds out the top four, and the Trojans are guaranteed home games in at least the first two rounds.

It’s then a long way down to Immaculata (9-13) at 13, and Mount St. Mary (8-14) in 14th-place.

Here are the projected first-round matchups:

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

Non-Public South B:

Rutgers Prep (21-2) to no one’s surprise is expected to get the top-seed here, by a little more than two points over Gloucester Catholic (19-4), which beat the Argonauts down at Jackson Liberty last year for the sectional title. The top-four should all get byes, rounded out with Wildwood Catholic (18-7) and Holy Spirit (18-7).

There’s some distance down to the next local teams, with Calvary Christian &7-12) in 10th and Wardlaw-Hartridge (5-12) in 12th, and what should be the final spot. Neither St. Joe’s-Hammonton, Noor-ul-iman or Timothy Christian met the 16-game threshold to qualify for the tournament.

Here are the projected first-round matchups in what we think will be a 12-team field:

  • (12) Wardlaw-Hartridge at (5) Stuart Day, winner at (4) Holy Spirit
  • (11) Ranney at (6) Moorestown Friends, winner at (3) Wildwood Catholic
  • (10) Calvary Christian at (7) Koinonia, winner at (2) Gloucester Catholic
  • (9) Holy Cross Prep at (8) Doane Academy, winner at (1) Rutgers Prep

by Mike Pavlichko

Girls’ Power Points Update: Somerville looks locked in to a No. 1 seed in North 2, Group 3 over Colonia; with Piscataway, Bernards earning top four slots

With playoff qualification in high school basketball closing Saturday at the NJSIAA cutoff, four Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area teams appear to have earned top four seeds, including a top-seed for Somerville in the Group 3 section of North Jersey, Section 2.

Below is a look at all the area teams in the Central Jersey playoff brackets, based on NJ.com power point standings as of 2 pm on Sunday, February 15, 2026. It should be noted that the standings could change as the NJSIAA confirms records and details of the formula heading into Tuesday’s seeding meeting in Robbinsville, at which point the brackets will be announced. They become official (pending any discrepancies) as of noon on Wednesday.

First round action begins on Tuesday, March 24th.

Below is our analysis of the sections, and unofficial projected matchups, in the North Jersey, Section 2 playoff sections. Click on the header for each section to visit the NJ.com standings for that section. Please note that unlike football, there is no “head-to-head” jump of teams, unless they are tied in power points, in which case head-to-head is merely the first of several tiebreakers.

Top eight seeds get first round home games, the top four are guaranteed the first two rounds, and top two get home court advantage through the semifinals.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4:

Bayonne (19-4) and Westfield (15-7) remain the top two here, just as they were a week ago, but a big run by Piscataway (15-7) to the GMC Tournament semifinals Tuesday night appears to have helped the Lady Chiefs skyrocket from sixth to third in the span of just a week. That means they could host at least two home games in this section, if they advance that far. Their rise knocked Plainfield (13-10) down one peg to fourth, rounding out the first four.

There were major changes in the next four, too. Columbia (16-7) dropped from four to five, Elizabeth (14-9) fell from five to six, and Bridgewater-Raritan (12-11) used a 2-0 week to shoot up three places to seventh, with North Star Academy (10-11) holding in the next spot to finish up the top eight, all of whom are guaranteed at least a first-round home game.

Woodbridge (16-7) went 1-1 since our last update and fell from seven to nine, while Watchung Hills (10-12) dropped from nine to ten. Union (12-7) gained a spot to get to 11, and Linden (9-17) held in 12th. The rest are Ridge (9-14), Perth Amboy (12-9) and JP Stevens (9-14), all up one spot apiece to 13, 14 and 15, while Scotch Plains-Fanwood fell three spots from 13 to the 16th and final playoff position.

