Notre Dame High School

This past spring sports season was the perfect way to close out a busy and exciting 2021-2022 scholastic year for high school sports in the Garden State. Now, it’s time to find out who had the best plays of the spring. Our cameras captured hundreds of games from baseball, softball and lacrosse fields all around the state. With that, comes a countless number of noteworthy plays. So, we need your help! This week, we’ll be asking our audience to vote on four separate categories for JSZ’s 2022 Spring Sports Plays of the Year: boys’ lacrosse goal, girls’ lacrosse goal, web gem and clutch play. Check back each day throughout the week to watch the corresponding video and vote in that respective poll. Boys’ Lacrosse Goal of the Year *Poll closes Thursday at 1:00 pm* Girls’ Lacrosse Goal of the Year *Poll Closes Friday at 1pm* Web Gem of the Year *Poll Closes Saturday at 1pm* Clutch Play of the Year

It’s time to once again recognize the best baseball and softball performances from around the Garden State. Our JSZ team has combed the box scores to find the best individual efforts in North, Central and South Jersey. Our polls are open now through Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. The winner of each poll will receive a JSZ Game Ball during the season. To nominate a player for a Game Ball please email the JSZ team before Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Mike Frankel: mikefrankel@jerseysportszone.com (South nominations) Jay Cook: jay@jerseysportszone.com (North nominations) Rich Chrampanis: rich@jerseysportszone.com (Central nominations) North Jersey Central Jersey South Jersey

We’ve got boys and girls championship action from Mercer County plus the semifinals of the Shore Conference Boys Basketball Tournament at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River thanks to our great sponsors! Trenton Catholic 72 Trenton 57 | Mercer County Boys Championship (1) Trenton Catholic (19-4) defeated (6) Trenton (16-9) 72-57 to capture their third Mercer County Tournament trophy in  four years. After a tightly contested first quarter, TCPA jumped out to a 37-27 lead at halftime. The Iron Mike’s would go on to lead by as many as 30 in the second half as Jameel Morris finished the night with 26 points. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights and postgame reaction from Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton: Ewing 51 Notre Dame 46 | Mercer County Girls Championship (1) Ewing (21-1) raised their first Mercer County Tournament Title in 30 years with a 51-46 victory over (3) Notre Dame (17-6). The Blue Devils led 17-6 at halftime and controlled the pace of the game behind a standout performance from sophomore Rhian Stokes. Stokes winning MVP honors finished with 25 points. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights and postgame reaction from Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of the Mercer County boys and girls basketball finals is made possible by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates Manasquan 53 Red Bank Catholic 47 | Shore Conference Tournament Boys Semifinal Freshman Darius Adams had 26 points including 10 of the Warriors 11 points in the 4th quarter to give the 2-time defending Shore Conference champions another trip to the title game. Manasquan’s 2021 tournament title is not officially recognized due to the pandemic but the 2020 champs will face Marlboro for a second straight year this Sunday at 3:00 pm at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Toms River: Marlboro 45 CBA 37 | Shore Conference Tournament Boys Semifinal The Mustangs roared back from a seven-point halftime deficit to earn a spot in the championship game. Jack Seidler and Jay Ratner each had 12 with Jon Spatola adding 11. Spatola hit a pair of three-pointers in the third to draw the Mustangs even at 23. Ratner put the Mustangs ahead for good late in the third quarter as Marlboro improved to 22-2 on the season. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from Toms River: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of the Shore Conference Tournament is made possible by RWJ Barnabas Health

Vote on the best performances in the Garden State for the week of February 7th through February 12th! Our polls are open now through Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. The winner of each poll will receive a JSZ Game Ball during the season. To nominate a player for a Game Ball please email the JSZ team before Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Mike Frankel: mikefrankel@jerseysportszone.com (South nominations) Jay Cook: jay@jerseysportszone.com (North nominations) Rich Chrampanis: rich@jerseysportszone.com (Central nominations) IMPORTANT- PLEASE NOTE: BECAUSE OF YOUR BROWSER AND/OR ROUTER CACHING, YOU MAY VOTE MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEN NOT SEE THE TOTAL VOTES CHANGE FOR THE PERSON YOU ARE VOTING FOR. THIS IS A CACHING ISSUE WITH YOUR BROWSER AND/OR ROUTER. IT IS NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING UNDERHANDED. BE ASSURED THAT YOUR VOTES ARE BEING TABULATED BY OUR POLLING PLATFORM, AND WILL SHOW IN THE FINAL TOTALS. OUR VOTING/POLLING PLATFORM RECOGNIZES BOTS , AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OUT ANY IP ADDRESS WHERE A BOT IS DISCOVERED, SO NO ONE CAN ‘GAME THE SYSTEM’. WE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE RESULTS ARE FAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING. North Jersey Central Jersey South Jersey

Ewing 63 Notre Dame 43 | Girls No. 16 Ewing (10-1) defeated Notre Dame (9-3) 63-43 to pick up back to back wins in a possible preview of the Mercer County Tournament Final. Rhian Stokes and Te’Yala Delfosse both with 14 points in the first half helped Ewing jump out to 42-17 lead at the break. The Blue Devils would extend the deficit to as many as 30 in the final two quarters. Stokes finished with 22 points to go along with eight rebounds, eight assists and 10 steals. Te’Yala Delfosse had 23 points and 11 rebounds. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights from Lawrenceville:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring both our Ewing and Notre Dame coverage.

Sectional champions are crowned throughout the state on Thursday and our team of MMJ’s has you covered with highlights from a number of those contests. Stay tuned throughout the night as the highlights come in! Seton Hall Prep 1 Delbarton 0 | Non-Public A North Final Drew Ligotti’s goal with :48 seconds left in the first half proved to be the difference in a battle between two non-public rivals. Top-seeded Seton Hall Prep (19-0-1) continues on their magical season after weathering a second-half storm from Delbarton (17-3-1). Aidan Batista made eight saves in net for the Pirates, who won their eighth Non-Public A North sectional title. Seton Hall Prep will face CBA in the Non-Public A final Sunday at Kean University. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from West Orange: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of all Seton Hall Prep athletics is proudly supported by One-on-One with Steve Adubato! Christian Brothers Academy 5 Notre Dame 4 | Non-Public A South Final (1) Christian Brothers (20-1) captured their sixth Sectional Title in seven years following a 5-4 victory over (3) Notre Dame (17-3-2) for the South Jersey, Non-Public A Championship. The Colts went ahead 4-1 early in the second half before ND scored a pair of goals to cut the deficit to 4-3. After another score from Dylan Cupo, Notre Dame would cut the game to 5-3 in the closing minute, but there was not enough time for the Irish to lead a comeback. Cupo finished the game with two goals. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights from Lincroft:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage. Princeton Day 3 Ranney 1 | Non-Public B South Final William Vazquez scored a pair of goals and Milan Shah had a goal and an assist to give Princeton Day its first sectional championship. Vazquez opened the scoring when he followed his penalty kick which was initially stopped to break a scoreless tie in the second half. Vazquez added a goal with 11:41 left in the second half and Shah made it 3-0 on a free-kick. Princeton Day will take on Gill St. Bernard’s for the Non-Public “B” state championship on Sunday at Kean University. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-match reaction from Tinton Falls: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Princeton Day is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates

