Tag: state tournament

by Mike Pavlichko

Several GMC, Somerset baseball teams in the running for top seeds in state tourney

At least a half dozen teams from the Greater Middlesex Conference and Somerset County appear to be in serious contention for top seeds in the NJSIAA state tournament, with the cutoff three weeks away.

Saturday, May 18 is the last day games can count toward power points. Traditional power points are used, with the highest 16 values before the cutoff counting toward the standings. Teams that reach 16 wins generally can make up less ground on opponents, since wins are generally worth much more than losses, and at that point, wins generally wins up replacing other wins, rather than low point total losses.

Here’s a section-by-section look at all the teams in contention in the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area. Analysis is based on results reported to NJ.com as of 9:45 pm April 26th.

Central Jersey Group 4: There are eight teams in contention here, and all are pretty good bets to make the playoffs, with a lot of baseball yet to play. Old Bridge (10-4) currently occupies the top spot, with 263.5 points, well ahead of second-place Manalapan (8-5). And area teams are packed in tightly here, all the way down to a three-way tie for tenth. Monroe (70-5) is 67.5 points behind the Knights, sitting in third, with Manalapan (8-5, 219) in them. After Jackson Memorial (8-4, 189), there’s South Brunswick well into the mix at 5-8, with 178 points. And after Hightstown (7-3, 173), five of the next six teams are from the CJSR coverage area. Hillsborough (5-8, 166) is in seventh, and followed by neighboring Montgomery (5-7, 151.5) and Sayrveille (5-7, 144). In a three-way tie for tenth are Princeton (5-6, 143), North Brunswick (3-8, 143) and East Brunswick (3-10, 143). Only 35 points separates the 5th-place Vikings and the potentially 12th-place Bears. Expect much to change here over the next three weeks.

Central Jersey Group 3: No one is in line for a top-seed here, with JFK the only area team inside the top 16. Allentown (9-4) has a narrow lead over Lawrence (12-1, 265) for the top spot, with the Mustangs (7-3) tied with Colts Neck (7-5) for ninth, with 149 points. Somerville – at just 3-7 – is only 30 points out of a playoff spot, but a win or two would improve their fortunes immensely. It’s not too late for the Pioneers to turn things around.

Central Jersey Group 2: Governor Livingston leads the group at 11-2 with 287 points, and right behind them is unbeaten Spotswood at 11-01, with 211.5 points. For the next area team, it’s all the way down to 12th for Carteret (8-3, 146). Also in the top 16 is East Brunswick Magnet (5-4, 110), while other area teams on the outside of the bubble have a shot if they can make some hay over the next few weeks. South River sits in 18th at 4-7 (102 points), while Metuchen (2-9, 96) is only 14 points out in 19th, and even Piscataway Magnet (4-4, 64) could get in with a run.

Central Jersey Group 1: Defending champion Point Pleasant Beach (12-0, 261 points) leads the pack, while Middlesex (4-8, 169.5) – which lost at home to the Garnet Gulls in last year’s title game – is in second. After South Hunterdon (8-3, 166), South Amboy (8-0, 154) is in fourth. The Governors are one of just two unbeaten teams – along with Spotswood – left in the GMC or Somerset County. Dunellen (8-4, 131) is not far behind in fifth. After Shore (4-5, 125.5) and Henry Hudson (5-4, 114) is Highland Park (6-4, 112) in eighth, followed by Riverside (5-2, 110) and Manville (5-5, 95). All the way down to 17th place, Somerset Tech (2-5, 67) is well in the running, just seven points back of 16th-place Keansburg (2-5, 74).