Here are the projected first round matchups:

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

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3:

The lead was larger a week ago – just over two points – and now it’s down to fractions, but it appears Somerville (18-6) had enough padding between them and second-place Colonia (19-2) to keep the Patriots at bay. They finish just 0.354 points apart. Millburn (16-8) rose from five to three, while Cranford (12-13) dropped a spot to fourth. The top eight is rounded out with Chatham (12-12), North Hunterdon (10-13), Mendham (10-11) and Summit (11-13), with only the top three teams out of the top eight having above .500 records.

Carteret (13-9) is four games over .500, but will have to settle for the ninth-seed and open on the road, along with tenth-place South Plainfield (8-17), which moved up one spot from a week ago. Fort Lee and Randolph are next, then North Plainfield (5-18) at 13, followed by Orange, Cliffside Park and Warren Hills to finish the top 16. JFK was 6-18 last week, and with one loss, and other teams winning, dropped out and fell to 18 to miss the playoffs.

Here are the projected first round matchups:

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

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2:

No change in the top two here, where Caldwell (19-2) hold on to its No. 1 position over Bernards (20-3), the only Central JErsey Sports Radio coverage area team in the section.

Here are the projected first-round matchups:

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

by Mike Pavlichko

Girls’ Power Points Update in Central Jersey sections: Franklin appears to have locked down No. 1 seed in CJ4 with upset of Gill in SCT; Bound Brook looks like 2-seed in CJ 2

With playoff qualification in high school basketball closing Saturday at the NJSIAA cutoff, Franklin’s big win over Gill St. Bernard’s in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals may have been enough to help the Warriors claim the top-seed in Central Jersey Group 4, the only section to be lead by a CJSR-area team.

Below is a look at all the area teams in the Central Jersey playoff brackets, based on NJ.com power point standings as of 2 pm on Sunday, February 15, 2026. It should be noted that the standings could change as the NJSIAA confirms records and details of the formula heading into Tuesday’s seeding meeting in Robbinsville, at which point the brackets will be announced. They become official (pending any discrepancies) as of noon on Wednesday.

First round action begins on Tuesday, March 24th.

Below is our analysis of the sections, and unofficial projected matchups, in the Central Jersey playoff sections. Click on the header for each section to visit the NJ.com standings for that section. Please note that unlike football, there is no “head-to-head” jump of teams, unless they are tied in power points, in which case head-to-head is merely the first of several tiebreakers.

Top eight seeds get first round home games, the top four are guaranteed the first two rounds, and top two get home court advantage through the semifinals.

Central Jersey Group 4:

Franklin (17-7) was ahead of East Brunswick (20-4) by just 0.196 points on Super Bowl Sunday, but a 4-0 week capped by an upset of defending champion Gill St. Bernard’s in the SCT semis Saturday grew the Warriors’ lead to nearly four full points, so they appear well-locked in as the No. 1 seed ahead of the bears, and then No. 3 Hillsborough (16-6). It should be noted that there is no top-down head-to-head adjustment in basketball as there is in football, or else the Raiders would have jumped the Bears, having beaten them at home back on January 22. So in this case, they stay where they are; head-to-head only comes into play as the first tiebreaker if teams are tied in power points, which is very rare based on the nature of the system and power point averages calculated to three decimal places. Hunterdon Central (15-8) rounds out the top four. Then, we get Jackson Twp., Princeton, Marlboro and Freehold Twp. rounding out the top eight, all of whom get to open at home.

That leaves a bunch of area teams starting on the road, all bunched up in positions nine through 13. Only New Brunswick (12-10) fell out of the top eight, going all the way to 12. Sayreville (18-5) rose one spot in the past week to get to nine; Montgomery (11-12) edged up from eleven to ten; Old Bridge (10-13) skyrocketed from 14 to eleven thanks to a 2-1 week; the Zebras fell four spots to 12; and Monroe (10-11) climbed from 15 to 13 on a 2-1 week. All those teams were very tightly packed in the final week. Trenton, West Windsor-Plainsboro South and Hightstown round out the field of 16 here, where – if things stay as they are – all eight first round games will feature one Central Jersey Sports Radio team.

