Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 week ago

Heady Montgomery point guard Ethan Lin repeats as CJSR Somerset County Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year Basketball is a team sport, but without Ethan Lin, it's highly likely Montgomery isn't Central Jersey Group 4 champions three years running. The smart, skilled, and unflappable point guard was the Central Jersey Sports Radio Somerset County Boys' Basketball Player of the Year in 2024-25, and now he's repeated the feat in 2025-26. Last season, he was coming off a horiffic broken leg injury that truncated his sophomore season.

NEW: Heady #Montgomery point guard Ethan #Lin repeats as CJSR #SomersetCounty Boys' Basketball #PlayeroftheYear! Plus HMs from #Gill #RutgersPrep #Immaculata #Hillsborough and #Manville! #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 week ago

East Brunswick’s Travis Retzlaff named CJSR GMC Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year First came the recognition from the league's coaches, now from everyone else. Or at least, in this case, Central Jersey Sports Radio, which has named East Brunswick' Travis Retzlaff its GMC Girls' Coach of the Year for 2025-26. The Bears had a special season, winning 23 games, its best season since Keith Lane's squad went 22-4 a decade ago and won the GMC Tournament championship.

NEW: #EastBrunswick's Travis #Retzlaff named #CJSR #GMC Girls' Basketball #CoachoftheYear. Story and audio at the link! #Bears #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 week ago

Smooth sailing in winter championships welcome for NJSIAA, with more experiences at Rutgers to come Someone will always complain about something - a seed, a snow day - but on the whole, things seemed to go quite swimmingly these last few weeks in the state tournaments for the NJSIAA. After some hot controversies over the last couple of years, it's welcome news. There was Manasquan-Camden's controversial ending in basketball two seasons ago, then the Anthony Knox wrestling saga last season.

Smooth sailing in winter championships welcome for #NJSIAA, with more experiences at #Rutgers to come. #statetournament #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 week ago

After hustling for four varsity seasons, Rutgers Prep’s Ava LaMonica reflects on her time as an Argonaut, and finishing on top in Somerset County The 2024-25 girls' basketball season hurt for Rutgers Prep, and then-junior Ava LaMonica. There was no division title - at least not outright - they got knocked out of the Somerset County Tournament by her hometown public school of Hillsborough, and lost to eventual Non-Public B group champion Gloucester Catholic in the South B finals. That wasn't want LaMonica was used to her first two years at the Somerset school.

NEW! After hustling for four varsity seasons, #RutgersPrep's Ava #LaMonica reflects on her time as an #Argonaut, and finishing on top in #Somerset County. Repping the No. 1 team in our final #TopTen! #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 week ago

From 6-16 to GMC Tournament champs, rejuvenated St. Joseph-Metuchen named CJSR Boys’ Basketball Team of the Year A year ago, St. Joseph boys' basketball was a mess. Karl Towns, Sr. - the father of Falcon great Karl-Anthony Towns, who brought the Metuchen school a Tournament of Champions title in 2014 - was on his way out after a disastrous 6-16 season, where he barely coached the team, and seemed to spend more time watching his famous son play at Madison Square Garden after being traded from Minnesota to the Knicks.

POSTSEASON HONORS! From 6-16 to #GMC Tournament champs, rejuvenated #StJoseph-Metuchen named CJSR Boys' Basketball #TeamoftheYear! Hear from Andrew Kretkowski, Aidan Carter and HC Mark Taylor at the link! #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 week ago

Four titles earns Gill St. Bernard’s No. 1 ranking in final Bellamy & Son Paving Boys’ Basketball Top Ten When high school basketball teams open their preseason, hitting the gym in earnest for the first time, they can set all kinds of different goals. For most with high-end aspirations, there are four main ones: win the division, win the county, win a sectional, win a state championship. In 2025-26, it was check, check, check, and check one more time for…

NEW! Four titles earns #Gill St. Bernard's No. 1 ranking in final Bellamy & Son Paving Boys' Basketball #TopTen. See where the rest landed: #Colonia #EastBrunswick #Hillsborough #Immaculata #Manville #Montgomery #PerthAmboy #Piscataway #RutgersPrep #StJoseph #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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1 week ago

Rutgers Prep girls, back on top in Somerset County, are No. 1 team in Final Bellamy & Son Paving rankings Sure, the Rutgers Prep girls' basketball team won 20 games last year, but it still wasn't up to Mary Klinger's standards. The coach calls the regular season the "preseason." A division title is nice, but the county and state tournaments are the goals. Win those, and it's a good year for the Argonauts. In 2025, they won neither. But this year, with much of the same crew back, the Argonauts returned to their familiar spot as Somerset County Tournament champions, and finish the year No.

