Games To Follow January 2,2024

Options-a-plenty in the first day out of Christmas vacation across the Garden State, including very interesting battles between teams looking to break into our ReportIt Group Rankings.

JD Core Training North Jersey Game Of The Day

#6 Bergen Catholic(5-2) vs #23 Ramapo(4-3)

Both BC and Ramapo come into this one healing wounds after losses on New Year's Day, but the hits just keep on coming as teams in the ReportIt Top 25 continue to take on all comers both in the state and nationally.

Ramapo will lean on senior guard Peyton Seals, a 6'4" Princeton commit, to lead the charge against a young but talented Crusaders squad. In spite of taking it on the chin from Saint Peter's Prep yesterday, this is a very talented team without a "bad loss" on its resume. They've stepped up and taken on all comers. A step up scoring performance from Wyatt Eglinton Manner or Chris Cervino could help their odds this evening.

All eyes in North Jersey will be on this one. Another test for the young Crusaders and another brutal non-divisional game for Nick Vier’s battle-tested bunch.

Hackensack(4-2) vs Northern Highlands(5-1), 7PM

An intriguing battle between two teams that are hunting for a place in next week’s ReportIt Group rankings. Both teams are looking for that first “marquee win” and one of them will get it tonight. Northern Highlands is led by emerging junior Lucas Dipasupil, a 5’10” guard averaging 15.7ppg. He has gone over 20 in their last two games. Hackensack has a variety of contributors on offense but is led by 6’2” junior Desmond Kinchen Jr, averaging about 12ppg.

Toms River North(6-1) vs Holmdel(5-1), 6:30 PM

The game of the day down the Shore features two teams that are off to hot starts this year. Holmdel has shaken off a loss to Manasquan early on and won four straight. The Mariners won the WOBM Christmas Tournament with three noteworthy Shore Conference wins over Colts Neck, Central Regional and ‘Squan. Holmdel will look to senior guard Ben Kipnis while Toms River North packs a 1-2 punch of guards Micah Ford and Owen Baker, across an athletic lineup.

Robbinsville(5-0) vs Hopewell Valley(6-1), 7 PM

Another tussle between two teams looking to earn a spot in the ReportIt Group Rankings and needing that first “big win” of the season. Robbinsville will be led by 6’2” senior Evan Bunnell, averaging just under 20ppg while Hopewell will lean on John Michael Vlasac, a 6’2”-200lb senior who is a three sport athlete.

#14 East Orange(5-1) vs Red Bank Catholic(5-2), 7PM

**GSBR Coverage**

The Jaguars went from unranked to Top 15 in the space of about 10 days to start the season. They’ll look to add another quality win to their resume this evening as they host the Caseys, who are looking for their first resume building victory on the season. Expectations were sky high on Broad Street at the start of the season and the Caseys unforgiving non-divisional schedule will only get tougher—A win tonight would go a long way for Shore Conference seeding—and maybe even qualification.

EOC has a host of talented guards, including seniors Eugene Byass and Kayiri Barkley. Freshman James Roberts has also “arrived”. RBC will need its backcourt at its best this evening. They’ll have to get a big defensive performance from PG Luke Iasparro, who will also have to take care of the ball and work overtime against the EO press. Wilkes bound Colin Cavanaugh and 6’4” junior Ryan Prior, a D1 baseball prospect, who are the two primary scoring options for the Caseys on the perimeter, will have to be efficient to keep them in the game. Big man Tyler Burnam could be the X-Factor—EOC doesn’t have a ton of size…and Burnam a 6’6” offensive tackle headed to the University of Delaware, may be the strongest low post player in the state.

Other Games to Watch

Westhampton Tech(3-4) vs Cinnaminson(6-1), 5:15 PM

Colonia(4-3) vs Old Bridge(4-4), 5:30 PM

#1 Don Bosco Prep(6-2) vs DePaul(4-3), 7PM

Atlantic City(6-1) vs Lower Cape May(5-1), 7PM

#24 Saint Thomas Aquinas(7-1) vs East Brunswick(3-4), 7PM