Here are the projected first round matchups:

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

Central Jersey Group 2:

Though their lead got a bit smaller in the past week, it was enough for Manasquan (19-4) to retain the top seed, and in fact, the top seven here remain unchanged from a week ago. That means Rumson-Fair Haven (16-8), Johnson (18-3) and South River (19-7) complete the top four in this section. Bordentown (18-2) is at No. 5, followed by Piscataway Magnet (18-4), Point Pleasant Boro (11-12), and Delaware Valley (11-13) at No. 8.

The Terriers wrested away the eighth spot from Spotswood (14-10), which dropped to nine and will miss out on a first-round home game. Delran, Governor Livingston and Robbinsille are next, followed by Metuchen (12-11) at 13, which gained two spots in the past week after going 2-1 since our last update. Holmdel, Wall and Ocean Twp. round out the field of 16, with East Brunswick Magnet (8-11) falling out from the 16 spot to 17 after losing their only game this past week.

Here are the projected first round matchups:

  • (16) Ocean Twp. at (1) Manasquan
  • (15) Wall at (2) Rumson-Fair Haven
  • (14) Holmdel at (3) Johnson
  • (13) Metuchen at (4) South River
  • (12) Robbinsville at (5) Bordentown
  • (11) Governor Livingston at (6) Piscataway Magnet
  • (10) Delran at (7) Pt. Pleasant Boro
  • (9) Spotswood at (8) Delaware Valley

Central Jersey Group 1:

We’re not sure if Bound Brook‘s narrow loss to Rutgers Prep in Saturday’s Somerset County Tournament semifinal cost them a shot at the top seed, but it was likely close, as the Crusaders were 1.399 points away from top-seed New Providence, but finished 0.756 points back. So those top two stay the same, with the Pioneers at 22-1, and the Crusaders 21-2. Keansburg (19-1) shot up from sixth to third since last Sunday, and South Amboy (17-6) on a 2-1 week pulled up from fifth to fourth, getting then an extra home game should they win in the opening round.

That leaves five through eight as Brearley (14-4), Roselle Park (15-7), Thrive Charter (10-10) and Shore (14-10).

Middlesex (14-1) and Manville (16-7) hold right where they were a week ago, at eight and nine, respectively, while Florence (11-11) holds at eleven, and Highland Park (8-16) holds on to the 12th position. Henry Hudson edged up to 13, College Achieve Central (8-10) went down to 14, while two out-of-the-bubble teams got in at the last two spots in the field of 16; South Hunterdon (4-18) came up from 20 on the strength of a 2-1 week that doubled their win total (remember we said how just one win by a team with only a couple or a few could make a big difference?) while Dayton (2-19) snuck in from 17. The Bulldogs have a brutal schedule, which includes Group 4 schools like Linden and Elizabeth, the second of which is the biggest high school in New Jersey. They took the spot of Dunellen (3-20), which fell out to 17.

Here are the projected first-round matchups:

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

by Mike Pavlichko

Boys’ Non-Public Power Points Update: SCT finalists Gill St. Bernard’s, Rutgers Prep appear to hold on to top seeds in upcoming state tourney

With playoff qualification in high school basketball closing Saturday at the NJSIAA cutoff, it looks like Gill St. Bernard’s and Rutgers Prep – ranked Nos. 3 and 9 in the statewide rankings, and both Somerset County Tournament semifinalists – will be getting the NO. 1 seeds in their respective playoff sections.

Below is a look at all the area teams in the Central Jersey playoff brackets, based on NJ.com power point standings as of 2 pm on Sunday, February 15, 2026. It should be noted that the standings could change as the NJSIAA confirms records and details of the formula heading into Tuesday’s seeding meeting in Robbinsville, at which point the brackets will be announced. They become official (pending any discrepancies) as of noon on Wednesday.

