Staff Report
If it feels as though the high school basketball playoffs are coming at you fast and furious, you’re probably not alone. There seems to be any number of games every day and it’s tough to keep track of what is going on. So here’s a quick little recap of all the South Jersey sectional tournaments to get you caught up to speed as we head into the championship rounds.
BOYS
South Jersey Group 4: Egg Harbor Township has certainly founds its groove, and the Eagles are one win away from capturing the first sectional title in program history. The No. 3 seed took down No. 14 Millville, No. 11 Atlantic Tech and then cruised past No. 7 Cherry Hill East in the semifinals. They’ll face top-seeded Lenape (Tuesday, 5 p.m. at Lenape) as the Tribe had little trouble getting past GCIT, Williamstown and Eastern on its way to the title game.
South Jersey Group 3: This section got turned on its head before the playoffs even began, as Camden Eastside was pulled by its own administration after an on-court frackas with rival Camden during a regular-season game. That left the door wide open for top-seeded Mainland, but the Mustangs got upset in the semis by No. 4 Moorestown. The Quakers now host a title game, as on the other side of the bracket No. 10 Ocean City scored a pair of upsets to reach the championship game (tonight, 6 p.m. at Moorestown). Only two of the top nine seeds made it into the semifinals in this section.
South Jersey Group 2: Two of the top three seeds fell in the semifinals and now No. 4 Sterling gets to host a title game (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.) The Knights take on No. 7 Middle Township, a team that beat Gloucester, Lindenwold and Cinnaminson on its way to the title game. Camden would have been the prohibitive favorite to win this section had it not been disqualified.
South Jersey Group 1: Top-seeded Wildwood got upset in the semifinals, meaning No. 2 Woodbury gets to host the title game (today, 4 p.m.). The Herd will take on No. 4 Burlington City, which beat Wildwood 49-46 on Friday.
Non-Public A South: The biggest surprise here was St. Augustine Prep getting knocked out by Rutgers Prep in the quarterfinals. In today’s semis, Rutgers Prep, the No. 7 seed, takes on No. 6 St. Joseph-Metuchen, while the other semifinal features No. 5 Union Catholic vs. top-seeded Camden Catholic.
Non-Public B South: St. Joseph Academy, which had its ups and downs during the regular season, has figured something out in the postseason and has been on a roll. The Wildcats find themselves in today’s semifinals (7 p.m. at No. 1 St. Rose) after wins over Moorestown Friends and Doane Academy. The other semi features No. 2 Bishop Eustace hosting No. 3 Ranney School.
GIRLS
South Jersey Group 4: It seems Atlantic City’s seniors don’t want to go home yet. The No. 5 Vikings knocked out No. 4 Williamstown and top-seeded Shawnee last week in the span of three days, and now take on No. 2 Cherokee (tonight at 5 at Cherokee) for the championship. After a couple of blowout wins in the first two rounds, the Chiefs slipped past No. 6 Lenape over the weekend.
South Jersey Group 3: Old rivals meet again, as top-seeded Mainland hosts No. 2 Ocean City on Tuesday at 5 p.m. for the championship. This section featured just one upset the entire tournament, No. 10 Winslow beating No. 7 Cherry Hill West in the opening round.
South Jersey Group 2: The seeds held true in this section as well, as No. 1 Middle Township hosts No. 2 Cinnaminson tonight at 6 in the championship game. Neither team was even threatened the entire way through the bracket.
South Jersey Group 1: Again, the seeds held in this bracket as well, as No. 1 Woodstown hosts No. 2 Wildwood on Tuesday at 5:30 for the title.
Non-Public A South: This bracket’s semifinals feature four of the best teams in the state, as No. 1 St. John Vianney hosts No. 4 Red Bank Catholic and No. 2 Paul VI hosts No. 6 Camden Catholic tonight. The only real upset was Camden Catholic taking down No. 3 Trinity Hall by a point on Friday.
Non-Public B South: The Cape-Atlantic League will be represented well in the semifinals as No. 1 Wildwood Catholic Academy hosts No. 5 Holy Spirit (tonight at 6). The other semi features No. 2 St. Rose hosting No. 3 Rutgers Prep. Holy Spirit has scored nearly 150 points in its two games so far.
