County and conference tournament season is in full swing as JSZ goes around the Garden State to bring you a great slate of action from high school basketball. Stay tuned as the highlights are posted throughout the night!
Plainfield 69 Elizabeth 61 | Boys | Union County Tournament Semifinal
Micah Gordon’s 23rd and final points of the night both brought the house at Harwood Arena to their feet and sent the Cardinals to the Union County Tournament final. Gordon paced top-seeded Plainfield (22-3) offensively in a game where they battled with foul trouble. NaJai Hines sat the entire second quarter because of fouls but still finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, good for his 19th consecutive double-double of the year. Jayden Johnson led fourth-seeded Elizabeth (16-6) with 20 points in the loss. Plainfield will face either Roselle Catholic or Union Catholic in the championship game on Sunday.
JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights + reaction from Kean University:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Union Catholic is made possible by Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth.
Pitman 52 Delsea 41 | Boys | Tri-County Conference Tournament Flight “A” Quarterfinal
The fourth-seeded Panthers pulled away in the fourth, outscoring the Crusaders 15-4 in the final frame, to advance to the TCC Tournament Flight A semifinals. Elijah Crispin poured in a game-high 22 points, as the senior guard continues to close in on 2,000 career points (1,941). Greg Petersen added ten points in the win for Pitman (17-5). Jimmy Reardon went for a team-high 11 points, while Luke Van Auken chipped in with ten points in the loss for fifth-seeded Delsea (16-9). Pitman will travel to face top-seeded Overbrook on Thursday.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Pitman:
Saint Rose 51 Saint John Vianney 46 | Girls | Shore Conference Tournament Semifinal
Jada Lynch and Cassidy Kruesi combined for 36 points to help the Purple Roses end the five year reign of St. John Vianney as Shore Conference girls basketball champions. The Purple Roses trailed SJV 38-37 after three quarters after Stella Lockhart put the Lancers in front as part of her 18 point effort. Lynch and Kruesi sparked an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter and maintained the lead throughout the final eight minutes. Lynch had 19 and Kruesi had 17 for Saint Rose, who will face Red Bank Catholic in Friday’s final.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from Toms River:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of St. John Vianney is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Red Bank Catholic 60 Manasquan 41 | Girls | Shore Conference Tournament Semifinal
Tessa Carman led a balanced scoring attack with 15 and the Caseys blew open a tight game midway through the third quarter to earn a spot in Friday’s championship game against Saint Rose. Lola Giordano scored the final seven points of the first quarter as part of her 14 point effort and Addy Nyemchek had 13. The Caseys will seek their first Shore Conference Tournament since 2013.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights from RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Red Bank Catholic is made possible by JAG Physical Therapy.
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Delbarton is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