NEW! #RutgersPrep girls, back on top in #Somerset County, are No. 1 team in Final Bellamy & Son Paving rankings. See who else landed where! #Bernards #BoundBrook #Colonia #EastBrunswick #Franklin #Gill #Hillsborough #Piscataway #Aquinas #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Ocean City capitalizes on late turnovers in tight game, tops Colonia 55-46 in NJSIAA Group 3 final This season, the Colonia boys' basketball team went further than any other Patriot team in program history in the state tournament, all the way to the state finals at Rutgers for the first time in eleven previous sectional championship season. But they will have to wait one more year for a chance to take it one step further and win it all.

GROUP 3 FINAL: #OceanCity capitalizes on late turnovers in tight game, tops #Colonia 55-46 in #NJSIAA #Group3 final. Game story and postgame reax at the link! #NJHoops #Patriots #RedRaiders

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Group 4 Finals (Boys): Plainfield 49, Montgomery 40 Despite a 20-point game from Penn-bound senior Ethan Lin, Central 4 champion Montgomery lost 49-40 to North 2, Group 4 Champion Plainfield in the NJSIAA state Group 4 title game. It was Plainfield's second straight state championship. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway on March 14, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - Group 4 Finals (Boys): #Plainfield 49, #Montgomery 40. Listen back to the title game as the #Cardinals win their second straight! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Group 3 Semifinals (Boys): Colonia 67, Montville 57 North 2, Group 3 champion Colonia got 27 points from sophomore Jayce Rodriguez - including 14-of-14 from the foul line, all in the second half - and another 20 from senior Dylan Chiera, as the Patriots beat North 1, Group 3 champion Montville in the Group 3 state semifinals. The win sends Colonia to the state Group 3 finals for the first time ever, where they will take on Ocean City at Rutgers.

INSTANT REPLAY - #Group3 #Semifinals (Boys): #Colonia 67, #Montville 57. Listen back as the #Patriots earn their first-ever trip to the state finals! #NJSIAA #NJHoops #GMC

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Colonia battles Ocean City for Group 3 title at Rutgers Sunday, as Patriots, Red Raiders both seek first state ‘chip The Colonia boys' basketball program made history Wednesday night, but there's still some more ink in the pen, and more to write. The Patriots' 67-57 win over Montville sent them to the state finals for the first time ever. And now, a program that has won eleven sectional trophies - six of which have come under current head coach Jose Rodriguez - will look to claim its first state championship when it plays Sunday in the NJSIAA Group 3 final at Rutgers University's Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway.

PREVIEW: #Colonia battles #OceanCity for Group 3 title at #Rutgers Sunday, as #Patriots, #RedRaiders both seek first state 'chip. Read more at the link! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Gill’s defensive effort in Non-Public B Final win over Holy Cross was best in nearly three decades, matches program best win streak If you ever want this reporter to go down a rabbit hole, ask him a question he doesn't know the answer to. Then again, sometimes you don't even have to ask. The Gill St. Bernard's boys' basketball team won its first-ever state title Thursday night when the Knights beat Holy Cross Prep of Delran 39-28 at Jersey Mike's Arena at Rutgers University, and may have made a little history in the process besides picking up that first state championship trophy.

