The high school basketball scene in New Jersey was electric on Thursday night, with several marquee matchups coming down to the wire. From a shocking overtime upset to a pair of conference title showdowns, befirst smileagain has all the highlights and analysis you need.
Ranney Stuns Saint Rose in Overtime Comeback
In one of the most thrilling games of the season, the 11th-seeded Ranney Panthers came from 13 points down in the final two minutes to force overtime and stun the top-ranked Saint Rose Purple Roses 77-73. Ranney star Jahlil Bethea led the charge with 29 points, including the game-tying layup in the final seconds of regulation. What this really means is that the Shore Conference Tournament is wide open, with the Panthers proving they can hang with the state's elite programs.
Manasquan and Saint Rose Battle for Shore Crown
Speaking of the Shore Conference Tournament, the finals are set after two hard-fought semifinal matchups. Manasquan cruised past Raritan 68-42 to earn a spot in the championship game, where they'll face Ranney in a battle of Shore Conference titans. Meanwhile, Saint Rose's loss to Ranney means they'll have to regroup before the highly anticipated rematch. The bigger picture here is that New Jersey is home to some of the best high school basketball in the country, and these playoff showdowns are must-see events for any hoops fan.
Egg Harbor Twp. Knocks Off Mainland in CAL Semifinal
Down in the Cape-Atlantic League, the third-seeded Egg Harbor Township Eagles avenged last year's upset loss to Mainland with a 55-41 victory in the CAL Tournament semifinals. DJ Germann and Jay-Nelly Reyes each scored 19 points to lead the way for EHT, who will now face top-seeded St. Augustine in the championship game. As The Press of Atlantic City notes, this win is a major statement for Egg Harbor Township as they look to make a deep run in the state playoffs.