The scholastic basketball season has come to an end due to the world-wide coronavirus.
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association ruled on March 12 that the state tournaments for both boys and girls were cancelled as a result of the cornavirus.
In that result, South Brunswick will finish as are No. 1 ranked boys’ basketball team in Central Jersey.
A game-winning layup with one second remaining by Yathmin Vemula helped South Brunswick top Marlboro for the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 4 sectional title on March 10.
Here’s a look at our final Central Jersey Top 10 boys’ basketball rankings.
(Ranking. Team, Record)
1. South Brunswick, 25-5: Yathmin Vemula’s game-winner brought home South Brunswick’s first state sectional title since the 2006-2007 season. Both Devin Strickland and Justin Carbone scored a game-high 28 points in the Vikings’ 72-71 victory over Marlboro in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 4 final on March 10.
2. Saint Thomas Aquinas, 23-5: The Trojans finish as the No. 2 team in the rankings. The school from Edison was stunned by Christian Brothers Academy in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey, Non-Public A Tournament on March 7, losing to the Colts, 55-52. The Trojans won their first Greater Middlesex Conference championship this season since 1992.
3. Middletown South, 26-3: Middletown South finishes as top Shore Conference team in the rankings at No. 3. The Eagles were knocked off by South Brunswick in the semifinals of the sectional tournament. Bobby Pirie fired in a team-high 19 points in the 66-55 defeat.
4. Holmdel, 23-5: Holmdel saw its season come to a close in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 final on March 10, losing to powerful Manasquan, 53-38. It was Holmdel’s first sectional final appearance since 2012.
5. Marlboro, 23-7: The Mustangs were just seconds away from their first sectional title, but Yathmin Vemula struck late for South Brunswick and Marlboro’s season came to a close. This was Marlboro’s first ever 20-victory season in program history.
6. Saint Joseph, 19-9: The Falcons were knocked out of the NJSIAA South Jersey, Non-Public A Tournament by Camden Catholic on March 9, losing to the Fighting Irish, 61-46. Adam Slawinski sank a team-high 14 points in the contest.
7. Allentown, 21-7: Allentown’s run in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 3 Tournament came to a close on March 6 in the semifinals against Wall. The Redbirds saw a five-point lead to begin the second quarter vanish and went on to lose to Wall, 80-60. RJ Weise dropped in a team-high 18 points in the contest.
8. Red Bank Catholic, 17-10: Red Bank Catholic was knocked out of the NJSIAA South Jersey, Non-Public 4 Tournament by Notre Dame on March 4, losing to the Irish, 67-50. C.J. Ruoff collected a team-high 15 points in the contest.
9. Edison, 19-7: Edison’s season came to a close in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Tournament on March 3, losing to Franklin, 66-60. Emanuel Davila delivered a team-high 21 points in the contest.
10. Hightstown, 21-7: Hightstown was eliminated from the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 4 Tournament by South Brunswick in the quarterfinals of March 5. It’s the second time in three years that Hightstown has won 21 games in a season.
Follow Steven Bassin on Twitter @SBassin_Sports
