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Girls basketball rankings: Greater Middlesex Conference Top 10, through Jan. 15

joseph skrec
·3 min read

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.

HNT/GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE AND AREA UCC GIRLS BASKETBALL RANKINGS, THROUGH JAN. 15

1. St. Thomas Aquinas (9-4) – last week No. 1 – Five Trojans players scored in double figures last Thursday in a battle between the top two teams in the Top 10 and a rematch of last year’s GMC Tournament final. Leah Kearney (double-double), Gianna Chuffo, Trista Whitney, Madison Rorie and Jordan Barnes each netted 10 or more to help propel STA past Colonia, 72-59.

More: Girls basketball rankings, notes: Skyland Conf., area UCC Top 10, notebook, for Jan. 15

2. Colonia (10-3) – last week No. 2 – The Patriots played Newark Central in the Jarel Lowery Showcase at Paterson Eastside, and have a game vs. Morris County power Chatham sandwiched between Red Division foes North Brunswick and South Brunswick. Nashaelah Hooker had six points, five rebounds and two steals in a win against Passaic Charter on Jan. 8.

3. North Plainfield (10-2) – last week No. 3 – The Canucks lead the White Division and have won five in a row. Kaelynn Hester (21 points, five steals), Layla Gutierrez (20 points) and Saionni Patrick (12 rebounds) helped North Plainfield give White Division foe J.P. Stevens its first loss of the season, 73-53, on Thursday. North Plainfield faces Perth Amboy, Edison and Sayreville this week.

4. Monroe (8-3) – last week No. 4 – The Falcons will face Old Bridge on Tuesday in a Red Division tilt. Monroe’s week includes a division clash with East Brunswick and a non-conference tilt with UCC foe Plainfield. Monroe defeated two Shore Conference members by a combined 46 points last week in Central Regional and Allentown.

5. East Brunswick (8-4) – last week No. 6 – The Bears went 2-0 last week against Red Division rivals South Brunswick and Old Bridge, and have won three in a row. Gabby Nieves, Zoey Aleixo, Sophia Tannura and Julianna Delos Santos-Branson all scored in double figures in the Bears’ narrow victory against the Vikings on Thursday.

6. South Brunswick (6-5) – last week No. 5 – Leilani Pinder totaled 19 points and seven rebounds, and Alexis Lease-Springer added 12 points and five rebounds in a Red Division victory against Old Bridge during a 1-1 week for the Vikings. South Brunswick faces Red Division foes Piscataway, St. Thomas and Colonia this week.

7. Old Bridge (5-7) – last week No. 7 – The Knights went 0-2 against Red Division opponents last week, but received productive performances from Marilyn Togun (13 points, f5 rebounds), Abigail Jazmin (12 points, 5 rebounds) and Haylee Blackman (13 points and 5 steals) in a setback to East Brunswick.

8. Woodbridge (7-5) – last week No. 9 – The Barrons carried a four-game winning streak -- all against GMC White Division opponents -- into Monday’s game against J.P. Stevens, but fell. In addition to the scintillating play of transfer Jennah Johnson, Woodbridge received a spark from Angel Smith (20 points, 5 boards vs. J.F. Kennedy) and Aliyah Folarin (8 points, 9 rebounds vs. Perth Amboy) in victories last week.

9. Spotswood (8-3) – last week No. 10 – The Chargers put their five-game winning streak on the line vs. neighbor and crossover opponent East Brunswick on Tuesday. Spotswood also faces Blue Division opponents Carteret and South River before closing the week against Shore Conference member Raritan. Ava Fama posted a double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds) against New Brunswick and was joined in double figures by Gabby Hill, Allie Costantino and Lizzie Calandruccio.

10. Metuchen – (9-3) – last week not ranked – The Bulldogs have won seven games in a row, including a crossover contest against White Division member J.P. Stevens, which was ranked in last week’s Top 10. Metuchen is 7-1 and in second place in the GMC Blue Division, trailing only Spotswood. Vicky Zaniecki is averaging 12 points and 8 rebounds for Metuchen.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Girls basketball rankings: GMC Top 10, through Jan. 15