From Hudson County, down to the Shore and over to Mercer County, we have you covered with conference championship games all across the board on Thursday. Follow along for all the highlights coming later tonight! Pennington 0 (4) Notre Dame 0 (2) | Boys | Mercer County Tournament Final (1) Pennington (14-1-2) defeated (2) Notre Dame (15-1-2) 0-0 off penalty kicks to capture a sixth consecutive Mercer County Torunament Championship. After 100 minutes were not enough the rematch of the 2019 MCT Final was decided on penalty kicks as Pennington would take PK’s 4-2. Villanova commit Rafa Ponce de Leon finished with 9 saves. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring both our Pennington and Notre Dame coverage.  Freehold Township 3 Toms River North 1 | Girls | Shore Conference Tournament Final The Patriots prevailed in a battle between top-five teams in the state to capture the Shore Conference Tournament championship for the first time since 2011. Freshman Gaby Parker set the tone, netting a goal 47 seconds into the contest for the Patriots. Gabby Koluch and Cassidy Corcione each added a goal as Freehold Twp. (17-0-1) remains unbeaten heading into the state playoffs. Senior Faith Wavershak scored the lone goal for Toms River North (16-1-1) in the loss. JSZ’s James Mooney will had the highlights and reaction from our OceanFirst Bank Game of the Week: The Girls Game of the Week is made possible by OceanFirst Bank! Kearny 2 Harrison 1 (OT) | Boys | Hudson County Tournament Final If you wanted an instant classic, that’s certainly what you got from the 2021 Hudson County Tournament final. Arch rivals Harrison and Kearny went toe-to-toe, but the Kardinals prevailed in overtime thanks to a golden goal courtesy of Nico Gomez. Kearny goalkeeper Josh Rodriguez was stellar in the win and made seven saves – including a high-pressure PK save late in regulation. JSZ’s Jay Cook has all the action and reaction from Red Bull Arena in Harrison: Jersey Sports Zone’s wall-to-wall coverage of the Hudson County Tournament final was made possible by OceanFirst Bank! Pennington 1 Hopewell Valley 0 | Girls | Mercer County Tournament Final (1) Pennington (14-2-2) defeated (2) Hopewell Valley (16-2-2) 1-0 for a third straight Mercer County Tournament Championship. After a scoreless first half and most of the second, it seemed the match would head to overtime tied at 0-0, however sophomore Morgan Kotch’s goal with 11 minutes remaining in regulation would lead Pennington to victory. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring both our Pennington and Hopewell Valley coverage.  Westfield 1 Scotch Plains-Fanwood 0 | Boys | Union County Tournament Final Max Rokshar’s rocket from 34 yards out in the 16th minute was the only goal of the match as Westfield wins the Union County Tournament. JSZ’s Darron Wallace has the highlights from AL Johnson High School in Clark: Thanks to Assemblyman on Bramnick for sponsoring JSZ’s coverage of Westfield

There’s only one more week of regular season games left in the 2021 New Jersey high school football season and Jersey Sports Zone’s statewide Game Ball polls are still going! Our team of MMJ’s are highlighting batches of stellar performances with game ball voting where players in every corner of the state are honored on a weekly basis. Did we miss a player? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our MMJ’s below. The polls stay open through Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Thanks to everyone for voting! South Jersey Future nominations can be submitted to Mike Frankel: MikeFrankel@jerseysportszone.com North Jersey Future nominations can be submitted to Jay Cook: Jay@jerseysportszone.com Central Jersey Future nominations can be submitted to Nery Rodriguez: Nery@jerseysportszone.com

Football is well underway in New Jersey and Jersey Sports Zone’s statewide Game Ball polls are back! Our team of MMJ’s are highlighting batches of stellar performances with game ball voting where players in every corner of the state are honored. The polls stay open through Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Thanks to everyone for voting! NJM Insurance South Jersey Poll Future nominations can be submitted to Mike Frankel: MikeFrankel@jerseysportszone.com Jersey Sports Zone’s South Jersey game ball polls are sponsored by NJM Insurance! North Jersey Future nominations can be submitted to Jay Cook: Jay@jerseysportszone.com Central Jersey Future nominations can be submitted to Nery Rodriguez: Nery@jerseysportszone.com

