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Why the parity in Morris and Sussex county boys basketball? See what our rankings say.

jane havsy, morristown daily record
·4 min read

It's been a particularly challenging boys basketball season in Morris and Sussex counties. Just look at the teams' records. Most are hovering around .500, either a result of tough holiday tournaments or the usual local competition.

Morris Catholic's boys and girls basketball teams both remain undefeated. Have they maintained their supremacy in our rankings? Here's a look at our latest boys Top 10.

10. Vernon (5-3)

Last week: Unranked

After starting the season with three losses in four games, Vernon has rebounded with five straight victories. That streak will be on the line on Thursday at Jefferson, the NJAC-Freedom co-leader. Junior guard Alex Fessel is averaging 17.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Up next: Thursday at Jefferson, Saturday at Immaculata

9. Hackettstown (5-3)

Last week: Unranked

Hackettstown's three losses all came against an unusual assortment of opponents: Millennium in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Hoboken and Cliffside Park at Dayton's Joe Pepe Memorial Holiday Tournament. After a quick dip back into the NJAC-Freedom at Lenape Valley, the Tigers leave Tuesday for their annual bonding trip to Florida.

Up next: Thursday at Lenape Valley

Cyrus Maclay of Morris Hills plays strong defense against Pat Ferrare, of Montville. Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Cyrus Maclay of Morris Hills plays strong defense against Pat Ferrare, of Montville. Tuesday, March 1, 2022

8. Morris Hills (6-4)

Last week: Unranked

The Scarlet Knights have a chance on Thursday to avenge their season-opening NJAC-National road loss to Roxbury. Senior guard Cyrus Maclay had 15 points, four rebounds and three assists, setting the stage for a solid season thus far.

Up next: Thursday vs. Roxbury, Saturday at Hopatcong, Tuesday at Mount Olive

7. Randolph (5-5)

Last week: No. 5

Senior Ryan Kress averages 23.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists for the Rams, who are only 1-3 in the challenging NJAC-American. They start the replay against Sparta on Thursday, then visit archrival Roxbury for a Saturday night crossover.

Up next: Thursday vs. Sparta, Saturday at Roxbury, Tuesday at Chatham

MK #10 Justin Hanson with the ball as Randolph hosts Morris Knolls in the Morris County Tournament Boys Basketball Quarterfinals at Randolph High School on Saturday Feb. 12, 2022.
MK #10 Justin Hanson with the ball as Randolph hosts Morris Knolls in the Morris County Tournament Boys Basketball Quarterfinals at Randolph High School on Saturday Feb. 12, 2022.

6. Morris Knolls (5-4)

Last week: Unranked

Morris Knolls takes a three-game winning streak to Pope John for a NJAC-National rematch of a 65-23 victory in the season opener. Junior guard Justin Hanson averages 14.1 points, 2.1 boards, 2.9 assists and two steals for the Golden Eagles, who are unbeaten (4-0) in division play.

Up next: Thursday at Pope John, Saturday at Union Catholic, Tuesday vs. Montville

Stanhope, NJ -- December 29, 2023 -- Parsippany Hills' Joey Ciccotelli passes to Simeon Washington in the second half. Parsippany Hills defeated Lenape Valley 60-45 to win the Lenape Valley/ Dover Boys Basketball Holiday Tournament played at Lenape Valley.
Stanhope, NJ -- December 29, 2023 -- Parsippany Hills' Joey Ciccotelli passes to Simeon Washington in the second half. Parsippany Hills defeated Lenape Valley 60-45 to win the Lenape Valley/ Dover Boys Basketball Holiday Tournament played at Lenape Valley.

5. Parsippany Hills (8-2)

Last week: No. 4

A trio of guards – Julio Tatis (15.7 ppg., 4.8 rpg., 3.3 spg.), Simeon Washington (12.6 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 3 spg.), and Joey Ciccotelli (11.5 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 3.7 apg.) – lead Parsippany Hills. The Vikings, a small Group 3 school, step up to play Group 4 Phillipsburg on Thursday, then archrival Parsippany on Saturday.

Up next: Thursday vs. Phillipsburg, Saturday at Parsippany, Tuesday at Mountain Lakes

4. Mendham (7-3)

Last week: No. 6

Junior Kevin King averages 19.4 points for the Minutemen, who have won four in a row since a three-game Winter Break losing streak. Their rerun of the NJAC-American starts on Thursday with Chatham, a team they beat 55-51 in the season opener.

Up next: Thursday vs. Chatham, Saturday vs. Newton, Tuesday at Morristown

3. Madison (7-2)

Last week: No. 3

Junior point guard Evan Colao (19.4 ppg.), senior guard Jackson Maloney (12.4 ppg.) and sophomore Gavin Randall (11.2 ppg.) are all averaging double-digit points. Both Madison's losses are to unbeaten Morris Catholic: a NJAC-Liberty regular-season game on Dec. 22 and in the J.P. Flynn Memorial Tournament a week later.

Up next: Thursday at Pequannock, Saturday vs. Morristown Beard, Tuesday at Hanover Park

2. Delbarton (9-1)

Last week: No. 2

The Green Wave's lone loss came against unbeaten Morris Catholic at the Flynn Tournament. Those teams are unlikely to meet again, except for a possible Morris County Tournament game. Delbarton's Coaches Vs. Cancer fundraiser against Mendham was postponed by weather, so that's a NJAC-American game to be rescheduled. The string of division rematches starts Tuesday against West Morris.

Up next: Saturday vs. Oratory, Tuesday vs. West Morris

1. Morris Catholic (10-0)

Last week: No. 1

Can anyone stop the Crusaders? They'll travel to West Chester (Pennsylvania) for a showcase game with St. Joseph Prep (8-2) out of Philadelphia. Senior forward Michelangelo Oberti (20.7 ppg., 13.1 rpg., 4.8 bpg.) leads Morris Catholic, which is averaging a NJAC-best 79.7 points per game.

Up next: Thursday at Kinnelon, Monday vs. St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia) at West Chester University

Also considered: Boonton (6-4), High Point (5-3), Jefferson (4-2), Lenape Valley (6-4), Roxbury (5-4).

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ boys basketball: Morris/Sussex Top 10 rankings