As the winter seasons settle into March, the state tournaments will be coming to an end shortly.
Here are some local players who shined in the final days of the scholastic season.
Shooting stars in boys’ basketball …
Saint Joseph High School of Metuchen picked up where it left off after winning the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament title when the Falcons defeated rival Union Catholic High School, 57-52, in the quarterfinals of NJSIAA Non-Public A South March 2.
The Falcons were led in that triumph by Tyree Taganeca-Ford, who sank 21 points. Contributing to the victory for the Metuchen school was the always-reliable Letrell West, who finished with 15 points.
Mater Dei Prep, fresh of its Shore Conference Tournament championship, received 23 points from Kyle Cardaci, as the Seraphs advanced in the state tournament with a 79-53 victory over Gloucester Catholic High School in the opening round of Non-Public B South March 1.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School moved on in Central Jersey, Group II when it knocked out Delran High School, 52-33, in the quarterfinals March 1. Rumson-Fair Haven’s victory was sparked by Teddy Sourlis, who pumped in 21 points.
Freehold Township High School relied on a one-two punch of Stephen Staklinski and Ryan Zyskowski to advanced in Central Jersey, Group IV with a 47-44 victory over Trenton Central High School in the quarterfinals March 1. Staklinski recorded 16 points and seven rebounds, and Zyskowski ended with 11 rebounds and eight points to lead the Patriots. They also starred in the first round of the state tournament when Zyskowski hit for 22 points and Staklinski scored 16 in an 87-50 victory over Middletown High School South Feb. 27
Sayreville War Memorial High School, which fell to Saint Joseph in the GMC Tournament title game, rebounded with a 61-52 victory over another tournament runner-up, Marlboro High School, in the quarterfinals of Central Jersey, Group IV March 1. Jahsim Floyd led Sayreville with 15 points against Marlboro, which had fallen to Mater Dei Prep in the Shore Conference Tournament finals the previous weekend.
The scoring star during the first week of the state tournament was Terrence Calandrillo, who poured in 34 points to steer Red Bank Catholic High School to a 64-53 triumph over Paul VI High School of Haddonfield in Non-Public A South play Feb. 28.
The standouts in the girls’ basketball state tournament …
The scoring exploits of Brynn Farrell continued when the state tournament began. The Metuchen High School scoring whiz fired in 38 points and pulled down 18 rebounds when she guided her squad past South Amboy High School, 67-49, in the quarterfinals of Central Jersey, Group I March 2.
Farrell, who was pouring in points all winter, started the state tournament with an effort of 20 points and 11 rebounds in Metuchen’s 45-27 decision over South Hunterdon High School Feb. 28.
Josie Larkins connected on 32 points, including 21 points from 3-point land, when she led Red Bank Catholic to a 74-39 victory over Bishop Eustace High School in the quarterfinals of Non-Public A South March 2.
Saint John Vianney High School shook of its loss to Saint Rose High School in the Shore Conference Tournament finals the previous weekend when the Lancers advanced in Non-Public A South with a 58-43 victory over Bishop George Ahr High School March 2. Saint John Vianney was led in its victory over the Edison school by Kim Evans, who finished with 16 points.
Another school that successfully rebounded from a county tournament loss in the title game was South Brunswick High School. The Vikings advanced in Central Jersey, Group IV with a 45-42 victory over Marlboro in the quarterfinals March 1.
Amber Brown hit for 21 points to lead South Brunswick, which had fallen to Sayreville in the GMC Tournament championship game the previous week. Brown also sank 21 points ad grabbed eight rebounds in South Brunswick’s 56-25 victory over Princeton High School in the opening round of the state tournament Feb. 27.
