St. Rose got within closing distance of its first NJSIAA sectional title since 2004 and turned to 6-foot-8 star Matt Hodge to finish off Bishop Eustace.
Saint John Vianney's Anthony Knox, Rumson-Fair Haven's Sonny Amato, Southern's Matt Henrich, and Brick Memorial's Harvey Ludington won boys state titles while Howell's Kylie Gudewitz, Middletown South's Thea Rowland, and Central's Liliana Alicea won NJSIAA state titles on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Central Jersey Group III Final
(1) Ewing 57, (2) Ocean Township 41
For the second year in a row, Ocean Township fell to Ewing in the CJG3 finals. This is the third straight sectional for Ewing. Ocean battled foul trouble through out the game with Gamila Betton picking up four fouls in the first half...
Two years after going 0-21, Freehold Boro won its first NJSIAA sectional championship in 51 years by upending No. 1 seed Red Bank Saturday in the Central Group III final.
The Shore Conference has eight NJSIAA state finalists after Southern's Anthony Mason, Saint John Vianney's Anthony Knox, Donovan Catholic's Kurt Wehner, CBA's Alex Nini, Rumson's Sonny Amato, Southern's Matt Henrich, Brick Memorial's Harvey Ludington, and Hudson Skove won their semifinal matches on Friday night at Boardwalk Hall.
Manasquan scored the final 13 points of the game in a span of two minutes to stun Rumson-Fair Haven and win its fifth straight NJSIAA sectional title in a classic.
Howell's Kylie Gudewitz, Middletown South's Thea Rowland, and Central's Liliana Alicea won their semfinal bouts to advance to Saturday's NJSIAA state finals.
It has been multiple decades since either of the two NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III finalists won a sectional title. For one of Red Bank and Freehold Boro, the drought ends Saturday.
Red Bank junior Kevin Ruland advanced to the quarterfinals as the No. 24 seed and Howell freshman Tanner Hodgins showcased his skills and smarts to upset the No. 6 seed and reach the quarterfinals on Thursday at Boardwalk Hall.