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4: Defending sectional runner-up Bridgewater-Raritan (11-1, 325 points) is No. 1 in the Bellamy & Son Paving Top Ten, and No. 1 in this section as well, leading second-place Westfield (10-1, 289) by a good margin, but the Blue Devils have a game in hand in the win column, so that distance may be closer than it appears in the Panthers’ sideview mirror. Woodbridge (11-2, 268) stands in third, and he next local team is down in sixth, with Ridge (8-4, 229.5) followed by Edison (9-3, 219) and Watchung Hills (7-5-1, 198 points) in eighth. Further down, you’ll find Perth Amboy 4-7, 149) in 12th, then Piscataway (6-5, 143), Franklin (6-4, 136.5) and JP Stevens (4-8, 126) right down the line.

North 2, Group 3: Just 20 points separate the top two teams here: first-place Randolph (11-3, 325.5) and second-place South Plainfield, (10-3, 305.5), which leads the GMC’s Red Division at the moment. The only other area team in contention here is Colonia. The Patriots are 6-4, with 197 points, and in ninth place.

North 2, Group 2: The only area team in this section is Bernards. The Mountaineers sit in 11th at 5-4-1, with 134 points.

Non-Public South A: Even with its second loss of the season – which came right after its first this week – Immaculata (9-2, 238) is ahead by 20 points for the top seed over St. Augustine (10-1, 218). The next area team down is St. Joseph-Metuchen. The Falcons are just 3-0, with 126 points, and a very inexperienced team. Pingry (2-7-1, 84) sits in 12th.

Non-Public North B: Anyone who doesn’t opt-out in this 13-team section will make it, but we’re not sure everyone in our area will want to play. St. Thomas Aquinas is in second at 9-2 with 166 points, 76 behind No. 1 St. Mary-Rutherford, the defending sectional champ who’s 9-4 with 243 points. In fifth is Gill St. Bernard’s (3-7-1, 103), followed by last year’s runner up here, Rutgers Prep (3-6, 97). Timothy Christian (0-7, 37) and Wardlaw-Hartridge (0-6, 28) could opt-out.

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

INSTANT REPLAY – NJSIAA Tournament Group 3 Semifinal (Boys): Ramapo 49, Colonia 31

Colonia got eight points each from seniors Jaeden Jones and Matthew McSorley as the Patriots fell 49-31 to Ramapo in the Group 3 semifinals of the NJSIAA state tournament for a third straight year.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko call all the play-by-play live from Bloomfield High School on March 6, 2024, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

by Mike Pavlichko

INSTANT REPLAY – NJSIAA Tournament Group 4 Semifinal (Boys): Lenape 57, Montgomery 43

Montgomery got 14 points from senior Steve Donahue and 10 points from junior Bohdan Biekietov in a 57-43 loss to Lenape in the Group 3 semifinals of the NJSIAA state tournament.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko call all the play-by-play live from Central Regional High School in Bayville, NJ, on March 5, 2024, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

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

INSTANT REPLAY – NJSIAA Tournament Non-Public South B Final (Girls): (1) Rutgers Prep 63, (3) St. Rose 42

The Rutgers Prep girls’ basketball team got 14 points from Mikayla Blakes and a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double from Leah Crosby en route to the Argonauts’ third straight sectional championship, a 63-42 win over St. Rose of Belmar in the Non-Public South B title game.

Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko call all the play-by-play live from Jackson Liberty High School on March 4, 2024, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

by Mike Pavlichko

Colonia can’t find its shot, falls to Ramapo for a third straight year in Group 3 semifinals

When the Colonia boys’ basketball team fell behind 8-2 early, but bounced back with a 5-0 run to close the first quarter, it looked like even though it might be a low-scoring game, it would be a tight one all the way with Ramapo for a third straight year in the Group 3 semifinals.

But the Patriots never could find that scoring touch, while Ramapo did. And the Raiders beat them again en route to the state Group 3 championship game, this time 49-31 in Bloomfield in a game heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

They’ll face the winner of the South/Central semifinal between Mainland and Freehold Boro at 6:30pm Sunday at RWJBarnabas Arena in Toms River, playing for the statewide Group 3 title.

