By Jimmy Allinder
There is nothing like watching state tournament basketball because of what’s at stake.
Win and move on to the next one-and-done game. Lose and the season comes to an abrupt conclusion.
Three area girls teams experienced that range of emotions in recent sectional tournament games. Monroe Township High School (25-3) earned the right to return to the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV championship game March 8, while two others — East Brunswick High School and South River High School — dropped their semifinal contests.
A season ago, the Falcons were edged by Marlboro High School in the championship game and wanted nothing more than to avenge that defeat when they faced Hunterdon Central Regional High School March 8. If Monroe played like it did in its semifinals victory, 60-39, March 5 over South Brunswick High School, the Falcons stood a good chance of winning the sectional title.
Still, head coach Leigh Vogtman understands every game represents a new challenge.
“We try to learn something from every game,” she said. “We have played opponents with different styles and learned a lot about our strengths and weaknesses. It’s important that our players be critical of themselves and how they perform in every type of game.”
Although East Brunswick was the top seed in Central Jersey, Group IV, the Bears suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss, 41-40, to Hunterdon Central March 5. However, the Bears (22-4) will remember this season because they won the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament title by defeating Monroe, 42-31, in the championship game.
Head coach Keith Lane had no regrets about his team’s loss to the Red Devils from Flemington.
“Hunterdon Central is a well-coached team with all the ingredients and players who can shoot, drive and post up,” he said. “We played with a lot of heart in the overtime but lost in the end.
“We lose five seniors who played key roles in our success the last two seasons, but we return a group of talented sophomores and freshmen who will add to that success if they work hard in the offseason and continue to develop.”
South River’s season ended without the Rams (23-5) being able to defend their Central Jersey, Group I title with a deflating 58-37 loss to Middlesex High School March 4. Head coach Mike Feaster said the team suffered an off night against the Blue Jays, despite the fact his players scrapped like they always do.
“Despite our effort, we didn’t play our best basketball (the Rams shot 12 percent from the field),” he said. “And when it comes to the state tournament, you can’t afford that.”
Feaster said he loves how the program is continuing to develop but understands it will be a difficult rebuilding process after losing key seniors, including Gabrielle Harris, the all-time leading South River scorer.
“We have a solid group coming back, and we’re hoping the girls coming up from the junior varsity and middle school programs help us immediately,” he he said. “In addition to [All-Blue Division center] Aleah Bass and point guard Tara Beachem, we received contributions from Victoria Gil and Mackenzie Garrick, and they should help us next year.”
In the boys state tournament, Spotswood High School, East Brunswick and South River saw their seasons end.
The Chargers (22-6) dropped a 69-51 decision to Bordentown Regional High School in Central Jersey, Group II, and the Bears (18-9) were victimized by a last-second shot in overtime that enabled South Brunswick to win, 63-61, in Central Jersey, Group IV.
South River (18-11) was defeated by Florence Township Memorial High School, 71-29, in Central Jersey, Group I.
Wrestling
East Brunswick’s Mark Schleifer has two years wrestling in the state tournament finals in Atlantic City under his belt, and the junior hopes that will help him improve his fifth-place finish when he becomes a senior.
Schleifer (120-pounds) ended the season with a 26-5 record and a sixth-place medal by working his way through multiple wrestleback rounds after being eliminated for the state championship in the prequarterfinals.