Boys basketball rankings, notes: Skyland Conference and area Union County Conference
Here are the latest boys basketball Top 10 rankings, news and notes in the Skyland Conference and western Union County through Feb. 10
1. Rutgers Prep (16-6) – last week No. 1 – The defending Somerset County Tournament champs bounced back from a 69-58 loss to Arts on Thursday to beat Oratory Prep 68-47 Saturday. No. 1 seed Prep plays host to eighth-seeded Pingry on Tuesday in county quarterfinals.
2. Union Catholic (17-6) - last week No. 2 – The Vikings earned at least a share of the Union County Conference Watchung Division by beating Elizabeth to split the two games with the Minutemen. Elizabeth needs to beat Westfield this week or UC wins the outright crown. No. 2 seed Union Catholic advanced to the Union County Tournament semis to play No. 11 seed Cranford on Thursday at Kean University.
More: Boys basketball: Vance’s buzzer-beater sends Pingry past Bound Brook in SCT affair
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3. Montgomery (19-2) – last week No. 3 – The Cougars extended their win streak to five games and clinched the Skyland Valley Division title with a 10-0 record. No. 7 seed Gill St. Bernard’s visit the No. 2 seed Cougars on Tuesday in a Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals.
4. Watchung Hills (16-6) – last week No. 4 – Back-to-back losses to Millburn and Hunterdon Central was followed by a 61-42 win over Gill St. Bernard’s last week. No. 3 seed Warriors play host to Franklin on Tuesday in a Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals.
5. Franklin (13-10) – last week No. 6 – The Warriors advanced to play at No. 3 seed Watchung Hills in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals. Senior Landen Miller scored 19 points Saturday in a 66-42 win over Bridgewater-Raritan. Warriors play at No. 3 seed Watchung Hills on Tuesday.
6. Plainfield (15-7) – last week No. 5 – The No. 3 seed Cardinals were ousted in the Union County Tournament quarterfinals Saturday by No. 11 Cranford. Cardinals now prepare for the North 2, Group 4 sectionals, which will be seeded Tuesday.
7. Westfield (13-11) – last week No. 9 – The Blue Devils cruised to the Union County Tournament quarterfinals with wins over A.L. Johnson and Roselle. The Blue Devils were eliminated Saturday by No. 2 seed Union Catholic.
8. Hillsborough (14-7) – last week No. 8 – After losing 5-of-6 the Raiders won three straight over Immaculata, Bayonne and Scotch Plains-Fanwood last week to get back on track. The No. 4 seed Raiders play host to No. 5 Ridge on Tuesday in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals.
9. Ridge (14-8) – last week No. 7 – The No. 5 seed Red Devils play at No. 4 Hillsborough on Tuesday in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals. Eight different players scored in the Red Devils’ 48-40 win over No. 13 Somerville on Saturday in a county second-round tilt.
10. Pingry (16-4) – last week No. 10 – The winning streak it five straight wins after a thrilling 54-52 road win Saturday over No. 8 seed Bound Brook in a Somerset County Tournament second-round game. The No. 9 seed Big Blue play at No. 1 seed Rutgers Prep on Tuesday.
Others receiving consideration: Hunterdon Central (15-7), New Providence (16-5), St. Bernard’s (10-13)
ON THE MOVE
Third-seed Hunterdon Central earned a Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament final berth Saturday with a 45-41 semifinal win over No. 2 Delaware Valley. The Red Devils have won 8-of-9 and will play No. 5 Vernon in the HWST final Saturday at 5 p.m. at Wallkill Valley. Vernon beat Phillipsburg 56-54 to snap the Liners 20-game winning streak in the other semi Saturday.
The Red Devils have won this tournament twice since Sussex County schools joined in 2010, claiming the 2017 and 2020 crowns.
HANDING OUR HARDWARE
Union Catholic won at least a share of the Union County Conference Watchung Division by beating Elizabeth on Tuesday. The Vikings are 8-2 in division play – losing to Linden and Elizabeth. The Minutemen, 7-2, can force a share with Union Catholic by beating Westfield this week.
The Vikings won the Watchung Division three times; in 1982, 1986 and 1992, and three Mountain Valley division titles in 2005, 2013 and 2015.
Montgomery wrapped up the Skyland Valley title with two wins to finish 10-0. The Valley Division champion has now been unbeaten in four straight seasons. Bound Brook won three Valley titles before moving up to the Raritan where Montgomery had been.
3 STARS
Mason Vance, Pingry. The senior forward hit the game-winning buzzer-beating shot Saturday in a 54-52 Somerset County Tournament second round game. He finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Quinn Dahshefsky, Ridge: The senior guard had an outstanding floor game Saturday as the Red Devils beat Somerville 48-40 in a Somerset County Tournament second round game. He scored 11points with seven rebounds and five assists.
Matt Schwartz, Hunterdon Central: He scored 19 points in the Red Devils’ 47-45 overtime win over Watchung Hills last week.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Boys basketball rankings, notes: Skyland, area Union County Conf.