IMPRESSIVE! #Gill's defensive effort in Non-Public B Final win over #HolyCross was best in nearly three decades! We dug deep on the numbers! #Knights #NJSIAA #NJHoops #defense

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Non-Public B Final (Boys): Gill St. Bernard’s 39, Holy Cross Prep 28 In the lowest scoring game in a non-public state final in at least 27 years, North B champion Gill St. Bernard's topped South B champ Holy Cross Prep 39-38 to win its first-ever state title. Sophomore Connor Junker finished with 14 points in the win, while senior Dorsett Mulcahy added 13, and Prosper Sonkua had four blocks. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Jersey Mike's Arena at Rutgers University in Piscataway on March 12, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - Non-Public B Final (Boys): #Gill St. Bernard's 39, #HolyCross Prep 28. Listen back to all the action as the #KNights top the #Lancers for their first-ever state title, as heard LIVE on CJSR! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Non-Public B Final (Girls): Gloucester Catholic 62, Gill St. Bernard’s 39 North champion The Gill St. Bernard's girls' basketball team got a combined 28 points from the Platt sisters - 15 from senior Addy, and 13 from junior Kaity - in a 62-39 loss to South champ Gloucester Catholic in the Non-Public Group B state final. It was the second straight and second overall title for the Rams. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Jersey Mike's Arena at Rutgers University in Piscataway on March 12, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - Non-Public B Final (Girls): #GloucesterCatholic 62, #Gill St. Bernard's 39. Listen back as the #Rams win their second all-time - and second straight - state title, as heard LIVE on CJSR! #NJSIAA #NJHoops #Knights

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Experienced and ready, Montgomery boys seek first-ever state title in Group 4 finals rematch with Plainfield At the end of the day, throw the seeds out, and just look at where the two teams playing in Saturday's Group 4 state boys' basketball title game rank statewide. Montgomery was a three-seed in its Central Jersey Group 4 playoff section, and beat top-seed Hillsborough in overtime to win it. Plainfield was a four-seed in North 2, Group 4 and had to beat a higher seed as well - Linden, the two - to win the title.

PREVIEW!! Experienced and ready, #Montgomery boys seek first-ever state title in Group 4 finals rematch with #Plainfield. LIVE SATURDAY at 2 PM (FREE) on CJSR. We talk to both head coaches at the link! #NJSIAA #NJHoops #Cougars #Cardinals

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Group 4 Semifinals (Girls): Lenape 54, Franklin 35 Central 4 champion Franklin couldn't find its shot, and fell to South 4 champion Lenape 54-35 in the state Group 4 semifinals. The Warriors were led by Nola Bright, who narrowly missed a double-double with ten points and nine rebounds. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Deptford High School on March 10, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - Group 4 Semifinals (Girls): #Lenape 54, #Franklin 35. Listen back to all the live game action as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio! #Warriors #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Group 4 Semifinals (Boys): Montgomery 67, Cherry Hill East 37 Central 4 champion Montgomery got a career high 23 points and some big blocks from Shriyans Mallavarapu and a game-high 28 points from Mike Simborski - both sophomores - as the Cougars beat South 4 champion Cherry Hill East in the Group 4 state semifinals. The win sends Montgomery back to the state Group 4 championship game against Plainfield for the second year in a row. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Deptford High School on March 10, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - Group 4 Semifinals (Boys): #Montgomery 67, #CherryHillEast 37. Listen back to all the game action as heard LIVE on cjsportsradio.com! #NJSIAA #NJHoops #CougarsvsCougars

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Gloucester Catholic’s aggressive D too much for Gill St. Bernard’s, dashes Knights’ hopes in Non-Public B final, 62-39 Lisa Gedaka, the head coach in her 37th year at Gloucester Catholic, had 760 wins coming into Thursday's Non-Public Group B girls' title game. But coming into last year, the Rams had never won a sectional title. Well, now they have two, and two state titles as well, as they beat Gill St. Bernard's 62-39 Tuesday night in the state finals at Rutgers' Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway - in a game heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio - led by 22 points from senior Jahzara Green, and 13 from junior Amanda Eggers, who also had four treys.

