The last huge day of hoops before the calendar turns over to 2025 had no shortage of incredible finishes. Our team has coverage of a number of key games from around the Garden State. Stay tuned as all the action posts!

Don Bosco Prep 75 Rutgers Prep 71 (OT) | Boys

The post-Dylan Harper era has the Ironmen looking for a new identity and Monday’s win will go a long way to finding it. Freshman Jaylen Lewis delivered the go-ahead basket inside the final 10 seconds of overtime to put Don Bosco Prep (3-2) up for good. Lewis had 12 points in the win, while Brady Loughlin (19 points) and Jordan Ghee (16 points) handled the bulk of the scoring. The Ironmen forced overtime after JP Skoric nailed a game-tying three-pointer late in the fourth quarter. Andrew Kretkowski (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Jacob Canton (16 points, seven rebounds) paced Rutgers Prep (3-3) in the loss.

JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights + reaction from Somerset:

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Don Bosco Prep and Rutgers Prep is made possible by JAG Physical Therapy.

Manasquan 30 Central Regional 28 | Boys | WOBM Christmas Classic Ruhnke Bracket Final

Logan Cleveland scored as time expired to give the Warriors a thrilling victory over the Golden Eagles and their second championship in three years at the WOBM Christmas Classic. Cleveland’s buzzer-beater was Manasquan’s (5-1) only basket in the fourth after seeing an 11-point lead disappear. Tournament MVP Griffin Linstra scored eight points, while Rey Weinseimer went for a team-high 10 points. Aidan Graham finished with a game-high 11 points and Jaycen Santucci powered the late surge with eight points in the loss for Central Regional (4-1).

JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from the RWJBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River:

Red Bank Regional 65 Freehold Boro 57 | Boys | Albert E. Martin Buc Classic Final

Ryan Fisher scored 16 points in an electric third quarter and finished with a career high 28 points to earn MVP honors as the host Bucs won the Albert E. Martin Buc Classic for a second straight year. RBR had a 24-23 lead at the half before a 15-0 run to start the third. Fisher had 11 of the 15 points during the run and wound up with four three-pointers and two more baskets during the third quarter. Brian Tassey led Freehold Boro with 24 points. RBR heads into 2025 with a 7-0 record.

JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction in our ACI Medical and Dental School Shore Game of the Week:

Jersey Sports Zone’s Shore Conference Game of the Week is brought to you by ACI Medical & Dental School.

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Red Bank Regional is made possible by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.

Pingry 65 Trinity Hall 61 (OT) | Girls | Score at the Shore Final

Taylor Francis had six of Big Blue’s eight points in overtime and finished with 33 points to earn MVP honors. Grace Feeney led the Monarchs with 20 points. Pingry ends 2024 with a perfect 5-0 mark.

JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights and post-game reaction from Manahawkin:

Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Pingry is brought to you by Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset

St. Thomas Aquinas 61 Hudson Catholic 54 | Girls | Holmdel Holiday Invitational

Sophomore Leah Kearney had a career high 17 points to go along with 10 rebounds and two other Trojans had double digit efforts to score a state ranked win in Holmdel. Trista Whitney had 11 points, 7 assists and five rebounds and Kayla Navarro had three 3-pointers as part of her 10 point effort. Hudson Catholic rallied from 20 points down in the second half with Susan Gentile scoring 17 points, all in the second half.

JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Holmdel: