Boys basketball rankings, notes: GMC and area UCC Top 10, notebook, through Jan. 13
We’re two weeks into the new year and the season is in full swing. Here’s a look back at the first full week of 2024.
Home News Tribune Greater Middlesex Conference and area UCC boys basketball Top 10
1. Linden (9-2) – last week No. 1 — The Tigers entered Sunday’s rematch against defending Non-Public A champion Union Catholic coming off a 24-point win over The Patrick School. Linden hosts Westfield and The Hun School this week.
2. St. Joseph (9-2) – last week No. 2 — The Falcons derailed Monroe’s eight-game winning streak to remain unbeaten in the GMC Red Division. St. Joseph will try to maintain that divisional perfection against St. Thomas Aquinas and Colonia before taking on Elizabeth at Kean University on Saturday.
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3. Colonia (7-3) – last week No. 5 — The Patriots defeated St. Thomas Aquinas prior to facing powerful Elizabeth on Sunday. Colonia has huge divisional encounters with Monroe and St. Joseph this week.
4. Monroe (9-2) – last week No. 3 – The Falcons had their eight-game winning streak snapped in a seven-point loss at St. Joseph. Monroe travels to Colonia on Monday and gets an opportunity to avenge its season-opening overtime loss to Old Bridge on Tuesday.
5. St. Thomas Aquinas (6-3) – last week No. 4 – The Trojans suffered their second Red Division setback at Colonia on Thursday. St. Thomas will get a chance to tighten up the divisional race when it hosts front-running St. Joseph on Tuesday.
6. South Plainfield (7-3) – last week No. 6 – Buoyed by the eligibility of a pair of talented transfers, the Tigers extended their winning streak to six games by thrashing North Brunswick on Saturday. South Plainfield followed that with a quick turn-around against Westfield on Sunday, and has a chance to avenge its lone divisional loss at Edison on Saturday.
More: Boys basketball: South Plainfield transfers provide boost in win over North Brunswick
7. Woodbridge (8-3) - last week No. 9 — With a mid-week White Division showdown against North Brunswick postponed due to last week’s storm, the Barrons lone contest was a six-point win over Perth Amboy. Woodbridge faced New Providence on Sunday and has a key divisional road trip to Sayreville Thursday.
8. North Brunswick (8-4) – last week No. 7 – The Raiders had a four-game winning streak blunted in a divisional loss at South Plainfield on Saturday. North Brunswick faces another tough test at Elizabeth on Thursday.
9. Sayreville (6-3) – last week No. 10 – The Bombers won divisional matches against Perth Amboy and Edison last week. Sayreville has a chance to avenge a nine-point setback when it hosts Woodbridge on Thursday.
10. Rahway (6-6) – last week unranked – The Indians move into the Top 10 after victories over Union and Roselle. Rahway faces a trio of Union County foes this week in New Providence, Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Plainfield.
ALSO RECEIVING CONSIDERATION: Calvary Christian (8-1), Carteret (8-4), Old Bridge (6-7), Spotswood (7-5), Timothy Christian (7-3).
THE WEEK THAT WAS
Thursday saw St. Joseph (7-0) remain unbeaten in the Red Division by halting Monroe’s (5-2) eight-game winning streak, and featured St. Thomas (5-2) suffer a second loss within the division to Colonia (5-1). St. Joseph faces both Colonia and St. Thomas this week.
South Plainfield (7-1) maintains its lead in the balanced White Division after handing North Brunswick (5-2) both of its losses within the division. The Tigers face a dangerous Perth Amboy (3-5) squad Thursday, the same night Sayreville (5-3) hosts Woodbridge (6-1), which is clinging to second place in the loop.
Middlesex (5-3) fell last week to Timothy Christian (7-0) and Spotswood (6-1), which remain atop the Blue Division, with Carteret (5-3) lurking nearby. The Ramblers get their second shot at Timothy Christian on Friday.
Calvary Christian (6-0), which won a share of its first GMC divisional title last year, appears to be the favorite to win the Gold Division outright this time around. Perth Amboy Magnet (5-1) has won five in a row and gets its first crack at the Lions on Thursday after their game last week had to be postponed due to storm damage to both gyms.
3 STARS
One newcomer and a couple of Blue Division veterans share this week’s spotlight.
Dante Dupiche, South Plainfield: It didn’t take long for the transfer from Piscataway to become acclimated after he became eligible on Saturday. The sharp-shooting guard returned to action midway through the first quarter against North Brunswick and promptly scored 11 points in those four minutes, draining all three of his 3-point attempts. He eventually bagged five treys in scoring 24 points and makes a very good team even better.
Tyrese Parrott, Carteret: There are plenty of reasons for Carteret’s improvement this year and the senior guard is one of them. He torched South River with a season-high 30 points last week in a memorable shootout with Alex Grospe, the GMC’s leading scorer, and has more than tripled his scoring average from 5.2 to a robust 18.3.
Daniel Yarus, Spotswood: The GMC boasts a few rim protectors who can also shoot from distance and the 6-foot-7 senior ranks near the top of the list. While he can dominate inside, his sweet stroke from the arc makes him a threat from anywhere on the court. Yarus will attend The College of New Jersey next year, which appears to be a great fit.
ON THE MOVE
Dunellen (5-6) enters the week on a three-game heater and has won five of seven after losing its first four outings. The Destroyers have yielded just 41.3 points during their winning streak and have held all 11 foes below 60.
J.P. Stevens (5-5) also dropped its first four contests and has recovered to win five of six, including the championship of Johnson’s Crusader Holiday Classic. While the Hawks are not in the same class as Red Division rivals Colonia, Monroe, St. Joseph and St. Thomas Aquinas, it has demonstrated that it can compete with everyone else in the top-tier division.
Metuchen (7-6) has won five of its last seven, including a double-digit win and loss to Carteret. Forwards Jason Woods (14.8) and Ben Santus (13.5) lead a balanced attack.
MLK CLASSIC 2024
Here is the schedule for Monday’s action at New Brunswick High School
Carteret vs Montgomery, 9:30 a.m.
Perth Amboy vs Plainfield, 11:30 a.m.
Timothy Christian vs Franklin, 1:30 p.m.
Piscataway vs. Jackson Memorial, 3:30 p.m.
Highland Park at New Brunswick, 5:30 p.m.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
St. Joseph at St. Thomas Aquinas, 7 p.m., Tuesday: This first of two meetings between the Red Division powers takes on added significance with St. Thomas appearing vulnerable with two losses within the division already. This game takes on added import with the GMC Tournament seeding meeting looming in a couple of weeks.
Perth Amboy Magnet at Calvary Christian, 5:30 p.m., Thursday: This is the make-up for the game that was postponed last week after storm damage to both gyms. Perth Amboy Magnet carries a five-game winning streak into this meeting with the Gold Division’s last unbeaten team.
Colonia at St. Joseph, 7 p.m., Thursday: How quickly St. Joseph can recover from whatever happens against St. Thomas on Tuesday will be essential. The Falcons could take firm control of the Red Division with two victories, while a pair of losses would throw the division into mayhem.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Boys basketball rankings, notes: GMC and area UCC, through Jan. 13
