County and conference tournament season is in full swing as JSZ goes around the Garden State on a busy Saturday in high school hoops. Top-ten teams collide as Rutgers Prep tangles with Montgomery in the Somerset County semifinals. The Burlington County Tournament gets underway as we bring you highlights from Shawnee/Doane Academy and Bordentown/Cherokee. Plus in girls hoops, Manasquan takes on Howell in the Shore Conference Tournament in our ACI Medical and Dental School Game of the Week. Check back throughout the day as the highlights are posted!
Rutgers Prep 65 Montgomery 57 | Boys | Somerset County Tournament Semifinal
No. 9 Rutgers Prep boys basketball is headed to their 6th straight Somerset County Tournament final after defeating No. 10 Montgomery 65-57 on Saturday! The Cougars started the game on a 8-2 run, but the Argonauts then went on a 14-5 run of their own to take the lead into the 2nd. After trading the lead, Prep would finish the 2nd with a 14-6 run, and they would not give up the lead the rest of the way.
Rutgers Prep sophomore Will Brunson was the team’s high scorer with 20 points, and he added 11 rebounds for his 7th double-double of the year. Nic Nsenkyire followed him with 15 points. Montgomery’s Mike Simborski led all scorers with 31 and Penn commit Ethan Lin had 20, only being held to 5 in the first half.
The Argonauts will now face either No. 4 Gill St. Bernard’s or Immaculata in next Saturday’s final at Montgomery High School.
JSZ’s Ryan Sudol has all the highlights from Franklin:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Rutgers Prep is made possible by JAG Physical Therapy.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Montgomery is brought to you by Princeton Orthopaedic Associates.
Cherokee 51 Bordentown 21 | Boys | Burlington County Tournament First Round
The Chiefs stormed out of the gates with a 14-0 run to open the game and never looked back on their way to a first round win over the Scotties. Louis Galasso poured in a game-high 15 points, while Johnny Comito and Chris Walters added 11 points each for fourth-seeded Cherokee (16-9). Chase Martin scored a team-high seven points in the loss for thirteenth-seeded Bordentown. Cherokee will host fifth-seeded Westampton Tech in the Burlington County quarterfinals on Monday.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Marlton:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Cherokee is brought to you by Kwartler Manus Personal Injury Attorneys.
Doane Academy 38 Shawnee 32 | Boys | Burlington County Tournament First Round
The shot clock has been a topic of conversation in the New Jersey basketball world. During the second quarter of the Burlington County Tournament first round, Doane Academy (22-2) held possession for 7 minutes and 55 seconds before knocking down a three-pointer with five seconds remaining – the lone field goal of the quarter. Kameron Fields tied for the game-high with 12 points as the eighth-seeded Spartans defeated ninth-seeded Shawnee (16–7).
JSZ’s Tyler Mroz has the highlights from Burlington:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Shawnee is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Wall 41 Manasquan 39 | Boys | Shore Conference Tournament Quarterfinal
Jake DeBrito had 10 points including a buzzer beater putback to end the first half and made a key steal in the closing moments to preserve a second straight win for the Crimson Knights over their crosstown rival. Wall (19-1) did not score in the final five minutes but was able to clamp down on defense in the final minute to earn a spot in the Shore Conference semifinals against third seed Red Bank Cathoilc.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from Middletown South:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Wall is brought to you by Monmouth Medical Center.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Manasquan is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Manasquan 59 Howell 24 | Girls | Shore Conference Tournament Quarterfinal
Sophomore Calista Vowteras had a career high 22 points and Jordyn Hallowell added 18 to lead a dominant performance for the Warriors. Manasquan (19-4) will take on second seed St. John Vianney in the SCT Final Four.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from Holmdel:
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 Manasquan is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Howell is made possible by Monmouth Medical Center’s Southern Campus in Lakewood.
