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NORTH JERSEY 2 GROUP 4
2/8: #5 Scotch Plains-Fanwood at #4 Montgomery
2/10: winner at #1 Phillipsburg
2/8: #6 Middletown South at (3) Woodbridge
2/10: winner at #2 Middletown North
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
Outlook: The name NOT in bold that jumps off the screen is the top seeded Phillipsburg. The Stateliners have won a staggering 34 Sectional titles, which trails only Paulsboro for most all-time in New Jersey. They have been banged up all season long, but are getting close to 100% right in time for another Sectional run, to which they are the heavy favorites. Woodbridge (18-2) is a strong favorite to move past a Middletown South team making their first Sectional appearance since 2010. For Middletown North to get another crack at the Stateliners, who knocked them out in last year's semis, they'll have their hands full with that Woodbridge team whose only losses this season were a narrow defeat to state-ranked Hanover Park and to Old Bridge.
The Pick: Phillipsburg over Middletown North
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 5
2/8: #5 Monroe at #4 Manalapan
2/10: winner at #1 Howell
2/8: #6 Hillsborough at #3 Old Bridge
2/10: winner at #2 Hunterdon Central
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
Hunterdon Central is the defending champion here, but didn't have Howell to contend with in last year's tournament. Monroe has a very balanced lineup, with some big time hammers sprinkled in for good measure. For Manalapan to move into the semis, they will need their big guns to really step up and avoid as much bonus as possible to Monroe's heavy hitters. Hunterdon Central has been state-ranked in the lower portion of the NJWWA (hey, I'm in that!) Top 20 poll throughout the entire season and is the pick to advance to the finals against Howell.
The Pick: Howell over Hunterdon Central
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 4
2/8: #5 Colts Neck at #4 Brick Memorial
2/10: winner at #1 Jackson Memorial
2/8: #6 Brick Twp at #3 Northern Burlington
2/10: winner at #2 Long Branch
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
Usually a Shore-heavy Section, because, ya know, the Shore is in Central Jersey for the most part. Jackson Memorial and Long Branch finished tied for most power points, but the Jags got the top seed based on their head to head win in last week's Shore Conference Tournament. The Jags are guaranteed a Shore Conference opponent in the semis as they take on the winner of what should be a very interesting 4/5 between returning Group 5 Champ, Brick Memorial, and a feisty, balanced Colts Neck squad. If the Stangs are looking ahead to Jackson, they could be in a lot of trouble as Colts Neck has proven they can hang with the Shore's powers this season. The key for the Cougars will be to get the best out of their big guns, and avoid as much bonus as possible from the Stangs heavy hitters like Ghione, Rivera, Hayes, and Mitchell. After a bit of a slow start, Brick Twp had been getting on a roll before being edged by Colts Neck last weekend. They're capable of upsetting the 3-seed here, but this is a pretty solid Northern Burlington team that isn't too dissimilar to the Dragons. Waiting for the winner, will be Long Branch, who makes a leap in size again and will compete in Group 4 for the first time.
The Pick: Jackson Memorial over Long Branch
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 3
2/8: #5 Allentown at #4 Cranford
2/10: winner at #1 South Plainfield
2/8: #6 Carteret at #3 Ocean Township
2/10: winner at #2 Hopewell Valley
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
What once used to be another Section loaded with Shore schools, Ocean is this year's lone rep from the Shore due to realignment. The Spartans originally had the #2 seed, but were jumped by Hopewell Valley because of the Bulldogs 31-28 win over Ocean back on 1/9. Ocean might be dealing with some injury issues, and if that's the case, I can still see them getting past Carteret, but having trouble reversing the loss to HV. In the top bracket, South Plainfield is the returning champion and will be looking to win their 13th Sectional. Cranford has a lineup loaded with hammers that should get them to the semis, but the overall balance and talent of South Plainfield should have them headed to the Group Championships.
The Pick: South Plainfield over Hopewell Valley
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 2
2/8: #5 Middlesex at (4) Robbinsville
2/10: winner at #1 Delaware Valley
2/8: #6 Holmdel at #3 Pt Boro
2/10: winner at #2 Raritan
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
Of all the Shore's qualifiers for this year's Sectionals, Holmdel has had the longest post-season tournament drought of all. The Hornets are here though, and get matched up with another Shore Conference foe in Pt Boro. While the Panthers will be heavy favorites in the meet, there are several interesting potential head to heads that bear watching. The potential Boro/Raritan should be a good one. Both teams do the bulk of their damage with their lowerweights and you'd have to expect that if one team comes out of the lowers with a significant edge, they're probably moving on to the final, where Delaware Valley will most likely be waiting. The quick glance at Del Val shows that they also, appear to be very similar to the Rockets and Panthers with many of their matches being won via the heavy success of their lower half. Stop them there, and the door is open.
