It was a special night for Saint Thomas Aquinas High School on Feb. 28 at Middlesex County Community College in Edison.
The school from Edison saw both its boys’ and girls’ basketball teams bring home conference championship gold during the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament finals.
For the first time since 1992, the boys’ team for Saint Thomas Aquinas won the conference title, rolling to a 63-52 victory over South Brunswick High School.
Meanwhile, the Saint Thomas Aquinas girls’ squad coasted past Monroe Township High School, 64-41, to successfully defend its GMC title.
The victory in the boys’ final was especially pleasing to Saint Thomas Aquinas coach Bob Turco.
“I wouldn’t want to win a Greater Middlesex Conference title with anybody else but our kids,” said Turco. “They’re great kids. They’re very good basketball players, but are Division 1 people. They’re great in the classroom and are leaders. You couldn’t ask for a better team.”
The Trojans came out flying in the second quarter up, 15-11, starting the period with three straight shots from downtown to lead them on an 11-2 surge and extend their lead to 26-13.
Senior Quadry Adams then took over for the Trojans, scoring six straight points to extend the lead to 32-13.
Adams was named MVP of the final for his 17-point performance in the victory.
A half-court buzzer beater by South Brunswick’s Justin Carbone cut the Saint Thomas Aquinas lead to 34-17 at the half.
Junior Tristian Jefferies finished with a team-high 18 points in the victory and was lights out from downtown, knocking down three shots from behind the arc.
Senior Derrick Grant knocked in 13 points for the Trojans, while teammate Jaquan Harris scored 10 points in the victory.
Two big free-throw attempts by Jefferies and two big layups by Harris down the stretch helped Saint Thomas Aquinas hold off a late rally attempt by South Brunswick and win its first conference title since 1992.
Saint Thomas Aquinas is on a 12-game winning streak and now stands at 23-4 on the season.
Saint Thomas Aquinas continued to dominate the competition in the Greater Middlesex Conference to win its second straight conference championship in girls’ basketball.
The Trojans had four players in double figures to win the GMC title and improve to 23-4 on the season.
Senior Kelsey Ransom was named MVP of the final, recording a double-double in the victory by scoring 13 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
Ransom went coast to coast to end the first half and give the Trojans a commanding 33-14 lead.
Junior Akyia Baker and senior Megan Harka both scored a team-high 14 points in the victory.
Senior Emma Boslet grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds and scored nine points for the Trojans, while teammate Madison Ruddy finished with 12 points.
“This championship was well earned by our kids,” said Saint Thomas Aquinas girls’ basketball coach Brittney Griffin. “They all worked hard all off-season to prepare for this season. Winning back-to-back championships shows how skilled and competitive our kids are.
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