First round action begins on Tuesday, March 24th.

Below is our analysis of the sections, and unofficial projected matchups, in the North Jersey, Section 2 playoff sections. Click on the header for each section to visit the NJ.com standings for that section. Please note that unlike football, there is no “head-to-head” jump of teams, unless they are tied in power points, in which case head-to-head is merely the first of several tiebreakers.

Who gets home games and byes depends on how many teams qualify in each section, with some having fewer than 16 eligible teams. There is a 16-game minimum to qualify for the postseason, and some teams won’t make it, while others who have not had much success could opt-out.

Non-Public North B:

Nothing changed at the top since our last update, with Gill St. Bernard’s (23-2) getting the top seed by more than two points over Roselle Catholic (18-6). Morris Catholic (20-4), and St. Mary-Rutherford (21-3) round out the top four, which has three 20-game winners. After Morristown-Beard and Montclair-Kimberley at five and six, Timothy Christian at 5-18 – which went 2-1 this past week – finishes as a solid seven.

Then, it’s Pioneer Academy, Eastern Christian, Saddle River Day, and Wardlaw-Hartridge (4-12) checking in at 11, followed by Koinonia (4-16) at 12. We think that will be the field, as Golda Och and Franklin School (Jersey City) didn’t meet the 16-game minimum, while Hawthorne Christian did, but is 0-20. We think they’ll opt out.

Assuming a 12-team field, the top four would get byes. Here are the projected first round matchups:

  • (12) Koinonia at (5) Morristown-Beard, winner at (4) St. Mary-Rutherford
  • (11) Wardlaw-Hartridge at (6) Montclair-Kimberley, winner at (3) Morris Catholic
  • (10) Saddle River Day at (7) Timothy Christian, winner at (2) Roselle Catholic
  • (9) Eastern Christian at (8) Pioneer Academy, winner at (1) Gill St. Bernard’s

Non-Public North A:

The top three seeds here were unchanged from a week ago, and it looks like No. 1 will go to Paul VI (18-3), followed by Christian Brothers (19-3) and St. Peter’s Prep (18-3). But St. Joseph-Metuchen (24-1) pulled all the way up to No. 4 after their out-of-state opponent records were added in; they had not been updated as of last Sunday. That knocks Red Bank Catholic (18-6) down to five and Immaculata (17-6) down to six. After that, it’s Camden Catholic, St. Augustine and Union Catholic before you get to Pingry (12-8) at ten, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas (11-13), a GMC Tournament semifinalist, where they’ll play St. Joe’s. Ironically, it looks like the Trojans will face Immaculata in the opening round, just as they did in football this year. The last three are St. John Vianney, Donovan Catholic and Notre Dame.

We don’t anticipate any opt-outs here, so here are the projected first round matchups in what we believe will be a 14-team field, with the top two seeds getting byes:

  • (14) Notre Dame at (3) St. Peter’s Prep
  • (13) Donovan Catholic at (4) St. Joseph-Metuchen
  • (12) St. John Vianney at (5) Red Bank Catholic
  • (11) St. Thomas Aquinas at (6) Immaculata
  • (10) Pingry at (7) Camden Catholic, winner at (2) Christian Brothers
  • (9) Union Catholic at (8) St. Augustine, winner at (1) Paul VI)

Non-Public South B:

We don’t anticipate any opt-outs here, but St. Joseph-Hammonton – which finished 8th at 9-14 – is disqualified from the tournament after an early-January benches-clearing brawl in a game against LEAP Academy. Somerset County Tournament finalist Rutgers Prep (16-8) gets the top seed, followed by Holy Cross Prep (21-4) and Holy Spirit (18-6) rounding out the top three, all getting first round byes in what we anticipate will be a 13-team field. Calvary Christian (6-14) gets to 12 seed, should they play.

Here are the projected first-round matchups:

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