High school football in the Garden State has returned. With the 2021 season now officially opened, teams are turning the page on a turbulent 2020 season in hopes of playing full schedules and competing for real championships. Our team of MMJ’s have hit the ground running and will have new previews everyday leading up to the start of Week 1 on Sept. 3. Bookmark this page for all the latest on New Jersey high school football! 8/9: Don Bosco Prep A 2-3 season last year will fuel one of New Jersey’s most storied programs into the 2021 season. The Ironmen return a plethora of talent from a team that weathered through bumps in the road last fall. Junior five-star left tackle Chase Bisontis headlines a talented offensive line unit that will hold the fort for an offense that returns numerous skill position starters. Navy commit Timmy Hinspeter and Fordham commit Claudy Robinson are the two big names that will anchor this Don Bosco defense. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the story from Ramsey: 8/10: Seton Hall Prep 2020 was an up and down year for Seton Hall Prep and the surging Pirates have their sights set on stability and consistency in 2021. QB Jaden Craig – a Harvard commit – returns to lead the offense with Myles Thomason and Nick Dunneman, a group that will bring plenty of fireworks to the Kelly Athletic Complex. JSZ’s Jay Cook has more from the West Orange private school: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of all Seton Hall Prep athletics is proudly provided by “One on One with Steve Adubato!” 8/11: Wall The Crimson Knights not only emerged as the top team in the Shore but the top-ranked public team in New Jersey after a 7-0 record. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the story from the reigning Shore Conference champions. 8/12: St. Augustine After a 4-3 campaign in 2020, the Hermits look to reestablish themselves as Non-Public Group 4 title contenders. Northwestern commit Denis Jaquez, Army commit Brady Small, Kanye Udoh, Nasir Hill and Trey McLeer lead a loaded and experienced senior class for the Prep. JSZ’s Mike Frankel checks in with the Hermits in Richland: 8/13: Rumson-Fair Haven Expectations are always sky high in Rumson. The Bulldogs are in the Shore Conference’s top division looking to earn their spot in the Shore’s top 4 and play for a conference title followed by their usual quest to go deep in the state playoffs. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis takes us to Rumson to preview the Bulldogs: 8/14: Notre Dame Sean Clancy is 15-2 (5-1 in 2020) during his first two years as Notre Dame’s head coach. Having to replace prolific two-way scoring threat Rickey “Pop” Spruill, the Irish will look to sophomore AJ Surace, son of Princeton University Head Football Coach Bob Surace, at the starting quarterback role. ND suffered a tremendous loss in the offseason when longtime strength and conditioning coach John McKenna passed away just weeks before training camp. Featured on our All Access coverage in 2020, McKenna’s presence is still felt and his spirit continues to motivate the program.  JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez stopped by Lawrenceville: Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage. 8/15: Bergen Catholic Questions remained at the end of the 2020 season as to which team was No. 1 in New Jersey. Entering 2021, however, Bergen Catholic feels they have what it takes to be the best in New Jersey. Led by a defense with nine returning starters and an offense that looks to put up points in bunches, the Crusaders have aspirations of playing for a state championship in MetLife Stadium in just a few months. JSZ’s Jay Cook previews the Oradell-based non-public powerhouse: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Bergen Catholic is made possible by Rothman Orthopaedics. 8/16: Timber Creek 2020 was an up-and-down year for the Chargers, who finished with a 3-4 record under first-year coach Brian Wright. With just a handful of starters returning, Wright is tasked with getting a young, but talented group up-to-speed in year two. Illinois commit Donovan Leary leads an intriguing mix of youth and experience as Timber Creek looks to get back into title contention in 2021. JSZ’s James Mooney has the story from Gloucester Township: Coverage of Timber Creek is brought to you by Cooper University Health Care. 8/17: South Brunswick South Brunswick’s first year in the newly formed Big Central Conference didn’t go as planned, as the Vikings won their first four games of the season before dropping three in a row to end 2020. John Viotto, entering his third season as head coach, will look to players like five-star kicking recruit and Rutgers University commit Jai Patel to lead the team in 2021. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez stopped by training camp for the latest:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our South Brunswick coverage. 8/18: Millville Syracuse commit LeQuint Allen will lead the way for a Thunderbolts team hoping to contend for a sectional title in 2021. Nate Robbins enters his third year as Millville’s starting QB, while dynamic freshman Lotzier Brooks has all of Cumberland County buzzing. JSZ’s Mike Frankel checks in with the Bolts: 8/19: Donovan Catholic The Griffins were a mere half-yard from a perfect 2020 season and an unofficial Shore Conference championship, but Dan Curcione’s team is ready to hit the reset button and challenge defending champ Wall for the top spot in the American Division and a chance to do damage both in the new Shore playoffs as well as the road to the Non-Public Group 3 state championship. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has more on the Griffins from Toms River: 8/20: Winslow Twp. The Eagles won five of their six games in 2020 to earn the program’s first winning season in a decade. Now Winslow is looking to keep the momentum going in 2021. Senior LB Emeril Mitchell will lead the way on defense, while QB Hamas Duren and RB Trey Thorpe should put up big numbers on offense. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the preview: 8/20: St. Joe’s (Mont.) It won’t be easy replacing reigning JSZ Zoneman Player of the Year Audric Estime, but St. Joe’s will lean on their new core of top talent to usher in the next generation of Green Knights. Joe’s, yet again, plays an incredibly tough schedule and will have to weather through the gauntlet if they want to compete for a state title in 2021. JSZ’s Jay Cook profiles St. Joe’s (Mont.): Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of St. Joe’s (Mont.) is made possible by Rothman Orthopaedics. 8/21: Trenton Trenton was one team greatly affected by Covid-19 protocols. The Tornadoes not only shut down and rescheduled games, but were also forced to trim the roster down to less than 30 athletes, leaving many players confused and discouraged from participating in the offseason. New head coach Chris Franco brings his expertise over from prep powerhouse The Hun School. Franco is eager to restore a bit of normalcy back into one of Mercer County’s most beloved programs. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez stopped by training camp:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Trenton coverage. 8/21: St. Joseph Academy (Hammonton) Having to fight to keep their school open and playing without a home field, the Wildcats know about adversity. This season, St. Joe aims to retake its place as one of the top Non-Public teams in the state. Cohl Mercado, P.J. Williams, Bryan Butkus, Jahqir Haley and Ja’son Prevard will lead the way in Paul Sacco’s 40th season at the helm in Hammonton. JSZ’s Mike Frankel checks in with the Wildcats: 8/22: Holmdel The Hornets have had an amazing three-year run including last year’s 6-1 record. The price of that success is a daunting schedule in the Shore Conference’s Colonial Division. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis pays a visit to Holmdel and head coach Jeff Rainess: 8/22: Cedar Creek The Pirates will lean on a deep and experienced senior class to right the ship after finishing 3-5 in 2020. JSZ All-Zone WR JoJo Bermudez and company are hungry for a return to the postseason under second-year coach James Melody. JSZ’s James Mooney has more from Egg Harbor City: 8/23: DePaul Catholic It’s a new year, and there’s a new head coach leading DePaul Catholic into 2021. Nick Campanile, who was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach, takes the reigns of a surging Spartans program from John McKenna. The cupboard is certainly full this season. A trio of Division 1 recruits – A’Khoury Lyde, Q’yaeir Price and Eddie Conoran – anchor a defense with eight three-year varsity starters. DePaul’s usual pass-happy offense now goes to senior quarterback AJ Rodriguez. JSZ’s Jay Cook previews the Passaic County power: 8/23: Shawnee The Renegades look to get back on the winning track this season after finishing 1-6 in 2020. Four-year starting QB Matt Welsey leads a senior class with a lot to prove in 2021. Returning starters Dean Bialous, Fred McAneney, Ethan Krauss, and Luke Anderson will all see increased roles this season. JSZ’s James Mooney has the preview: Coverage of Shawnee is brought to you by Cooper University Health Care. 8/26: Northern Highlands The excitement surrounding Northern Highlands football is as high as its been in years. The Highlanders return four valuable starters and leaders to the team in 2021: QB Enzo Arjona, RB/DB Nick Branca, WR/DE Ian Langan and OL/DL Charlie Johnson. Those four will look to lead Northern Highlands on their drive to win a second sectional title in three seasons. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the preview from Allendale: 8/26: Delran The Bears enter 2021 with a chip on their shoulder after a tough end to a Covid-shortened 2020 season. Rutgers-commit Kenny Fletcher, senior RB Zac Palmer-Smith, and junior QB Derek Namnun have the Bears ready to challenge for a sectional title. JSZ’s James Mooney has more from Delran: 8/26: Mainland The Mustangs return a young core ready to take a step forward after finishing 2-4 in 2020. Mainland will feature an exciting one-two punch on offense in junior RB Jabriel Mace and junior QB Marlon Leslie. Sophomore LB JJ Sinclair will be a name to watch on the defensive side of the football. JSZ’s James Mooney checks in from the Mustang Corral: 8/26: Union Following a tough loss to Ridgewood at MetLife Stadium for the North Group 5 Championship, 2020 didn’t go as planned for Union as the Farmers went 4-3 in a condensed season affected by Covid-19. Union will have to replace versatile athlete Desmond Igbonisun, now at Rutgers, luckily the Farmers can look to younger brother and defensive threat, Davison Igbonisun to make plays in 2021 before he joins the Scarlett Knights next year. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the story: 8/30: Lenape Despite ending the year with back to back losses, Lenape finishing 5-2 will once again be one of the premiere teams to watch in South Jersey. With players like Xavier Coleman now at Boston College and Tyler Davis off to University of Delaware, the Indians will look to players like Kylier Lightfoot and Kobi Ray-Reed to lead the offense.  JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the story from training camp:  8/31: Kingsway The Dragons look to reload and refocus in 2021 with a strong group of underclassmen stepping into big roles both on and off the field. Juniors Darrell Brown Jr. and Nate Maiers will be impact players on both sides of the football for the Dragons. Sophomore QB Joe Lyons, junior LB D.J. DiPietro, and junior DL Demetrious Ransom will be some of the newcomers to watch this season. Kingsway opens the season with a road trip to Rutgers University, where they will take on Shawnee at the Rumble on the Raritan. JSZ’s James Mooney has the preview from Swedesboro: 8/31: Piscataway After being shut down for the entire 2020 season due to COVID, Piscataway has a clean slate as they look to build back. The Chiefs were a juggernaut just three years ago after a perfect 13-0 season. The road to rebuilding begins this Friday night when Piscataway hosts Phillipsburg. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has a look at the 2021 Chiefs 8/31: Delbarton Delbarton’s 2020 team was arguably one of the best in program history. So, how will the 2021 rendition of the Green Wave respond? By setting their own standard. Stanford commit Pat Caughey anchors a defensive line with potentially three other Division 1 recruits: Chuck Nnaeto, Matt Gemma and Nigel McSween. Robbie Russo is in line to win the starting quarterback job and will have a reliable target in Nick Petrillo, one of the top returning pass catchers in the Super Football Conference. JSZ’s Jay Cook previews the Morristown-based private school: 8/31: Irvington Who is the top team in Essex County? Some will say Seton Hall Prep, but others will push for Irvington to hold that title. The Blue Knights’s 2021 campaign includes tough games against Union City, Wayne Hills, DePaul Catholic, Ridgewood and West Orange. That should prepare them for a deep playoff run. Two-way lineman Justin Evans-Jenkins is one of the top players in Essex County and will be a valuable leader for Irvington this season. The Blue Knights’ trio of national junior recruits – Adon Shuler, Nasir Addison and Famah Toure – bring top-end talent to a hungry team. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the preview on Irvington: 8/31: Red Bank Regional Shane Fallon’s father was a longtime athletic director and assistant football coach at Red Bank Regional in the late 1970’s. Now, the architect of the Rumson-Fair Haven football program comes back home to lead RBR into a new era. The Bucs had multiple shutdowns due to COVID but ended their 2-4 season with an upset win over Group 5 Hackensack. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis previews the Bucs from Little Silver: 8/31: East Orange A condensed seven game season put a cap on what could’ve been something special for East Orange. The Jaguars went 5-2 in 2020, outscoring opponents in their first three games 81-6. With most of their starters returning they will have much to look forward to in 2021. At the top of that list is six foot, two hundred pound, Temple University commit and defensive threat, Kyle Louis. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the full story:  8/31: Westfield No team scheduled to play was affected by Covid-19 in 2020 more than Westfield. Shutdowns led to a two game season in which the Blue Devils lost both games, a definite first for longtime Head Coach Jim DeSarno.  JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez stopped by training camp:  Thank you to the office of Jon Bramnick for sponsoring our Westfield coverage.  9/1: Middletown South The Eagles are coming off a 2-4 season but played one of the toughest schedules in the Shore Conference highlighted by a 32-25 upset win over RBC. More than anything, Steve Antonucci’s team is grateful to have a full season in front of them including the return of their annual Thanksgiving clash with Middletown North. Jack Latore leads a hard-nosed defense and Tom Shorck is back under center on the offensive side of the ball. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has a preview of Middletown South: 9/1: Ramapo The expectations surrounding Ramapo football are always sky high. While the goal for a sectional title isn’t changing in 2021, the actual group they’ll be competing in is. The Raiders are anticipating a bump-up from North Group 3 to North Group 4 this season, meaning new opponents and challenges throughout the year. Senior captains Dylan Snee and Jack Remo will be valuable pieces to the defense, while Bergen Catholic transfer Jack Grusser comes back to play quarterback at his hometown school. JSZ’s Jay Cook previews the Raiders: 9/1: Eastern 2021 marks a changing of the guard for the Vikings as Lionel Bolen takes over the program in his first season as head coach. The former Eastern assistant was a standout at Rancocas Valley and played collegiately for Notre Dame. Bolen’s goal in year one is to change the culture after a 1-4 finish in 2020. The Vikings feature a ton of talent all over the roster with junior QB Walt Clymer Jr., senior WR/DBs AJ Brooks, Jasiah Davis, and junior OL/DL Aidan Clark playing huge roles this season. JSZ’s James Mooney has more with the Vikings in Voorhees: Coverage of Eastern is brought to you by Cooper University Health Care. 9/1: Colts Neck After putting together a 7-1 season in 2021, Colts Neck got what they asked for – a major bump in competition. The Cougars are the newest addition to Shore Conference’s American Division, which features the conference’s best competition. Colts Neck will mix it up with Toms River North, Donovan Catholic, Wall and Rumson-Fair Haven in 2021 as they look to stake their claim as one of the top public schools in Central Jersey. Four-year starter Tommy Fallon returns under center and is surrounded by a senior-heavy team with plenty of varsity experience. JSZ’s Jay Cook previews the Cougars: 9/1: Hun 2020 was anything but typical for the Hun school. The nationally known prep powerhouse located in Princeton went 3-3 in a short season that restricted them to in-state play only. Prior to last year the Raiders had lost only four games in the three seasons, that included a slew of MAPL league championships. Things seem to be back on pace in Princeton and it doesn’t hurt when you have New Jersey’s number one ranked player, Rutgers commit Jacob Allen.  JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez stopped by training camp:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Hun coverage