Colonia – which finishes the season 22-9, having won the GMC Tournament for the first time since 2015 and the North 2, Group 3 title for a third straight year – had no one finish in double figures in the game, the easiest way to see they had trouble scoring the ball. But the lack of scoring – and offensive rebounding – also kept them from putting any back court pressure on Ramapo, which allowed the Raiders to set up their half-court offense.

After an 8-7 first quarter, Ramapo (24-8) closed the half on a 12-4 run to lead 20-11 at halftime. That advantage got as big as 19 at one point in the second half.

Jaeden Jones and Matt McSorley finished with eight each for Colonia, while Aiden Derkack finished with six. He had his wrist taped in the third quarter, and that may have affected his shot as well.

Seniors Chris Cervino, Wyatt Eglinton-Manner and Peyton Seals each finished with 12 for Ramapo.

Click below for postgame reaction from Colonia head coach Jose Rodriguez, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

Will the third time be the charm? Colonia to meet Ramapo tonight in Group 3 semis for a third straight year

For a third straight year, the road to New Jersey’s Group 3 boys’ basketball final for Colonia will go through Ramapo. But will this be the year they finally get there?

The Patriots have won three straight North 2, Group 3 titles. The Raiders have won five. And in three of those years – including the last two – Colonia has fallen to Ramapo in the state Group 3 semifinals.

Maybe it’s the venue. The last two years, they’ve played each other in Phillipsburg, a long trek for both schools.

Wednesday afternoon, they’ll meet up in Bloomfield at 4:30, with another trip to the state final on the line. You can hear that game right here on Central Jersey Sports Radio, beginning with the pregame show at 4:15 as Mike Pavlichko calls all the action. Click here to listen.

The Patriots are led by sophomore Aiden Derkack and senior Jaeden Jones. Derkack – the GMC Tournament MVP – is averaging 21.3 points per game in four state tournament contests, and had a double-double in the state tourney opener against Fort Lee, with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Jones is averaging almost 20 a game in the state tourney, five above his season average, lighting it up in the sectionals.

Ramapo has three four-year varsity players, including star guard Peyton Seals, who plays AAU ball with Derkack and is headed to Princeton. He’s averaging 15 points a game in the states, and overall, while Chris Cervino can bury the deep ball, and is averaging almost 17 points a game in the state tournament, four above his season average. He has a team-leading 84 treys.

Click below to hear from both coaches!

Colonia coach Jose Rodriguez after the Patriots’ North 2, Group 3 title game win over Millburn
Ramapo head coach Nick Vier
by Mike Pavlichko

Early Hillsborough scoring drought too much to overcome, Raiders succumb to Morristown in Group 4 semifinals

The Hillsborough girls’ basketball team had already beaten Morristown in the regular season by eleven points at the end of January, and the Raiders had to think their rematch in the state tournament would at least be a good chance to advance to their first ever state title game.

And it was, except for one small thing: their shots weren’t falling.

Hillsborough gave up the first bucket but then went ahead 4-2 just shy of midway through the period. That’s when the scoring drought began.

It continued into the second quarter, and by halftime, the 27-16 lead held by the Colonials was just too deep of a hole to climb out of.

The young Hillsborough squad made one last run, getting it to within eight late in the third, and they were down only ten going into the fourth. But some Raider turnovers – and a couple of killer threes by the game’s high scorer, Cameron McGinley – were the final daggers. She finished with 20 and four treys.

Morristown (23-9) goes on to play Lenape in the Group 4 final Saturday at 6:30 pm at Rutgers.

Hillsbrough’s high scorer was Francesca Schiro, with 18, while Isabella Ruh added ten rebounds.

And they leave a bright future for Boro next year. That’s because both will be back with the vast majority of the team, which will return just under 99-percent of its scoring in 2024-25.

The Raiders finish 21-9, with their first-ever sectional championship trophy now in their display case. Not too shabby at all.

Click below for postgame reaction from Hillsborough head coach Courtney Tierney, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen: