Tag Archives: st. John Vianney girls basketball

The Tigers capped off a nine-game win streak against Middlesex thanks to the near perfect effort of Moshood Adebule. Moshood scored 26 points while going 13-14 from the field, and he added nine rebounds! He captured over 6,700 votes to win the Central Jersey Week 5 Game Ball. Take Our Poll Watch Adebule’s Game Ball presentation here:

Our recap of the 2020 football season continues. Jersey Sports Zone has the best defensive touchdowns from the Garden State this season. The poll is live with the best of the best scores from the defensive side of the ball. Polls will be open until Tuesday, December 15th at noon. Vote for your favorite play and tell a friend to check out the action. Take Our Poll JSZ Post Season Awards Calendar Who had the top play of the 2020 season? Who will win the Zoneman Player of the Year? Who is on our All-Zone team? All the answers to those questions can be found by following along with JSZ as we navigate through the dozens of awards coming down the pipeline in December. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in the coming weeks. JSZ Football Plays of the Year Special Teams TD of the Year: Monday, Dec. 7th through Wednesday, Dec. 9th.TD Pass Play of the Year: Thursday, Dec. 10th through Saturday, Dec. 12th.Defensive TD of the Year: Sunday, Dec. 13th through Tuesday, Dec. 15th.TD Run of the Year: Wednesday, Dec. 16th through Friday. Dec. 18th.Sack of the Year: Saturday, Dec. 19th through Monday, Dec. 21st.2020 Overall Play of the Year (6 Plays of the Year winners): Monday, Dec. 21st through Wednesday, Dec. 23rd 2020 All-Zone Team Presentation Announcement of JSZ Zoneman Finalists (5 Player of the Year Finalists): Monday, Dec. 7th.JSZ Non-Public All-Zone Offense: Monday, Dec. 14th.JSZ Non-Public All Zone Defense: Tuesday, Dec. 15th.JSZ Public All-Zone Offense: Wednesday, Dec. 16th.JSZ Public All Zone Defense: Thursday, Dec. 17th.Zoneman Finalist Features: Friday, Dec.18th.Zoneman Trophy Announcement (virtual interview) Dec. 18th.

Andrew Solomon’s game-winning layup with 1.4 seconds in overtime was the fitting end to Manasquan’s 12-0 season. COVID affected the Warriors unlike any other basketball program. JSZ goes beyond the score to tell the inspirational story of a team that came together in the face of adversity. The Manasquan boys basketball team faced all sorts of adversity on the court during their perfect 12-0 season in 2021 but it pales in comparison to what the Warriors had to deal with away from the hardwood. Following the Warriors opening game win against Saint Rose, the boys basketball team was shut down due to COVID. During that time, head coach Andrew Bilodeau tested positive for coronavirus and on Feb. 9 the father of Andrew and Matt Solomon passed away due to COVID. Less than a week later, the brothers took to the court with their teammates and continued their shortened season. Bilodeau returned to the team as well but was forced to miss ‘Squan’s final seven games due to health concerns effected by COVID. With Marlboro and Manasquan tied at 56 in the Shore Conference final in overtime, Ben Roy dished to an open Andrew Solomon for the game winning layup in a 58-56 win. The Warriors made the most of their 12-game season scoring wins over Non-Public ranked teams Montclair Immaculate, Don Bosco Prep, Trenton Catholic along with Prep School Life Center Academy. JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the story of how Manasquan came together during a season that was one of the most difficult for high school athletes to endure. To watch JSZ’s extended highlights and post-game reaction of Manasquan’s 58-56 OT win over Marlboro in the SCT final, click here and watch it all with your JSZ All-Access Pass

Jamire Acrey was the hero for Woodrow Wilson on February 25th against Haddonfield. The junior scored 23 points and hit the game-winner at the buzzer to give the Tigers the win over the Bulldogs. After receiving over 2,100 votes, Acrey now takes home the NJM Insurance JSZ South Jersey Game Ball. Another view of 49-48 buzzer beater over Haddonfield! 🏀. Tiger Pride @kminnicksports @JFriedman57 @sojerseysports @pgreat81 pic.twitter.com/bLZOdwkmJw— Will Hickson (@WilsonTigerAD) February 26, 2021 Take Our Poll South Jersey Game Balls are sponsored by NJM Insurance. Stay tuned for baseball and softball Game Ball voting this spring!

LeQuint Allen did it all for the Thunderbolts during his junior campaign in Millville. On defense, Allen finished with three interceptions, six sacks, and more than 80 tackles. On offense, Allen scored ten touchdowns, rushed for nearly 700 yards, and added almost 300 yards receiving. Allen announced his college decision on Friday evening, verbally committing to Syracuse University. Part 1 @OBGFootball @TBoltAthletics The commitment 🗣 pic.twitter.com/yH2TG4zq3p— LeQuint Allen Jr (@JrLequint) March 5, 2021 THE COMMITMENT Part 2 @TBoltAthletics @OBGFootball pic.twitter.com/XpyoWSrRTN— LeQuint Allen Jr (@JrLequint) March 5, 2021 Check out Allen’s JSZ junior year highlight reel here:

It’s championship Thursday on the ice and JSZ brings you highlights from five Cup championship games at Codey Arena in Essex County and Mennen Arena in Morristown. Get your JSZ All-Access pass to watch all the action! Don Bosco Prep 5 Gloucester Catholic 0 | Gordon Cup Championship Don Bosco Prep hushed the doubters and […] 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.

As the 2021 season winds down, JSZ has highlights from numerous conference playoff games from all over the state. Subscribe with the JSZ All-Access Pass to enjoy all our coverage from Wednesday night! Manasquan 45 CBA 35 | Boys | Shore Conference Tournament Pod “A” Semifinal Manasquan officially punched their ticket back to the Shore […] 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.

Gloucester Catholic 4 Seton Hall Prep 1 | Gordon Cup Semifinal For the first time in program history, Gloucester Catholic is heading to the Gordon Cup final. The Rams knocked off the Pirates in the semifinal round thanks to goals from Dylan Koski, Ryder Wicken and Jake Grace. Grace also added an empty net goal […] 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.

The 2021 high school basketball season still has one week remaining but this is JSZ’s final weekly game ball poll of the basketball season. 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 Ball poll is presented to you by NJM Insurance. Central Jersey Game Polls 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 Gordon Cup is underway while the public schools gear up for their Cup tournaments next week. JSZ has a pair of outstanding matchups on the ice! (3) Don Bosco Prep 4 (6) Delbarton 1 | Gordon Cup Quarterfinal Don Bosco was missing three of their top players Thursday night but didn’t miss a single […] 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.

Lakeland continues to bolster their resume as the top public school team in the entire state. The Lancers secured a 5-1 over Mahwah Wednesday night after five different skaters (Brendan Davison, Joey Cole, Brian Cole, Joey Szanto, Joey Wogisch) lit the lamp. Ben Kopacki, one of New Jersey’s top goaltenders, made 12 saves in the […] 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.

JSZ continues to bring you thrilling hoops coverage from around the Garden State! Camden 66 Paul VI 50 | Boys The High handled the Eagles in a highly-anticipated Olympic Conference showdown to stay undefeated. Jerome Brewer pumped in a game-high 22 points for the Panthers (8-0), while D.J. Wagner added 17 points. Jalen Boyd-Savage scored […] 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.

Kareem Ewelle’s basket with 2.7 seconds left gave the Patrick School a thrilling 65-64 win over Roselle Catholic in a matchup of two of New Jersey’s basketball superpowers. Get your JSZ All-Access pass to watch the full highlights from one of the best games of the 2021 season! Patrick School 65 Roselle Catholic 64 Kareem […] 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.

JSZ is pleased to bring you another great weekend of basketball coverage from around the Garden State. We’ve got highlights from a number of top boys and girls teams from Saturday’s action! Manasquan 57 Don Bosco Prep 44 | Boys Connor Walsh had 19 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots and Ben Roy scored […] 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.

Robbinsville has made a name for themselves in the Colonial Valley Conference this year, holding a 7-1 record midway through this shortened Girls Basketball season. Junior Allie Neumann has been at the forefront, leading the team in scoring with 118 points. In the Ravens game against Hightstown, Neumann scored 19 points. The fans have spoken and she is JSZ’s Central Jersey Week 2 Game Ball Winner! Watch he full ceremony now:  Take Our Poll Thank you to Princeton Orthopaedic Associates for sponsoring our Robbinsville coverage. Be sure to vote for our Boys/Girls Game Balls every week Sunday (9 a.m.)-Tuesday (3 p.m.) If you have a Central Game Ball nomination please contact nery@jerseysportszone.com before Saturday, 8 p.m.

The basketball season continues to heat up! We have highlights from games all over the state! Delsea 73 Highland 71 (OT) | Boys The Crusaders trailed by 17 points with five minutes left in the fourth, but stormed all the way back to beat the Tartans in overtime. Sadique Powell poured in a game-high 28 […] 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 not very often we see South Jersey teams rise to the top of the Gordon Conference, but that’s exactly what’s happening in 2021. Gloucester Catholic’s run of red-hot play continued into Monday afternoon’s showdown where Ryder Wicken’s two third-period goals broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Rams a win over Seton Hall Prep. […] 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.

We have a solid Saturday slate of hoops from all corners of the Garden State. Check back all day as the highlights roll in! Roselle Catholic 80 Camden Catholic 55 | Boys Roselle Catholic took a lead inside the first 30 seconds of this game and never squandered it as the Lions ran roughshod against […] 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.

We kick the weekend off with a pair of games from opposite ends of the state, with highlights from a high-scoring Gloucester County matchup and the first appearance of the reigning Bergen County champs. Enjoy the highlights! St. Joe’s (Mont.) 66 Teaneck 51 | Boys After a nearly two-and-a-half week delay to start the season, […] 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.

The votes came pouring in for Highland guard Hope Goodwine this week! Goodwine scored 21 points to lead the Tartans to victory over rival Triton. Her fans rewarded her with over 19,000 (!) votes as Goodwine earned the NJM Insurance JSZ South Jersey Week Two Game Ball. Take Our Poll South Jersey Game Balls are sponsored by NJM Insurance. Please submit nominations to mikefrankel@jerseysportszone.com by Saturday evening.

Throw the records out whenever Gordon Conference opponents meet on the ice because you never know what can happen. Seton Hall Prep proved that statement to be true Wednesday night when the Pirates ended a 15-year losing streak to Delbarton after a rousing 5-1 win. Dale Campbell netted a pair of goals, while Brendan Waivada, […] 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.

Although they’re technically no longer an NJSIAA-sponsored school, The Patrick School continues to play New Jersey’s top programs and shine against them. The trend continued Monday afternoon when the UConn commit Samson Johnson netted a game-high 21 points to power the Celtics to a 66-57 win over Don Bosco. Johnson has blossomed into a true […] 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.

The second Saturday of the regular season brings a ton of action from all over the Garden State. Enjoy the highlights! Bergen Catholic 78 Gill St. Bernard’s 63 | Boys Bergen Catholic’s talented junior duo of Will Richardson (21 points) and Julian Brown (19 points) gave the Crusaders the boost they needed to keep their […] 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.

The second week of the season continues with terrific games all across the state. Enjoy the highlights! St. Peter’s Prep 63 Marlboro 49 | Boys In a rare visit to the Shore Conference, St. Peter’s Prep once again proved they’re among the best teams in New Jersey. Power 5 recruit Mark Armstrong led all scorers […] 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.

Middle Twp. 43 Wildwood Catholic Academy 36 | Girls Kate Herlihy put an eye-popping performance together for the Panthers, scoring 24 points to lead Middle past Wildwood Catholic. Herlihy also pulled down 16 rebounds and finished with four steals in the victory. Penn commit Marianna Papazoglou scored a team-high 19 points for the Crusaders in […] 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.

Basketball opening week continues as Jersey Sports Zone is is excited to bring you another thrilling afternoon of hoops coverage from around the state. Check out our Saturday highlights below. St. Augustine 60 Holy Spirit 53 (OT) | Boys The Hermits outlasted the Spartans in overtime to win their season-opener. American University commit Matt Delaney […] 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.

Seton Hall Prep and Morristown-Beard typically aren’t opponents in the regular season, yet the Pirates and Crimson battled on Thursday night in what felt every bit like a playoff hockey game. Playing in their first game of the season, Seton Hall Prep showed no signs of rust as they skated to a 3-3 draw against […] 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.

Opening week continues with great games across the Garden State. Enjoy the highlights! Bergen Catholic 72 Montclair Immaculate 58 | Boys Will Richardson paced Bergen Catholic with a team-high 25 points – 16 of which came in the fourth quarter – as the Crusaders pulled away from Montclair Immaculate late to secure an opening-day win. […] 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.

The gyms may be empty, but the action is intense! The 2021 hoops season officially begins with great games across the state on Tuesday. Check back throughout the night for all of the highlights! Hightstown 63 Lawrence 50 | Boys Hightstown defeated Lawrence 63-50 in an emotional season opener to the high school basketball season […] 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.

Jersey Sports Zone continues to bring you opening week action on the ice. Get your All-Access pass now to watch Pingry and Millburn score Saturday afternoon wins! Pingry 4 Watchung Hills 2 Eric Bush and Peter Korn each scored a pair of goals as the Big Blue ran out to a 4-0 lead and held […] 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.

Jersey Sports Zone is pleased to bring you another thrilling evening of action on the ice from around the Garden State. Check out our ice hockey coverage from Wednesday, 1.20 below.  St. John Vianney 5 St. Joseph (Met.) 2 Ryann Kulaszewski’s first career hat trick was the main catalyst behind St. John Vianney’s non-conference win […] 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.

Jersey Sports Zone starts off the week with some more ice hockey action with a major early Gordon Conference showdown in South Jersey and a pair of games from Mennen Sports Arena. Stay tuned for all the action now! Gloucester Catholic 3 Bergen Catholic 2 The Rams started the season with a signature win over […] 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.

The high school ice hockey season is here and Jersey Sports Zone has you covered from opening night across the Garden State! Check out our Friday 1.15 hockey highlights.  Hillsborough 8 Bridgewater-Raritan 2 Hillsborough begins the 2021 hockey season 1-0 following an 8-2 victory over Skyland Conference rival Bridgewater-Raritan. The Raiders jumped out to a […] 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.

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.