JSZ brings you another evening of exciting lacrosse finishes from around the Garden State. Check out our 5.19 coverage below! Haddonfield 10 Moorestown 9 (OT) | Girls This battle between the two best teams in South Jersey certainly did not disappoint. Princeton commit McKenzie Blake scored in overtime after Maya Feinstein made a crucial save […] To access this post, you must purchase an All Access Pass. You can log in here or purchase an All Access Pass here. Become an All Access Pass Holder. You will be redirected to login or purchase page.

It’s time to vote on the best performances from the third week of the spring season. Our Week 3 baseball and softball polls are now open, so get those votes in often before the polls close on Tuesday at 3pm! The JSZ team will present the Game Balls to the winners at a practice or game later in the week. South Jersey Submit future nominations to mikefrankel@jerseysportszone.com. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Jersey Sports Zone’s South Jersey Game Ball poll is brought to you by NJM Insurance! Central Jersey Submit future nominations to rich@jerseysportszone.com. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll North Jersey Submit future nominations to jay@jerseysportszone.com. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll

It’s time to vote on the best performances from the first week of the spring season. Our Week 1 baseball and softball polls are now open, so get those votes in often before the polls close on Tuesday at 3pm. The JSZ team will present the Game Balls to the winners at a practice or game later in the week. South Jersey Submit future nominations to mikefrankel@jerseysportszone.com. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Central Jersey Submit future nominations to rich@jerseysportszone.com. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll North Jersey Submit future nominations to jay@jerseysportszone.com. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll All nominations must be submitted by Saturday evening.

The fourth week of the 2021 basketball season has come and gone, and with it came some memorable performances on the hardwood. Start voting now for JSZ’s Boys and Girls Game Balls for each region of the state! Jersey Sports Zone’s Game Balls are back for the 2021 basketball season. We’ve got great performances from all around the state. Our polls are open now through Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. The winner of each poll will receive a JSZ Game Ball during the season. To nominate a player for a Game Ball please email the JSZ team before Saturday at 8:00 p.m. Mike Frankel: mikefrankel@jerseysportszone.com (South Jersey nominations) Jay Cook: jay@jerseysportszone.com (North Jersey nominations) Nery Rodriguez: nery@jerseysportszone.com (Central Jersey nominations) South Jersey Game Ball Nominees JSZ’s South Jersey poll includes players in the BCSL, CAL, Colonial, Olympic, and Tri-County conferences. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Jersey Sports Zone’s South Jersey Game Balls are brought to you by NJM Insurance! Central Jersey Game Ball Nominations JSZ’s Central Jersey poll includes players in the CVC, GMC, and Shore conferences. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll North Jersey Game Ball Nominations JSZ’s North Jersey poll includes players in the Big North, HCIAL, NJAC, NJIC, SEC, Skyland and UCC conferences. Take Our Poll Take Our Poll

The year 2020 was made up of 12 unforgettable months. That sentiment especially rings true for New Jersey’s high school sports community. Jersey Sports Zone’s team of MMJ’s gathered for a year-in-review roundtable, discussing the Top 20 stories we covered this year. Thank you to our loyal audience who followed along with us through one of the most trying years we’ll remember. Happy New Year, and here’s to a happy and healthy 2021! JSZ Top 20 of 2020 Pt. 1 JSZ Top 20 of 2020 Pt. 2 No. 20: The Final Game Before COVID-19 Shutdown Bergen Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep. These two were among the top basketball teams in New Jersey last season, and delivered a double-overtime showdown in the last game JSZ covered in the 2020 winter season. It signaled the near end of the basketball season and the beginning of a long statewide shutdown. No. 19: Gill St. Bernard’s Rules NJ Soccer Scene 2020 was a year to remember for the Knights of Gill St. Bernard’s. All-state striker Micaah Garnette, who delivered 21 goals and 14 assists, was the main catalyst to a 13-0-1 squad that went on to win a Central West Non-Public sectional final against Skyland rival Pingry. The Knights were undoubtedly the top team at the end of the line. No. 18: Leon Jones’ Inspiring Comeback It was a year in which many would have to overcome tough circumstances. For Notre Dame’s Leon Jones, his journey to redemption began before COVID-19. Following a collision against St. Peter’s Prep in a playoff football game, Jones was left paralyzed for almost 48 hours. After regaining feeling in both of his legs, doctors were still unsure if he would be able to walk normally, let alone play sports again. However, midway through the basketball season, Leon Jones not only started his first game as a senior, but Jersey Sports Zone was there to watch him lead his team to victory. No. 17: South Jersey’s Ware & Watson Earn Top Basketball Honors There was no shortage of talent on the high school basketball court last winter, but Camden’s Lance Ware and Mainland’s Kylee Watson proved to be the best of the best. Ware, a Kentucky commit, was the senior leader for a Panthers team that finished the season on a 25-game winning streak. Watson, an Oregon commit, surpassed 2,000 career points in a decorated career for the Mustangs. Ware and Watson earned the JSZ Mr. and Ms. Hoop Zone awards, as the top players in the Garden State. No. 16: Camden Basketball Reigns Supreme in Garden State Hoops Scene It was the most anticipated season for The High in a generation, and the Panthers did not disappoint. Led by fabulous freshman D.J. Wagner, Kentucky commit Lance Ware, and South Carolina commit TaQuan Woodley, Camden went (29-1). The High was without a home gym for the 2019/2020 season, but Panthers fans followed the team all over the state and beyond to watch this special journey. Camden was in great position to win its first state title since 2000, before the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to the postseason. No. 15: Delbarton Wrestling Delivers Historic Year on the Mat When wrestling fans in Morristown – and across the state – look back on the 2019-2020 season, they’ll remember the incredible effort Delbarton put forth to cement themselves as the No. 1 program in New Jersey. It all started with a 42-15 victory over Bergen Catholic in the Non-Public A North semifinals where the Green Wave ended the Crusaders’ 96-match win streak against NJSIAA competition. That began a run of postseason excellence ending in Delbarton’s first state title since 2011. No. 14: CBA, Donohoe are Kings of NJ Ice The Gordon Conference is home to the elite New Jersey hockey programs, yet it was the private school from Monmouth County that slayed numerous Bergen County teams en route to attaining gold at the end of the road. The Colts, who won 20 games, the Gordon Cup and the Non-Public State Final, were led all year long by sophomore goalie John Donohoe. Donohoe went on to win JSZ’s 2020 Player of the Year after making 501 saves in electric fashion. No. 13: Jewel Gonzalez Sets the Standard A pioneer to Stateliner and New Jersey wrestling, Jewel Gonzalez was the face of girls wrestling in New Jersey during her high school career. Coming from one of the most storied and successful wrestling programs in the Garden State in Phillipsburg, Gonzalez won back-to-back girls state wrestling championships in Boardwalk Hall. During her two seasons, Gonzalez amassed an undefeated 30-0 record as she pinned her way through the state tournament as a senior. Gonzalez capped off her state championship the same way many other Stateliners had done before her, by jumping into the ocean. No. 12: JSZ’s “One Shining Moment” As the world shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, JSZ set out to commemorate the best of the 2019-20 high school basketball season. With the blessing of the song’s composer, David Barrett, JSZ was able to produce a unique version of the March Madness staple, “One Shining Moment.” No. 11: Scottie Lewis Leads off the Court Rounding out Part 1 of our look back at 2020 is a story that transcended sports. Ranney-alumni Scottie Lewis returned home to Asbury Park to lead a peaceful protest over the summer. It was a day that few would forget as organizers, protesters, and police officers joined together to rally against racial injustice and inequality. No. 10: Abrupt Cancellations of Two High-Profile Games Postponements and cancellations were common during the 2020 football season. The timing of a pair of cancellations stood out late in the season though, as Bergen Catholic-Delbarton was called off just before kickoff, and Williamstown-Ocean City was abandoned at halftime. No. 9: Morristown-Beard Girls Hockey Makes History Girls sports in the Garden State took another important step forward in 2020 with the inaugural state ice hockey championship. Morristown-Beard skated to victory at the Prudential Center in Newark. No. 8: Bosco and Seton Hall Prep Earn Signature Wins It felt like Bergen Catholic would face St. Peter’s with the state’s #1 ranking on the line to close out the year. Don Bosco and Seton Hall Prep had other ideas. The Ironmen stunned the Crusaders, while the Pirates topped the Marauders down the stretch of the season. No. 7: A SportsCenter Top 10 Moment for Manasquan Chris Farinacci beat the buzzer with a sensational goal to lift Manasquan over St. John Vianney. The highlight went national, making the rounds on ESPN. No. 6: Shore Conference and WJFL Pod Playoffs The 2020 football season didn’t feature the traditional playoff format. The Shore Conference and the West Jersey Football League still made it a memorable “postseason” for a handful of top teams, with the creation of playoff pods. Wall and Holy Spirit battled their way to 2020 bragging rights. No. 5: Howard and Peterson Electrify in Atlantic City Robert Howard and Dean Peterson both travelled down to Atlantic City on a mission. The standouts from Bergen Catholic and St. John Vianney captured state titles in impressive fashion at Boardwalk Hall. No. 4: Estime Wins Zoneman & Commits to Irish Audric Estime ran roughshod over opponents in 2020. The St. Joe’s (Montvale) senior earned JSZ’s top football honor, the Zoneman award, and flipped his commitment from Michigan State to Notre Dame. It was an eventful day for Estime, and JSZ was on hand to capture it. No. 3: A JSZ All-Access Unlike Any Other Football teams had extra time to gear up for a unique season, and JSZ tagged along with a handful of squads leading up to opening night. We were able to tell unique stories from the practice fields at Bergen Catholic, Notre Dame, Ocean City and Rumson-Fair Haven, as the teams laid the groundwork on how to play during the COVID-19 pandemic. No. 2: Spring Athletes Were Truly Jersey Strong The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the entire spring sports schedule in 2020. It was devastating to thousands of athletes, but especially to the seniors. A handful of those seniors delivered a powerful message as they reflected on their high school careers. No 1: The Last Dance Brought Closure and Hope Although it wasn’t an official NJSIAA event, The Last Dance baseball tournament gave over 200 teams a chance to finally take the field after the cancellation of the spring season. It was a memorable month of July, as Cranford won the title, and all of the teams provided a blueprint on how high school sports could move forward during the darkest of times.

