The hint of imminent change had been as strong as the air has been frigid these past couple of weeks.
Gutty Plainfield, No. 1 since the end of last season, had been barely hanging on to the top rung of this ladder while No. 2 Bergen Catholic was largely having its way with any opponent that also resided in New Jersey.
Plainfield had needed overtime Jan. 13 to top Roselle Catholic Jan. 13 and a second-half rally to subdue Union Catholic Jan. 20.
But then last Tuesday against Linden, the Cardinals could not overcome a halftime deficit and saw their 22-game winning streak against in-state competition end at 22 games.
It may seem a little odd that Bergen Catholic is entering its new position with a loss during the week. But that came against the nation’s No. 1 team, Spire Academy (OH) last Thursday at the Metro Classic in Pomona, 69-59.
It is not a result we can hold against the Crusaders; certainly not when they also possess Top 20 victories this season against No. 2 St. Peter’s Prep, No. 5 Christian Brothers and No. 6 Roselle Catholic.
Scroll through below and introduce yourselves to the teams that comprise the Top 20 for Feb. 3.
1-Bergen Catholic (17-3)
Last week: No. 2
The Crusaders’ resume has been top-notch all season, and now they’re No. 1. Following key wins over St. Peter’s Prep, Christian Brothers and Roselle Catholic, head coach Billy Armstrong led BC to a pair of wins over Ridgewood and Glen Rock this past week. They also faced Spire Academy’s premier roster at the Metro Classic and fell by 10 points to the No. 1 ranked team in the country. The Crusaders are through to the Bergen Jamboree’s quarterfinals as the top seed, where they will meet Northern Highlands on Feb. 8.
2-St. Peter’s Prep (15-3)
Last week: No. 3
The Marauders bounced back from their Jan. 24 loss to Bergen Catholic, 45-42, by rolling to lopsided wins against North Bergen, 70-33, and Dickinson, 62-32. Senior forward Mason Santiago scored a team-high 15 points – including the 1,000th of his career – in the victory against Snyder, and junior guard Oscar Martinez led a balanced effort against St. Thomas Aquinas with 13, while Santiago and senior guard Richie Rosa each contributed 10.
3-Gill St. Bernard’s (18-2)
Last week: No. 4
The Knights have won 14 games in a row, which dates back to New Year’s Day. This past week, Gill St. Bernard’s defeated Immaculata, Paramus Catholic and Spire Academy’s international roster. Another big test lies ahead on Feb. 5, as the Knights travel to Rutgers Prep. The top seed in the Somerset County Tournament, GSB will face Ridge in the quarterfinals on Feb. 7.
4-Plainfield (17-2)
Last week: No. 1
After trailing by 15 points midway through the third quarter, Plainfield conducted a spirited rally effort that just fell short against then-No. 7 Linden last Tuesday, 58-55, to snap a 22-game winning streak against N.J. competition. Junior guard Micah Gordon led the Cardinals that night with 21 points, but was just getting started for the rest of the week; he dropped in 31 points Thursday in a 72-51 win against Scotch Plains-Fanwood, and set a new single-game school record Saturday with 42 to spur a 74-60 triumph against Union Catholic.
5-Christian Brothers (17-3)
Last week: No. 5
Since CBA’s loss to Gill St. Bernard’s on Jan. 24, the Colts have gotten back in the saddle with victories over St. Rose, Rumson-Fair Haven and Middle Township. Coming this week, CBA will oppose Red Bank Regional and Manasquan to ready itself for the upcoming Shore Conference Tournament.
6-Roselle Catholic (13-6)
Last week: No. 6
The Lions struggled to defeat sub-.500 Westfield, 56-55, on Tuesday, but bounced back emphatically to overpower then-No. 7 Linden, 78-63, and Atlantic City, 76-55, to raised their winning streak to five games. Trevon Lewis helped bail his team out against Westfield with 14 points nd 10 rebounds. Tyrease Hunter led the way against Linden with 17 points, and he recorded a triple-double against Atlantic City with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
7-Linden (12-7)
Last week: No. 7
The Tigers were near the top of their game last Tuesday on their way to stunning then-No. 1 Plainfield, 58-55, in Plainfield, but flew a bit lower in the following two games, a 78-63 loss to then-No. 6 Roselle Catholic and a 59-43 setback against head coach Kevin Boyle’s Spire Academy (OH) team, 59-43. Junior Asante Jones paced a well-balanced effort against Plainfield with 18 points while seniors Jaren Barnett and Deng Deng each hit for 11. Linden looks to bounce back Tuesday at home against Elizabeth as it retires the No. 21 jersey of 2000 graduate Jamaal Tate.
8-Paul VI (14-3)
Last week: No. 10
The Olympic National leader, Paul VI extended its winning streak to 13 in a row with a victory Monday over Phelps School (PA) and a 66-37 division victory over Camden Eastside in its only games this past week. The Eagles are scheduled to play four games over the next six days, taking on a strong Philadelphia Public League team in Samuel Fels on Tuesday and division rival Camden on Thursday to kick things off. A win over Camden would secure the outright division crown.