FINAL: #GloucesterCatholic's aggressive D too much for #Gill St. Bernard's, dashes Knights' hopes in Non-Public B girls' final, 62-39. Recap and postgame reax at the link. #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Sectional trophy in hand, Gill St. Bernard’s boys seek first-ever state title when Knights head down to Rutgers to take on Holy Cross Prep With all the success Mergin Sina has had leading the boys' basketball program at Gill St. Bernard's - including too many Division 1 prospects to count and ten Somerset County titles - it had been a while since they won a sectional championship. So close last season, and with a wacky finish that cost Sina the first two games of this season for arguing a controversial late game call - something he'll willingly bring up on his own, by the way - the Knights avenged their defeat at the hands of perennial state power Roselle Catholic with a 58-47 win Monday in the Non-Public North B title game.

PREVIEW! Sectional trophy in hand, #Gill St. Bernard's boys seek first-ever state title when #Knights head down to #Rutgers to take on #HolyCross Prep in the Non-Public B Final. LIVE at 5 PM TONIGHT on CJSR. Story and audio with HC Mergin Sina at the link! #NJHoops #NJSIAA

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Non-Public North B Final (Girls): (1) Gill St. Bernard’s 57, (2) Saddle River Day 40 Senior Addy Platt scored 16 points and had eight rebounds, while four Knights scored in double figures, as top-seed Gill St. Bernard's beat second-seed Saddle River Day, 57-40, in the Non-Public North B championship game, giving Gill its first sectional title since 2012. Click below to listen to Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from JFK High School in Paterson on March 9, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - #NonPublic #NorthB #Final (Girls): (1) #Gill St. Bernard's 57, (2) #SaddleRiverDay 40. Listen to all the exciting action as the #Knights win their first title since 2012! #GSB #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Record four Central Jersey Sports Radio-area basketball teams head to Rutgers for state finals Talk about a banner year. In our sixth season of existence, a record four high school basketball teams from the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area will be playing for state championships over the next few days at Rutgers University. There are two publics and two non-publics in the bunch, with Colonia the lone Middlesex County team to make the state finals.

Record four Central Jersey Sports Radio-area basketball teams head to Rutgers for state finals. #Montgomery #Colonia and #Gill St. Bernard's boys and girls! Full schedule at the link! #NJHoops #NJSIAA

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Colonia heads to fifth straight Group 3 semifinal preparing for a new opponent for the first time What Colonia basketball has done under Jose Rodriguez has been nothing short of incredible. The Patriots are officially a public school GMC dynasty these days. Back on Saturday, they won their fifth straight sectional title, taking down Chatham in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 title game. It was also their sixth sectional title in seven playoff years under Rodriguez, now in his eighth year as head coach.

PREVIEW! #Colonia heads to fifth straight #Group3 #semifinal preparing for a new opponent for the first time in #Montville. LIVE at 5 pm TONIGHT on CJSR. We talk with HC Jose Rodriguez at the link! #NJSIAA #NJHoops #GMC #statetournament

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Franklin girls seek trip to Group 4 title game when Warriors make long trip down to South Jersey for state semis against Lenape While Tuesday's Group 4 girls' state semifinal game will officially be at a neutral site, Deptford High School is a lot closer to Lenape High School than it is to Franklin. So this one will be more like a "road" game for the Warriors than the Indians. But as far as Franklin is concerned, who cares? Just look at two of their key wins this season.

PREVIEW! #Franklin girls seek trip to #Group4 title game when #Warriors make long trip down to #SouthJersey for state semis against #Lenape. LIVE BROADCAST at 7 pm, we talk with HC Jimmy Kreie at the link! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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2 weeks ago

Montgomery one win away from back-to-back trips to Rutgers, faces Cherry Hill East Tuesday in Group 4 semifinals The good news is, just about everyone has been here before. The bad news? Well, there is no bad news. Fresh off its third straight Central Jersey Group 4 title, the Montgomery boys' basketball team will play in the Group 4 semifinals Tuesday night, when the Cougars travel down to Deptford High School for a 5 pm tipoff. But unlike the last two years, they will not be playing Lenape.