He’s been one of Colonial Valley Conference’s most talked about players thus far in 2020 and Rickey “Pop” Spruill once again showed why he is a candidate for Mercer County’s Player of the Year. In the Irish’s week three matchup against Allentown, Spruill accumulated 354 total yards of offense and four touchdowns. The fans have spoken and he is this week’s Central Jersey Game Ball Winner! Watch his ceremony below:  Take Our Poll Be sure to vote each week for our Top Plays and Game Balls: 9 a.m. Sunday-3 p.m. Tuesday! Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage. 

A clutch play is always a top play and to take home the first JSZ Top Play Belt of the 2020 season, George Chrissafis of Notre Dame did just that by hitting a 36 yard field goal to help the Irish walk away with a 23-20 overtime victory against Hamilton West. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez stopped by practice in Lawrenceville for his presentation ceremony:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage. Take Our Poll Be sure to vote for our Top Plays every Sunday starting at 9.pm, polls close 3 p.m. Tuesday!

Jersey Sports Zone spent four days with four high school football teams leading up to the kickoff to the 2020 high school football season. We take you behind the scenes like never before and take you inside the huddle with Bergen Catholic, Notre Dame, Ocean City and Rumson-Fair Haven The 2020 football season kicks off this Friday night in a season unlike any other. The COVID-19 pandemic forced a one month delay and a six-game regular season. JSZ takes you behind the scenes and inside the huddle at Bergen Catholic, Notre Dame, Ocean City and Rumson-Fair Haven. Watch our three episodes to gear up for the official return of high school sports! Episode One: “The season’s on the line. If one of us gets sick, this could be the end.” Episode Two: “You have to stick to what you believe in and you have to work every day to get where you want to get.” Episode Three: “This is the moment I’ve waited 18 year for – my senior year.” JSZ’s All-Access pass allows you to see all of our content immediately. Click on the link to join our team today and learn more: /https://jerseysportszone.com/product/premium-zone-membership/

It’s moving day in the 222-team, winner-take-all Last Dance. Teams look to punch their spot to Thursday’s Region championships and a chance to get a spot in the single elimination tournament next week! Jersey Sports Zone has our cameras bouncing around to regionals throughout the state. We will post our highlights throughout the day and night. Jersey Sports Zone’s Last Dance Tournament highlights are being brought to you by Sterling National Bank Lincroft Regional Lincroft Colts (CBA) 5 Wall 3 Vanderbilt commit Pat Reilly made the most of his three innings on the mound with six strikeouts and delivered a pair of RBI doubles to pace the offense and put the Colts in the Lincroft-Tinton Falls Regional championship against Middletown North. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from the Shore Conference: West Orange Regional Hall Ball (Seton Hall Prep) 13 West Orange 3 Brandon Hersh, Karson Harcourt and Justin Cassella starred in Hall Ball’s strong showing Wednesday night to top crosstown rival, West Orange. Hersh and Harcourt were strong from the plate all game long, and Cassella closed out the evening with a 340-foot long ball. JSZ’s Jay Cook has all the highlights from West Orange High School: Sponsor Shoutout! Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of all Seton Hall Prep athletics is proudly brought to you by One-on-One with Steve Adubato. Lawrenceville Regional Lawrence Road Irish (Notre Dame) defeated East Windsor Rams (Hightstown) 6-2 thanks to a pair of big performances from Gavin Martin and Thomas Mills who produced four RBI’s. Notre Dame takes on Lawrence on 7/15. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring both our Notre Dame and Hightstown coverage. Tinton Falls Regional Middletown North 9 Blue+Grey (Marlboro) 4 Ryan Rozinski blasted a 2-run homer and Colin Dowlen drove in three more runs to give the #4 seed a spot in the Lincroft-Tinton Falls Regional championship on Wednesday. The Lions knock off the top two seeds in their pool. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Tinton Falls: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Middletown North is made possible by ACI Medical&Dental School Bridgewater Regional Spartans (Immaculata) 1 BR-Baseball (Bridgewater-Raritan) 0 Immaculata senior Ryan Kabus threw a gem of a game Wednesday afternoon at Prince Rodgers Field. Kabus, the hero from last year’s Somerset County Final, threw a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts for the win. The Spartans will face Branchburg (Somerville) in the regional championship on Thursday. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Bridgewater: Sponsor Shoutout! JSZ’s coverage of Bridgewater-Raritan is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates. North Brunswick Regional Vikings Baseball (South Brunswick) 2 OB Knights (Old Bridge) 1 After losing 1-0 in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament Championship over a year ago, South Brunswick defeated division rival Old Bridge 2-1. Pitcher Kyle Gruver finished with seven strikeouts and no earned runs. Matt Storch’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth would tie the game before a bunt would help the Vikings take the eventual go-ahead score. South Brunswick takes on Middlesex on 7/16. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our South Brunswick coverage. Ocean City Regional BPC Spartans (Holy Spirit) 4 Triple Crown (Egg Harbor Twp.) 3 Trevor Cohen gave Holy Spirit the lead with a 2-RBI double in the 5th inning. Then Cohen hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to win it for the Spartans in the bottom of the 7th. Donovan Patten went the distance for Spirit on the mound, striking out six. Holy Spirit improves to (2-0) in pool play, and can advance with a victory on Thursday. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from Ocean City: Ocean City Regional Mainland 8 Ocean City 5 These rival teams were locked in a back-and-forth battle until Luke Mazur hit an RBI single in the 6th inning to give the Mustangs the lead for good. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from OC: Williamstown Regional EHC Pirates (Cedar Creek) 5 Chargers (Timber Creek) 3 Dan DiGiovannantonio’s RBI triple in the fifth inning proved to be the difference as Cedar Creek pulled away from Timber Creek. Nate Kennedy picked up the win on the mound and chipped in an RBI at the plate to help his cause. The Pirates improve to (2-0) in pool play and will face Williamstown for the regional championship tomorrow. JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Williamstown: JSZ’s coverage of Timber Creek is brought to you by Cooper University Health Care. Williamstown Regional Williamstown 3 Buena 1 The Braves got a dominant performance in relief from Ryan Achey as they hang on to defeat the Chiefs. Achey struck out the side in the fifth and seventh innings, as he racked up seven strikeouts over four innings. Williamstown improves to (2-0) in pool play and will face the EHC Pirates for the regional championship tomorrow. JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Williamstown: Brick Regional Jackson Memorial 4 Mustang Baseball Club (Brick Memorial) 0 A hot start paced the way for Jackson as the Jags took a 2-0 lead in the first after a two-run homer by Tom Cartnick. Junior RHP Matt Potok pitched a shutout through four innings with seven strikeouts. Jackson is now (2-0) in pool play and will take on the Monmouth Monarchs (Manalapan) tomorrow. JSZ’s Kenneth Bradley has the highlights from Brick: JSZ’s coverage of Jackson Memorial is made possible by Louro Chiropractic Center. Coming this Friday….JSZ Top Plays from the Last Dance Tournament We’ll compile the top plays captured by JSZ cameras in the first week of the Last Dance Tournament and ask you to vote for the top play. The winner of our poll this weekend will get a JSZ Game Ball and a presentation with their teammates. Thanks to RWJ Barnabas for supporting the Last Dance Tournament and our coverage!

The state playoffs continue with sectional semifinal action on the public side, and sectional quarterfinal action on the non-public side. JSZ will continue to post the highlights as they roll in! Timber Creek 59 Westampton Tech 47 | Boys | Group 3 South Semifinal Demetrius Paynter scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the second-seeded Chargers into the South Jersey Group 3 title game. Jalen Bergen added 17 points in the victory for Creek. Tyrese Myrick scored 25 points for the third-seeded WesTech Panthers in the loss. Timber Creek will host fifth-seeded Cherry Hill West for the sectional championship on Monday night. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from Gloucester Township: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Timber Creek is brought to you by Cooper University Health Care. St. Joseph (Metuchen) 70 Notre Dame 63 | Boys | Non-Public A South Quarterfinal St. Joseph (Met.) (3) advanced to the South Jersey Non-Public A Semifinals with a 70-63 win over Notre Dame (12). The Irish trailing by 10 in the third quarter would end up leading 57-2 heading into the fourth. It would then be St. Joe’s turn to force a comeback as the Falcons with the help of Senior Tyree Ford would take and hold onto a late lead with under four minutes left. Joe’s will face Camden Catholic (2) in the next round. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage. Wall 80 Allentown 60 | Boys | Group 3 Central Semifinal Wall’s Pat Lacey picked the perfect night to have a career game. The junior guard poured in a career-high 31 points as the Crimson Knights advance to defend their Central Group 3 championship next week. Logan Peters had 17 points along with an additional 15 from Quinn Calabrese. RJ Weise had a team-high 18 points for the Red Birds in the loss. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Wall: Sponsor Shoutout! JSZ’s coverage of all Allentown athletics is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates. Camden Catholic 41 CBA 38 | Boys | Non-Public A South Quarterfinal The Fighting Irish survive a scare from the upset-minded Colts to advance to the Non-Public A South semifinals. Zach Hicks led the way for the Irish, scoring a game-high 18 points, but it was his denial of Colin Farrell in the final moments that helped seal the victory. Camden Catholic will now face St. Joe’s Metuchen in the Non-Public A South semifinal on Monday. JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Cherry Hill: Coverage of Camden Catholic is brought to you by NJM Insurance. Red Bank Catholic 67 Notre Dame 31 | Girls | Non-Public “A” South Quarterfinal Sophia Sabino and Ally Carman each scored 17 points and Justine Pissott added 16 as the Caseys used a 22-6 second quarter to cruise to the sectional semifinals and a matchup with fellow Shore Conference power Saint Rose. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Red Bank: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of RBC is made possible by the Jersey Shore Institute of Health & Wellness. Thanks to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for allowing us to capture Notre Dame sports moments all year long

What a day! Saturday provides another great slate of games on the hardwood with tons of action in every corner of the state from both the boys and girls side. Stay tuned to this page all day as the highlights roll in! Camden 67 Gill St. Bernard’s 63 | Boys | Metro Classic Freshman phenom D.J. Wagner scored 19 points to lead The High to its 14th win in a row. Fellow freshman Cian Medley added 13 points for the Panthers in the victory. Denver Anglin went off for a game-high 30 points for the Knights in the loss. Princeton commit Zach Martini reached 1,000 career points in the defeat for GSB. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from Toms River: Coverage of Camden is brought to you by Cooper University Health Care. Patrick School 55 Wildwood Catholic 48 | Boys | Metro Classic Jonathan Kuminga led the Celtics with 19 points in a battle between two of the top Non-Public squads in the state. Jacob Hopping kept the Crusaders right in the game all night long, scoring a team-high 19 points. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from Toms River: Notre Dame 52 Council Rock North (PA) 44 | Boys As special as senior day ceremonies are, Notre Dame had much more to celebrate as Leon Jones, who was paralyzed from a football injury three months ago, took the court. The Irish trailed in the first half before eventually going ahead by 10 and maintaining that lead late in the fourth. Quentin Autry finished with 14 points while Rutgers baseball commit Nick Feretic had 13. Leon Jones ended the day with nine points. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage. Manchester Twp. 43 Mainland 36 | Girls | War vs. The Shore The Hawks entered the final quarter down by five but outscored the Mustangs 17-5 to earn the comeback victory in a rematch from last year’s Tournament of Champions. Destiny Adams turned in a standout performance, scoring a game-high 18 points. JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Linwood: Immaculate Heart 58 Westwood 19 | Girls | Bergen County Quarterfinals Northwestern commit Anna Morris scored a game-high 18 points and nearly outscored the entire Westwood offense by herself as the Blue Eagles advanced to the Bergen County semifinals in the win. No. 1 seed IHA will face fourth-seeded Teaneck in the next round on Feb. 16. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Franklin Lakes: Ramapo 67 Paramus Catholic 49 | Girls | Bergen County Quarterfinals Without a single senior on the roster, Ramapo continues to raise eyebrows in North Jersey. Sophomore Madison Schiller collected 23 points and 10 rebounds and junior Lauren Achter notched 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Ramapo, the No. 3 seed, advances to face No. 2 seed and four-time defending county champions Saddle River Day in the semifinals. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Franklin Lakes: Red Bank Catholic 73 Marlboro 36 | Girls Justine Pissott scored 21 points and Sophia Sabino added 15 as the Caseys snap the Mustangs 12 game win streak with a dominating effort on Saturday afternoon. RBC opened the game with a 20-4 run and was able to shut down a team that averaged over 64 points a game. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Red Bank: Thanks to the Jersey Shore Institute of Health & Wellness for allowing us to capture great RBC moments all year long!

Every Sunday during the basketball season, JSZ combs through the boxscores and comes up with 20 nominees for boys and girls basketball from Central Jersey who are up for six JSZ Game Balls. The polls are open NOW through Tuesday at 3:00 pm. JSZ will pay a visit to a mid-week practice or game and present Game Balls to the winners of our polls. Thanks to coaches who have sent us nominations for their players. A reminder that you can email rich@jerseysportszone.com by Saturday night for any players who you think is worthy of a Game Ball nomination. Jersey Sports Zone is excited to have ACI Medical & Dental School join our team and present our Central Jersey Game Balls all year long in addition to allowing us to bring great highlights and features to Rumson-Fair Haven and Middletown North. One of the top technical schools in NJ, Advantage Career Institute Medical & Dental School in Central New Jersey offers a variety of programs in the in-demand medical and dental industries.  Visit ACI.org to learn more! Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Last Week’s JSZ Central Jersey Game Balls Thanks to everyone for voting! It was great to visit Rumson-Fair Haven and Jackson Memorial to give Jack Carroll and Kristina Donza their JSZ Game Balls

We’ve got Wednesday night ice on JSZ! Saint Joe’s Montvale looks to stay unbeaten on the road at Notre Dame and CBA goes for a third straight win over a ranked opponent when they square off with Shore Conference foe St. John Vianney. Jersey Sports Zone has the highlights of both games posted now! CBA 5 Saint John Vianney 2 Zach Wagnon scored two goals to lead the Colts to a third straight win over a ranked opponent. One day earlier against Delbarton, CBA erupted in the second period and it happened against the Lancers as well. The Colts scored three goals in the span of 1:46 in the second period to improve to 4-1-1. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Jersey Shore Arena: Thanks to the SJV Lancers Hockey Booster Club for supporting our coverage of Saint John Vianney hockey! St. Joe’s (Montvale) 7 Notre Dame 1 St. Joe’s improved to 4-0-1 following a dominating 7-1 victory over Notre Dame, handing the Irish their first loss of the year. Justin Rauch and Logan May each scored twice for the Green Knights. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Rothman Orthopaedics for sponsoring our St. Joe’s coverage. Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage.

As we get ready for the Regional Championships and the end of the high school football season, JSZ has gone deep in its archives to pick out the best plays captured by our cameras during the 2019 football season. We’ve got seven categories for you to vote on. The polls are open NOW through Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. The winner of each category will get an invite to Jersey Sports Zone’s third annual football banquet on December 11 in Woodbridge. Thank you again to all the great athletes for giving us so many incredible plays to choose from. Watch all the videos below and cast your vote now! TD Run of the Year Take Our Poll TD Pass Play of the Year Take Our Poll Defensive TD of the Year Take Our Poll Special Teams TD of the Year Take Our Poll Sack of the Year Take Our Poll Clutch Play of the Year Take Our Poll Viewers Choice Play of the Year Take Our Poll JSZ’s Top Play Belt winners from the regular season are not in the Plays of the Year. Those winners will be invited to the banquet and be honored along with our Plays of the Year winners. JSZ 2019 Top Play Belt Winners Week 0: Sam Williams, Pingry Week 1: Thomas Amankwaa, Hillsborough Week 2: David Hicks, Red Bank Regional Week 3: Nate Summerville, Shawnee Week 4: Nasir Calhoun, Donovan Catholic Week 5: Nasir Abney, Holy Cross Week 6: Mike Cassanata, Wayne Hills Week 7: Jada Byers, St. Joe-Hammonton Week 8: Jake Cook, Mainland Week 9: Jimmy Pepe, Randolph Week 10: Lonnie Cebulski, Jackson Memorial

The New Jersey high school football playoffs are here and Jersey Sports Zone got some big moments from the opening round. We have the Top Plays captured by our cameras (with some help of a viral video courtesy of Monroe High!). Watch the best of the best from Week 9 and cast your vote through Tuesday at 3:00 pm. The winner of our poll will win the JSZ Top Play Belt. Thanks to the athletes we cover for another batch of outstanding highlights! Take Our Poll Thanks to QuickChek for sponsoring JSZ’s coverage of the state playoffs. Don’t forget to head to QuickChek and use our Buy One Get One Free Ciabatta! Last Week’s Top Play Winner Thanks to everyone at Mainland who voted for Jake Cook to win the Top Play Belt along with his teammates Sean Bradley who earned a JSZ Game Ball:

Just like that, the 2019 high school football regular season in New Jersey has come and gone. Jersey Sports Zone is highlighting another batch of stellar performances with game ball voting where players in every corner of the state are honored. The polls stay open through Tuesday at 2:00 pm. Thanks to everyone for voting! South Jersey Our South Jersey game ball poll includes players from the West Jersey Football League. Thanks to NJM Insurance for sponsoring our South Jersey Game Balls! Take Our Poll North Jersey Take Our Poll Central Jersey Take Our Poll

It definitely feels like football weather now! Warm up with JSZ’s Week 6 highlights featuring eight games around New Jersey including an OT thriller in North Jersey, a streak buster by Somerville and a wild finish in Manalapan between the Braves and RBC Ramapo 35 Wayne Hills 28 (OT) Another iteration of one of North Jersey’s best rivalries means unpredictability and anxiety. Ramapo starting quarterback Charles DiPrima had two first-half touchdowns (1 run, 1 pass) yet was sidelined by a knee injury to start the third quarter. It was then that senior backup Chris Valvano stepped in and led the Raiders past a surging Wayne Hills squad with an overtime touchdown pass to Sean Clapp for the win. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Franklin Lakes: Somerville 28 Rahway 14 Mid-State 38 fans had Friday night’s matchup between 5-1 Somerville and  undefeated Rahway circled for some time. The Pioneers fell behind 14-8 at halftime, but in the second act Somerville with 4 interceptions and touchdowns from Ethan Hillman, Jaimen Bryant and Cookie Desiderio were able to shutdown a Rahway team that had outscored opponents 242-51 coming in. Eric Bryant finished with three interceptions while brother Jaimen had two takeaways along with his score. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights: Manalapan 20 Red Bank Catholic 14 Andre Johnson had 157 yards including a 70-yard TD run that put Manalapan ahead for good in a wild game in the Shore Conference. RBC jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead on TD runs by Elijah Jules and Billy Guidetti. Manalapan trailed 14-10 at the half and took the lead on Johnson’s 3rd quarter run. Down by six, RBC drove to the 18-yard line before an attempted spike to stop the clock was ruled a fumble ending hopes of a Caseys dramatic comeback. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Red Bank Catholic is brought to you by the Jersey Shore Institute of Health & Wellness St. Augustine 21 Holy Spirit 7 The Hermits knocked off the Spartans in one of South Jersey’s Holy Wars. Tied at seven at the half, Nasir Hill sparked St. Augustine in the third quarter with a touchdown run and an interception. Texas A&M commit Isaiah Raikes and Austin Leyman also found the end zone for the Prep in the win. E’lijah Gray scored a touchdown for Spirit in the loss. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights and reaction from Absecon: Middletown South 20 Rumson-Fair Haven 3 The Eagles defense produced four turnovers and used short TD runs by Tyler Cuccia and Vinny Condito in the second half to upset the Bulldogs for a second straight year. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Rumson: Donovan Catholic 35 Lacey 0 Donovan Catholic has their sights set on dominating opponents week in and week out. The Griffins collected their fifth defensive shutout so far in 2019 while Ryan Clark paced the offense with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns (1 rushing, 1 passing). Donovan Catholic will face defending Non-Public Group 3 state champs, Red Bank Catholic, next week. JSZ has the highlights from Toms River: Notre Dame 41 Hopewell Valley 6 Is Notre Dame the team to beat in Mercer County? Rickey Spruill exploded for a pair of touchdowns while QB Jake Renda connected on a pair of his own as the Fighting Irish improve to 7-0 on the season. JSZ’s Kenneth Bradley has the highlights from Pennington: Sponsor Shoutout! JSZ’s coverage of all Notre Dame and Hopewell Valley athletics is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates. St. Joseph (Hamm.) 14 West Deptford 13 The Wildcats avenge last season’s blowout loss to the Eagles with a hard-fought win on the road. St. Joe’s trailed for much of regulation but were able to grind out a long second half drive that culminated in a Jada Byers 19-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. Byers finished the night with two touchdowns for the Wildcats. St. Joe quarterback Jayden Shertel was efficient through the air, going 24-27 for 199 yards and a touchdown. JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from West Deptford:

Just like that, Week 1 of the 2019 high school football season in New Jersey has come and gone. Jersey Sports Zone is highlighting another batch of stellar performances with game ball voting where players in every corner of the state are honored. The polls stay open through Tuesday at 2:00 pm. Thanks to everyone for voting! South Jersey Our South Jersey game ball poll includes players from the West Jersey Football League and the Colonial Valley Conference. Thanks to NJM Insurance for sponsoring our South Jersey Game Balls! Take Our Poll North Jersey Our North Jersey game ball poll includes players from the Super Football Conference and the Mid-State 38. Take Our Poll Central Jersey Our Central Jersey game ball poll includes players from the Shore Conference , Mercer County and the Greater Middlesex Conference. Take Our Poll