9-Rutgers Prep (14-6)
Last week: No. 11
The Argonauts’ spot at No. 9 is the program’s highest ranking of the season. They’ve battled back from a loss to Roselle Catholic on Jan. 24 with wins over Franklin, Salem and Watchung Hills since. Mark your calendars for Rutgers Prep’s home game on Feb. 5 against Gill St. Bernard’s. They will also face Bridgewater-Raritan in the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinals on Feb. 7.
10-Montgomery (16-3)
Last week: No. 12
The Cougars are winners of eight games in a row, which dates back to Jan. 10. This past week, Montgomery downed Ridge, Franklin, Pingry and Central Jersey College Charter. Coming up, they will oppose Bridgewater-Raritan on Feb. 5, then Hillsborough in the Somerset County Tournament on Feb. 7.
11-Morris Catholic (15-3)
Last week: No. 13
The Crusaders dominated Hanover Park, 78-59, Tuesday with the balanced scoring of Donnie Gregory, Cameron White and Brandon Johnson, and pulled away from a two-point lead in the first half to defeat East Orange, 86-68, on Thursday. Gregory led five teammtes in double figures with 22 points, and Austin Workman chipped in with 18 points and 14 rebounds. The Crusaders launch their bid for a second straight Morris County Tournament crown Tuesday in the first round against Mount Olive.
12-Tenafly (16-0)
Last week: No. 14
The Tigers’ undefeated season carries on after wins against Ridgefield Park and Lyndhurst this past week. Seeded second in the Bergen Jamboree, Tenafly will oppose Don Bosco Prep in the quarterfinals on Feb. 8. It will also take on Old Tappan and Pascack Valley this week.
13-Shabazz (18-0)
Last week: No. 15
The Bulldogs used the explosive offense of Elijah Colon, Anthony Blackmon and Zaim Barnes to post victories against Belleville, Montclair, in the first round of the Essex County Tournament, and Trenton by an average score of 81-48. Colon, a 6-3 junior guard, pumped in a career-high 41 points against Belleville, followed up with 31 against Montclair. Blackmon averaged 18.3 points, Barnes 14.3 and Christian Gray 13.3.
14-Seton Hall Prep (11-5)
Last week: No. 16
Pirates head coach Sterling Gibbs made the most of his one game last week personnel-wise as 14 scored at least a point Saturday in a 90-62 victory over Wet Side in the first round of the Essex County Tournament. Sophomore guard Infinite Sincere-Amen Ra scored 19 points, senior forward Alex Ante netted 17, and freshman guard Bryce McCray and junior guard Avery George each scored nine. The reigning ECT champion faces Payne Tech Saturday in the quarterfinals.
15-St. Joseph (Met.) (19-1)
Last week: No. 9
The Falcons had their undefeated status stripped by South Plainfield, 55-54, last Tuesday, but rebounded with consecutive wins against Monroe, Crestwood Prep (CAN) and New York Military Academy. Senior Alijah Murphy scored 11 points against South Plainfield, but no one else was able to heat up as St. Joe’s matched its lowest point total this season. Junior guard Aidan Carter scored a combined 44 points against Crestwood and NYMA.
16-Cherry Hill East (17-1)
Last week: No. 8
Cherry Hill East saw its 17-game winning streak come to a close Sunday in the Holy Cross Prep Showcase, falling to Holy Spirit, 40-32. The Cougars defeated Rancocas Valley and Eastern in Olympic American games earlier in the week to secure the outright division title, while also slipping past Burlington Township, 62-61, in the Jeff Coney Classic on Saturday. East remains in the top spot in the South Jersey Group 4 power points standings.
17-St. Mary (Ruth.) (18-3)
Last week: No. 18
The Gaels survived a gritty game against a tough Dwight-Englewood team on Feb. 2 in an 89-87 overtime finish. St. Mary also advanced in the Bergen Jamboree as the third seed with a win over Westwood on Jan. 31. They will take on Hackensack in the quarterfinals on Feb. 8.
18-Elizabeth (11-7)
Last week: No. 19
The Minutemen rebounded from a 79-73 loss to then-No. 1 Plainfield the previous week by claiming victories against Union Catholic, Westfield and Newark Collegiate. Junior guard Jayden Johnson was his typical offense-igniting self with 32 points against Union Catholic, 65-48, and 27 against Westfield, 62-49. Senior guard Jalen Maldonado netted a combined 29 points in those two games. On Tuesday, Elizabeth head coach Phil Colicchio accompanies his team to Linden, where he guided the Tigers to six Group 4 state championships from 2000 through 2017.
19-Wall (16-0)
Last week: Not ranked
It’s time to fully recognize what Wall is doing. One of three undefeated teams remaining in the state, the Crimson Knights downed a strong Freehold Township on Feb. 2 for the third time this winter. Only three wins have been decided by single digits. Coming up, Wall will face Manalapan on Feb. 5.
20-Teaneck (15-2)
Last week: Not ranked
The Highwaymen are back in the Top 20. Riding a five-game win streak, Teaneck advanced to the Bergen Jamboree quarterfinals after downing River Dell on Jan. 31. The fourth-seeded Highwaymen will oppose Cresskill on Feb. 8.
