The playoffs continue with dramatic finishes all over the state!
St. Benedict’s Prep 76 Blair Academy 55 | Boys | Prep A State Final
The Gray Bees swarmed out to a 14-0 lead early in the first half and never looked back as they cruised by the Bucs to win the program’s third straight Prep A state championship. Ademar Santos buried a game-high 23 points for St. Benedict’s Prep and was supported by Braylyn Smith (16 points), Alexzaye Johnson (15 points) and Iowa commit Ladji Dembele (11 points, 12 rebounds). Blair got a nice 17 point effort from Jayden Williams in the loss.
JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights + reaction from Newark:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of St. Benedict’s Prep is brought to you by Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
Moorestown 32 Mainland 29 | Boys | South Group 3 Semifinal
Josh Byrd buried a three at the buzzer to send the Quakers to the sectional title game. Byrd scored a team-high 13 points for Moorestown (22-7) in a defensive battle with the Mustangs. Tim Travagline scored a game-high 14 points for Mainland (24-4) in the loss.
JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights and interviews from Linwood:
Rutgers Prep 78 St. Augustine 74 (OT) | Boys | Non-Public “A” South Quarterfinal
The Argonauts are not your ordinary seven-seed, and the defending sectional champs proved that on Friday with a gutsy road win in overtime. Marist commit Jadin Collins led the way with a game-high 33 points. Cameron Piggee and Franklin Jones made clutch baskets in overtime to bring home the win for Rutgers Prep (22-7). Semaj Bethea scored a team-high 26 points in the loss for second-seed St. Augustine (23-6).
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and post-game reaction from Richland:
JSZ’s coverage of Rutgers Prep is brought to you by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.
Bergen Catholic 63 Seton Hall Prep 52 | Boys | North Non-Public A Quarterfinal
(5) Bergen Catholic rallied back from nine points down in the first quarter of the North Jersey, Non-Public A Quarterfinals to defeat (4) Seton Hall Prep 63-52. The Crusaders trailed 34-33 at halftime before unleashing a second half offensive attack that saw them lead by as many as 10 late in the third quarter. Brandon Benjamin finished with 18 points while Terry Copeland had 19.
JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has the highlights and postgame reaction:
Thank you to One on One with Steve Adubato for sponsoring our Seton Hall Prep coverage.
Thank you to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center for sponsoring our Seton Hall Prep coverage.
Ocean Township 38 Red Bank Regional 36 | Girls | Central Group 3 Semifinal
Eli Clark had 19 points and 9 rebounds and came up with three massive defensive stops in the final minute to give Ocean a spot in the Central Jersey Group 3 championship. Red Bank Regional took a 36-32 lead with under a minute to go thanks to back-to-back three-pointers from Josie Munson and Riley Joyce. Ocean rallied with a Kayden Clark jumper followed by Eli making a steal and getting to the free-throw line to tie the game with two free throws. Gamila Betton gave Ocean a 37-36 after making one of two free throws. Eli would deliver another steal followed by outstanding defense on Josie Munson’s three-point attempt to win the game.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from Ocean:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Ocean and Red Bank Regional is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center
Shore Regional 61 Point Pleasant Beach 41 | Girls | Central Group 1 Semifinal
Rylee Drahos had a complete game with 16 points, 8 steals, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists and Antonette Russo led the scoring with 17 as the Blue Devils return to defend their Central Jersey Group 1 title. Shore raced out to a 23-7 first-quarter lead before the Garnet Gulls cut it to five at the half and took a 31-29 lead on a Jada Clayton three-pointer midway through the third quarter. Shore responded with an 11-0 run to close out the quarter and pulled away in the fourth. Shore Regional will host Middlesex for the Central Jersey Group 1 championship.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Shore Regional is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center