Week 0 heats up with tons of action all across the Garden State. Watch our Teaser below to get a taste of all the action coming from the Jersey Sports Zone team and scroll down to watch the action from every part NJ! Rumson-Fair Haven 20 Red Bank Catholic 14 John Volker ran for 163 yards on the ground and 25 more through the air with two touchdowns and Ryan Ruane had a 69-yard interception for a score as RFH built a 20-0 lead and held on to beat RBC for the first time since 2002. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Red Bank and the showdown of two of the top teams in the Shore Conference: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Red Bank Catholic is made possible by Jersey Shore Institute of Health & Wellness. We’ll have great RBC coverage all year long thanks to JSI! Red Bank Regional 50 Freehold Boro 7 The Red Bank Regional Bucs had a riveting season opener under new head coach, David Schuman. Quarterback, Jack Chamberlain completed 11 out of 13 passes for 143 yards. He also scored two touchdowns for RBR. Wide receiver, running back and linebacker, Owen Laughlin, also finished with two touchdowns. JSZ’s Madison Bess has the highlights and post-game reaction from Little Silver: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Red Bank Regional is made possible by Ryser’s Landscape Supply! Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Freehold Boro is made possible by Playa Bowls in the Freehold Raceway Mall. Gonzaga (D.C) 35 Don Bosco Prep 21 After losing their season-opener in California last weekend, Don Bosco Prep returned back home to the Garden State looking for a win. Standing in the way was Gonzaga and their five-star Class of 2021 quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams was masterful throughout the game, accounting for 5 touchdowns and leading a comeback effort against the Ironmen. JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights from Ramsey: Cherokee 51 Washington Twp. 6 After winning just one game in 2018, the Chiefs came out on a mission to begin the 2019 campaign. They raced out to a 28-6 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Billy Osborn ran for a score and threw two touchdown passes to Caden Burti in the victory. Darren Hazen rushed for a pair of TDs. Cherokee also scored on defense and special teams in this one. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from Sewell. Coverage of Washington Township is brought to you by Cooper University Health Care. Cinnaminson 21 Delran 10 The Pirates overcame a 10-7 halftime deficit to knock off the Bears in the opening game of the season for both teams. Shawn Ruffin rushed for over 100 yards and a touchdown to lead the way for Cinnaminson. Carmen Saginario and A.J. Torres also found the endzone for the Pirates in the win. Michigan commit R.J. Moten scored Delran’s only touchdown of the night. James Mooney has the highlights from this Burlington County clash: Coverage of Cinnaminson is made possible by NJM Insurance. North Brunswick 26 South Brunswick 0 After 42 years of meeting on Thanksgiving, North and South Brunswick did not play in 2018 due to the new football playoff system. However, the friendly rivalry resumed in Week 0 and for the first time in eight meetings it was the Raiders walking away victorious. Dahvey Hicks who recently transferred back to the program from New Brunswick made his return memorable as he returned a 95 yard kickoff and rushed in a 36 yard touchdown. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our South Brunswick coverage! Notre Dame 55 Ewing 12 Cortaz Williams had a monster game with 7 carries for 122 yards on the ground with three TD’s to go along with a blocked punt TD and a 79 yard kickoff return for a score. Shawn Clancy gets his first win as Irish head coach. JSZ has the Mercer County action: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Notre Dame and Ewing is made possible by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates. Robbinsville 19 Manchester Twp. 15 Robbinsville quarterback Dan Surtz was the force behind a major surge of offense in the Ravens’ season opener. Surtz led the way with three touchdowns — including a top-play worthy run and a game-winning TD pass — to help capture their first win of 2019. JSZ has the highlights from Ocean County: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Robbinsville is made possible by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.

No. 13 Notre Dame 9 Hopewell Valley – Mercer County Tournament Final No. 13 in the NJ Top 20 Notre Dame won its ninth Mercer County Tournament Title with a 9-3 win over fourth seeded Hopewell Valley. After falling behind 3-1, the third seed Irish opened things up in the bottom of the fifth inning off a Jake Kmiec RBI single to eventually go ahead 7-3. Kmiec would end the day 3-3 with 2 RBI’s including two triples. MVP honors went to West Point commit Robbie Buecker who after giving up two runs early on buckled down to end the evening with three hits allowed and six strikeouts. This victory brings the Irish’s record to 19-1 in 2019. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Sponsor! Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring both our Hopewell Valley and Notre Dame coverage!

It’s another tournament Thursday of JSZ lax highlights! JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the Mercer County boys and girls championships while Rich Chrampanis has an outstanding Shore Conference boys semifinal battle between Shore Regional and CBA Princeton Day 7 Notre Dame 6 – Boys – Mercer County Final Top seeded Princeton Day captured its fourth straight Mercer County Tournament Title with a 7-6 comeback win over second seed Notre Dame. The Panthers fell behind 6-4 at halftime before a goal from Cal Caputo ignited things to begin the third. Jake Bennett would then follow it up with two more scores to take the lead. In the final quarter rather than try to attack PDS focus more on defense and held the ball to let time wind down. Bennett ended the day with a hat trick while goalie Connor Green had 10 saves. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Sponsor! Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring both our Princeton Day and Notre Dame coverage! Lawrenceville 13 Princeton 7 – Girls – Mercer County Final Number one seed Lawrenceville captured its third consecutive Mercer County Tournament Championship with a 13-7 win over second seed Princeton. Big Red got out to a 7-2 lead at halftime thanks to a five goal effort from Princeton University commit Olivia Koch. However, the No. 17 Tigers rallied back to begin the second half thanks to a pair of scores from Mariana Lopez-Ona and Eva Petrone to cut the lead to 7-6. Koch, who would finish the day with six goals total added another score before Caroline Foster and Natalie Schur tacked on a pair of goals of their own to secure the victory. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Sponsor! Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring both our Princeton and Lawrenceville coverage! CBA 8 Shore Regional 7 – Shore Conference Tournament Boys Semifinal Kyle Aldridge found the upper left corner with 3:13 to go in the 4th quarter to give the Colts a return trip to the Shore Conference finals and a rematch with top seed Manasquan. CBA raced out to a 4-0 lead before Shore scored four straight to tie the game at halftime. Aldridge scored three goals to lead the CBA attack. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from a great semifinal game at Long Branch High:

The Jersey Sports Zone team has scoured the state nominating the top players and performances from the diamond. Cast your vote now for our third edition of Game Balls of the 2019 spring sports season! We have ten nominees from baseball and softball in North, Central and South Jersey. Our polls stay open through Tuesday at 3:00 pm. The winners of our polls will receive a JSZ Game Ball at a mid-week practice or game. Coaches, players, and fans can nominate a player for a JSZ Game Ball by emailing us by Saturday night: North Jersey- Jay Cook (Jay@JerseySportsZone.com) South Jersey – Mike Frankel (MikeFrankel@JerseySportsZone.com) Central Jersey- Rich Chrampanis (Rich@JerseySportsZone.com) South Jersey Game Balls (Presented by NJM Insurance) Take Our Poll Take Our Poll North Jersey Game Balls Take Our Poll Take Our Poll Central Jersey Game Balls Take Our Poll Take Our Poll

Bad weather certainly had no effect on NJ’s pitchers Tuesday afternoon. JSZ was on hand for four games and captured some thrilling performances on the hill, including Howell throwing a combined 19 strikeout no-hitter and Mike Walter and Jacob Denner throwing complete games with 11 and 9 strikeout performances, respectively. Enjoy all the highlights! Howell 1 Long Branch 0 Bryan Bernard and Ryan Bearse combine on a 19 strikeout no-hitter in a remarkable pitching effort as the Rebels made the most of a Kyle Brex sacrifice fly to score a 1-0 road win. Bernard was amazing throwing six innings with just two walks and a staggering 17 strikeouts. The senior left hander was at 106 pitches through six innings and with the NJSIAA pitch limit at 110, there was no chance of going the distance for the no-hitter. Bearse struck out two more to seal the no-hitter. Watch the highlights and post-game reaction from Long Branch High: Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Long Branch High is made possible by Rosario Realty Notre Dame 7 East Brunswick 5 Notre Dame improved to 4-0 after surviving a late inning emotional rollercoaster to East Brunswick. The Irish got ahead early thanks to Nick Feretic and Mike Kane who combined for 6 RBI’s in the first two innings. However, the Bears did some hitting of their own in the fifth before a 30 minute rain delay had them down just 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh. Feretic completed his performance by striking out the last three batters to secure the W. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights:  Sponsor! Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Notre Dame coverage! Bergen Catholic 10 DePaul 0 University of Michigan commit and southpaw hurler Jacob Denner paid no attention to the unattractive weather Tuesday as he threw a five inning complete game shutout with nine strikeouts for the Crusaders as they mercy-ruled DePaul, a division rival. JSZ’s Jay Cook has all the action from Breslin Field in Lyndhurst: Hammonton 7 Williamstown 2 Mike Walter threw a complete game, striking out 11 to lead the Blue Devils to victory. Jared Beebe paced Hammonton at the plate with a three-run homer. Jake Lintner knocked in a pair of runs in the win as well. Mike Constanzo had an RBI single for the Braves in the loss. JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from this Tri-County Conference Royal Division rumble: