Post Season Time

The cult known as high school wrestling fans filled the Poland Spring Arena in Toms River Sunday for the NJSIAA Team Championships and when the long day was over Jackson Memorial had won their fourth Group 4 championship in the last six years and made its case as the best team in New Jersey. Around lunchtime the Jaguars took care of rival Southern Regional with a relatively easy victory in the 3rd meeting of the season between the teams. A few hours later, after some rest and pasta coach Doug Withstandly’s troops then dispatched Phillipsburg to claim their second straight Group 4 crown. What makes it even more impressive is Jackson was without two of their top wrestlers due to injury but that’s what makes their program so good as others stepped up to fill the void.

More than 5,000 fans came through the Poland Spring Arena from morning to night for the final team event of the season. Sunday saw High Point edge South Plainfield to win the Group 3 championship in what was a matchup of the state’s top two teams. Most observers feel High Point will get the nod as #1 when the final Coaches Association poll comes out at the end of the month but Jackson’s argument will be that they knocked off High Point in a dual meet two weeks ago.
Other group champions crowned Sunday were Paulsboro, David Brearley, Delbarton and Camden Catholic.

The Shore Conference Basketball Tournament begins Tuesday night. CBA & Lakewood are the top seeds in the Boys division with Raritan and Middletown North rounding out the top four. The top 9 teams, including #8 Point Beach get first round byes. Two-time defending champion Neptune leads the Girls contingent, followed by St. Rose, St. John Vianney and Red Bank Catholic. #5 Point Boro and 9th seeded Jackson Memorial drew first-round byes as well.

Congratulations to the Brackman Middle School boy’s basketball team as they finished a perfect 15-0 season with a 40-31 win over the McAuliffe Middle School last week. Not only did they win their second straight conference title but 19 youngsters comprised Barnegat’s first-ever undefeated basketball team. Dennis Smith is the head coach with Bob Erskine serving as his assistant.