PREVIEW! #Montgomery one win away from back-to-back trips to #Rutgers, faces #CherryHillEast Tuesday in Group 4 semifinals. LIVE at FIVE on CJSR; hear from HC Kris #Grundy at the link! #NJHoops #NJSIAA #BattleofCougars

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

History repeats itself for Montgomery boys’ basketball coach Kris Grundy, as third straight CJ4 title nets his 350th win Sometimes a milestone comes at the oddest time. For Montgomery boys' basketball coach Kris Grundy, his 300th career coaching win came on a big night: Friday, March 1st, when his top-seeded Cougars beat second-seed Marlboro to win the Central Jersey Group 4 championship. That was Monty's first title win since 2010, making the moment doubly meaningful. This year, in his 21st season, a milestone struck again, in almost the same place.

COINCIDENCE?? History repeats itself for #Montgomery boys' basketball coach Kris #Grundy, as third straight CJ4 title nets his #350th win! Story, and links to coverage of two big milestones at the link! #Cougars #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Central Jersey Group 1 Final (Girls): (1) New Providence 57, (2) Bound Brook 42 Senior Annie Conover scored 22 points - including six threes - part of a barrage of 12 triples on the day, to power top-seed New Providence past second-seed Bound Brook, 57-42, to win its second straight Central Jersey Group 1 title, and third sectional championship in four years. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko call all the play-by-play from New Providence High School on March 7 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - #CentralJersey #Group1 Final (Girls): (1) #NewProvidence 57, (2) #BoundBrook 42. Listen back to all the game action as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Final (Boys): (1) Colonia 57, (2) Chatham 46 Jayce Rodriguez scored 25 points and the rest of the lineup had balanced scoring as top-seeded Colonia beat second-seed Chatham at home to with the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 championship, its fifth straight and sixth in the last seven playoff seasons, all under coach Jose Rodriguez. Click below to listen to Alec Crouthamel and Nick Hart call all the play-by-play from Colonia High School on March 7, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Final (Boys): (1) #Colonia 57, (2) #Chatham 46. Listen back to all the play-by-=play as heard on CJSR, with the #Patriots winning their FIFTH STRAIGHT title! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

INSTANT REPLAY – Central Jersey Group 4 Final (Boys): (3) Montgomery 55, (1) Hillsborough 47 (OT) Senior Ethan Lin scored 22 points, while sophomore Mike Simborski added 15, as third-seed Montgomery won their third straight Central Jersey Group 4 title with a 55-47 overtime win at top-seeded Hillsborough. Click below to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel call all the play-by-play from Hillsborough High School on March 5, 2026.

INSTANT REPLAY - #CentralJersey #Group4 #Final (Boys): (3) #Montgomery 55, (1) #Hillsborough 47 (OT). Listen back to all the action as heard LIVE on CJSR. Third straight title for the #Cougars! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

New Providence three-point barrage dooms Bound Brook; Pioneers take second straight CJ1 title in 57-42 win It's not every day New Providence hits 12 three-pointers in a game - even if they have hit at least ten on four separate occasions this year, including 13 in an early January game against Fair Lawn - but they have that potential. Saturday at home in the Central Jersey Group 1 final, they needed to hit against second-seed Bound Brook, and that's exactly what the top-seeded Pioneers did, en route to a 57-42 victory that claimed their second straight sectional title, and third in the last four seasons.

FINAL! #NewProvidence three-point barrage dooms #BoundBrook; #Pioneers take second straight CJ1 title in 57-42 win. Game story and postgame reax presented by #Sportsplex at Metuchen at the link! #NJSIAA #NJHoops

Central Jersey Sports Radio

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3 weeks ago

Bound Brook seeks first state title since 2020 run was cut short by COVID, as Crusaders travel to New Providence for Saturday morning CJ1 final The last time Bound Brook girls' basketball team won a sectional title - or was even in the finals - was in the 2019-20 basketball season. That season didn't end well, even though the Crusaders followed up their Central Jersey Group 1 title game win over neighboring Middlesex with a state semifinal win over Woodbury. The COVID pandemic was just starting in the U.S., but that game was played, even as college basketball was beginning to shut down.

PREVIEW: #BoundBrook seeks first state title since 2020 run was cut short by COVID, as #Crusaders travel to #NewProvidence for Saturday morning CJ1 final. LIVE at 11 AM on CJSR; audio and story at the link! #NJSIAA #NJHoops