Girls basketball rankings: Skyland Conference and area Union County Conference Top 10
1. Rutgers Prep (14-3) – last week No. 1 – Big week for the Argonauts, who not only swept through three games – beating Hillsborough, Ridge and state power Montclair Immaculate – but head coach Mary Klinger also won her 700th career game Thursday. This week began with superstar Mikayla Blakes announcing her college choice Monday, and then scoring 14 points that evening in a 76-45 win over Union County power Roselle Catholic. Rutgers Prep won’t play again until Sunday at the Mecca Classic.
Klinger wins 700th, Blakes commits: Girls basketball Skyland Conference, western Union County Conference notebook
2. New Providence (15-2) -- last week No. 2 -- The Pioneers ran their winning streak to eight games with wins over West Orange, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Oak Knoll and Cranford last week, putting New Providence in firm control of the UCC Watchung Division race. The club can clinch at least a share of the title with a win over Elizabeth on Tuesday, before facing Chatham and Secaucus.
3. Gill St. Bernard’s (13-2) -- last week No. 3 -- The Knights topped Watchung Hills to improve to 5-1 in the Delaware Division, before a 20-point Saturday win over St. Mary’s (NY). Challenging week on tap, with Pingry coming in Tuesday, followed by trips to Hillsborough and Mendham.
4. Hillsborough (9-5) – last week No. 4 -- The Raiders’ week began with a loss to Rutgers Prep, but Boro rebounded nicely with victories over Immaculata, Pingry and Watchung Hills on Monday. Hillsborough takes on Randolph and Gill St. Bernard’s this week and it looks to solidify its claim at a Top 3 county seed.
5. Voorhees (12-1) – last week No. 5 -- The Vikings shook off their first loss of the season with wins over Somerville and Ridge last week. Voorhees gets back to playing Valley Division contests this week, visiting Montgomery and Pingry, before a Saturday meeting with Montville.
6. Pingry (9-4) – last week No. 6 -- The Big Blue split a pair last week, beating Mount St. Mary 54-40, before a 64-46 loss to Hillsborough on Saturday. Pingry got back in the win column by topping Warren Hills on Monday, before a huge test at Gill St. Bernard’s on Tuesday, a Thursday meeting with Voorhees that could decide the Valley Division race, and a Friday date with Ranney.
7. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (10-5) – last week No. 7 -- The Raiders losing streak reached three games after Wednesday’s loss to New Providence, but SPF bounced back, finishing the week with wins over Westfield and Union Catholic. Scotch Plains-Fanwood opened this week with a loss to Cranford, and will face Roselle Catholic and Ridge next.
8. Somerville (12-2) – last week No. 8 -- The Pioneers have won seven of eight since falling to powerhouse New Providence on Jan. 2, including victories over Belvidere, Linden and Union this past week, and a loss to fifth-ranked Voorhees.
9. Westfield (4-10) – last week No. 9 -- The Blue Devils salvaged an otherwise disappointing week with a blowout win over Sparta on Saturday, after dropping games to Roselle Catholic and Scotch Plains-Fanwood earlier in the week. Westfield will be put to the test again this week, facing Oak Knoll, Elizabeth and Morristown.
10. Franklin (6-9) – last week No. 10 -- The Warriors picked up two wins in as many outings last week, topping Pennington and Bridgewater-Raritan. Things get more challenging this week with Morris Catholic, Watchung Hills and Plainfield on tap.
Also receiving consideration: Hunterdon Central (10-5), Plainfield (10-3).
Staff writer Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at CNGirlsHoops@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter/X @SimeonPincus.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Girls basketball rankings: Skyland Conference and area UCC Top 10