The Pick: Raritan over Delaware Valley
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1
2/8: #5 Keansburg at #4 New Egypt
2/10: winner at (1) Manville
2/8: #6 Riverside at #3 Pt Beach
2/10: winner at #2 Shore Regional
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
The Titans make their return to the Sectionals for the first time since 2013. In head to head bouts, Keansburg should be able to compete with New Egypt, but it could be the forfeits that do in the Titans in this type of matchup.
In the bottom bracket, Shore appeared to have the top-seed, but the dreaded "unreported result" seems like it came in to play here and got Manville a push into the #1 seed. To go off on a tangent for a sec, if teams can't get their results in, teams shouldn't be allowed to use them to their advantage after the cutoff date. Sorry, takes 3 minutes to type in a result. End tangent. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah... Beach should be heavily favored in their opener against Riverside and that would set up a rematch between the Gulls and Blue Devils. Shore took that matchup 36-24. Can the Gulls make up the 12-points? Can the Devils extend the gap? I'm going with Shore in the rematch, and since I admittedly know VERY little about Manville, I'll go with my heart and pick the Blue Devils to win their first Sectional Title.
The Pick: Shore over Manville
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 5
2/8: #5 Eastern at #4 Cherokee
2/10: winner at #1 Southern
2/8: #6 Lenape at #3 Kingsway
2/10: winner at #2 Egg Harbor
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
In the top bracket, Cherokee has already defeated Eastern this season, 48-15, and is the solid favorite to get another chance at Southern who crushed them in last year's tourney, 54-12.
I like Kingsway to pull through the bottom bracket and provide a good test for the Rams, but ultimately this should be pretty much Southern's Sectional to win.
The Pick: Southern over Kingsway
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 4
2/8: #5 Mainland at #4 Absegami
2/10: winner at #1 Clearview
2/8: #6 Shawnee at #3 TR South
2/10: winner at #2 Cherry Hill West
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
Clearview is a Top 10 program in the State this year and is a strong pick to advance to the finals here where they will be looking for their 3rd straight Sectional Title.
TR South was edged by CH West by .5 points, and as a result the Indians will have to wrestle on Monday. CH West has faced a pair of Shore Conference opponents this season, losing by 10 to Lacey and 12 to Middletown North. The opportunity is definitely there for the Indians to make a run to the finals, but it's tough to see anyone taking out Clearview here.
The Pick: Clearview over TR South
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 3
2/8: #5 Gateway at #4 Highland
2/10: winner at #1 Delsea
2/8: #6 Lacey at #3 Seneca
2/10: winner at #2 Wall
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
Delsea has been a force all season long and is a strong a favorite there is to advance to the finals here.
Lacey draws a Seneca team that has been up and down at times this year, while the rising Lions' program would love nothing more than to add a Sectional win to this season's resume. If their young guns down low perform, there's no reason they can't get the W here. Of course, waiting for the winner here will be a Wall team that is no doubt hungry for another crack at a Delsea team that beat them in last year's final, 33-25.
The Pick: Delsea over Wall
SOUTH JERSEY PAROCHIAL A
2/8: #5 Paul VI at #4 Camden Catholic
2/10: winner at #1 CBA
2/8: #6 RBC at #3 St John Vianney
2/10: winner at #2 St Augustine Prep
Top-seeded CBA most likely will have a semifinal date with Camden Catholic. The Irish have had some lineup issues recently, so if they're not at 100% it's tough to see them taking out the Colts. An interesting bout in that potential matchup could be at 113, where CC has freshman Lucas Revano, who handed CBA's Richie Koehler one of his two losses this season.
In the bottom bracket, SJV handled RBC earlier this season, and is a strong pick to get St Augustine in the semis. The Hermits, 10-time Sectional Champs, defeated SJV in last year's semis, and CBA in last year's finals. The potential St. Augustine vs CBA final would be one of the better Sectional finals in the state as both teams have been fixtures in the NJWWA Top 20 all season long.
The Pick: St Augustine over CBA
SOUTH JERSEY PAROCHIAL B
2/8: #5 Gloucester Catholic at #4 St. Joseph (Hammonton)
2/10: winner at #1 Holy Spirit
2/10: #3 Donovan Catholic at #2 Holy Cross
2/12: FINALS AT HIGHEST SEED
There is one team above .500 here, and that is top seeded Holy Spirit. The 4/5 match is a meeting between teams that are a combined 1-22. Folks, that's not a typo. Donovan Catholic, making their Sectional appearance since 2011, received a bye into the semis and gets last year's champion, Holy Cross, who is my pick to win it here.
The Pick: Holy Cross over Holy Spirit
