The state playoffs got underway for Group 1 and Group 3 in high school basketball as JSZ brings you great matchups from all over the Garden State. Check back as the highlights are posted throughout the night!
Freehold Boro 61 Middletown North 44 | Boys | Central Group 3 First Round
Qua’Mir Everett had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Brian Tassey added 15 with seven boards as the Colonials busted open a tight game with a 19-3 run in the fourth quarter. Freehold Boro (19-7) trailed 39-35 late in the third before closing the quarter with a 7-2 run to take a 42-41 lead. Everett had a pair of slams in the fourth and the Colonials went 12 for 15 from the free throw line. Middletown North (17-9) were led by Eddie Lopez with 18 and Colin Byrne with 16. Freehold Boro will face top seed Red Bank Regional in the quarterfinals in a rematch of last year’s section final.
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from Middletown:
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 Middletown North is made possible by Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch.
Waldwick 39 Hawthorne 36 (OT) | Boys | North 1 Group 1 First Round
A pair of NJIC teams who know each other well went down to the brink Wednesday night in an overtime showdown to begin the state tournament. Tied 36 at the end of regulation, ninth-seeded Hawthorne (12-12) won the overtime tip-off and proceeded to hold the ball for three-and-a-half minutes before eight-seed Waldwick (14-12) got a steal and took possession. Andrew Del Rey nailed the go-ahead bucket inside the final 25 seconds to seal the win. The Warriors advance to play top-seeded Paterson Charter on Saturday.
JSZ’s Jay Cook has the highlights and reaction from Bergen County:
Hammonton 39 Shawnee 35 | Girls | South Jersey Group 3 First Round
The sixth-seeded Blue Devils erased an eleven-point deficit in the fourth quarter to avoid the upset and scoring a thrilling win against the eleventh-seeded Renegades. Angelina Virelli caught fire in the second half, scoring all of her game-high 13 points to power the comeback from Hammonton (18-8). Jenna Vivadelli chipped in with ten points in the victory. Olivia Gasik went for a team-high eleven points, while Noelle Thomas added ten points in the loss for Shawnee (12-16). Hammonton advances to face third-seeded Absegami in the SJ Group 3 quarterfinals on Saturday.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights and reaction from Hammonton:
Jersey Sports Zone’s coverage of Shawnee is made possible by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
