2008 State Tourney Prospects For GMC Teams

J.P. Stevens Qualifies For First Time Since 1995 While Middlesex Gets First Bid In Six Seasons

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–The cutoff for the upcoming state tournaments later in February is rapidly approaching. The last date to qualify for the state tourney is Saturday, February 2nd. Potentially, the GMC could have 20 teams in the field if every team on the bubble does what they need to do to get in. Last season, a total of 18 conference teams made the field. Here are the teams that have qualified so far as of today (January 24, 2008):

  • J.P. Stevens (14-2)–First time the school has qualified for the state tournament since the 1994-95 season. Team enjoying best season since the Tony Newsom era (1987-89).
  • Bishop Ahr (12-1)–For the sixth straight year, the Trojans have qualified for the big dance. The only team to hand top ranked McCarrick its only conference loss, it still unbeaten in GMC play.
  • Middlesex (12-2)–First time the school has entered a team in the big dance since former head coach, George Rauh, was in his last season at the school in 2001-02. Blue Jays currently running third in the GMC Blue.
  • Piscataway (12-2)–The Chiefs are in for the second straight year, and are looking to break through in the very tough and competitive North Jersey Section 2 Group IV field.
  • Cardinal McCarrick (12-3)–The newly crowned top ranked team in the latest GMC Hoops Top Ten, the Eagles have won ten straight, and are looking for their third sectional crown in the past six years.
  • St. Joseph’s (12-3)–For the sixth straight year, and the third under current head coach, Dave Turco, the Falcons qualified for the state tournament. St. Joe’s is looking to break through for its fourth sectional championship after tough losses to CBA in the sectional semifinals in each of the past two years.
  • South Amboy (11-4)–For the second straight year, the Guvs will be going to the state tournament, and hopefully have a memorable run. South Amboy, currently in first place in the GMC Gold has only two more games before the cutoff.
  • Colonia (11-4)–Despite going through a rough patch recently with only a .500 mark since starting the season at 7-0, the Patriots qualify for the state tourney with hopes of defending its North Jersey Section 2 Group III title that it won last March over Union Hill.
  • Carteret (10-4)–After not making the state tourney cut for four straight seasons, the Ramblers have made it to the big dance for the second straight year. The Ramblers, which defeated Raritan on the road in the first round last season before losing to eventual finalist Somerville in overtime in the Quarterfinals, are looking to go much farther this time around.
  • Sayreville (10-5)–For the first time since the 2003-04 campaign, the Bombers have qualified for the state tournament. Despite losing four of its last six games, Sayreville has already equaled its win total for all of 2006-07.
  • Perth Amboy Tech (9-5)–For the second straight season, Artie Wachtel and his Patriots have made the grade for the state tourney. Amboy Tech, which is 4-1 in non-conference games, also got two extra conference wins thanks to victories over E.B. Tech and Piscataway Tech over the holidays in the NJTAC Holiday Tournament.
  • North Brunswick (8-5)–Despite the tough loss to Carteret on Tuesday, and the injury that has sidelined senior guard, Justin Morgan for the past couple of weeks, the Raiders have still managed to get a bid to the state tournament for the second straight year.

Teams On The Bubble

  • Monroe (9-6)–All the Falcons need to do is win one of their next five contests before the cutoff, and they will make the tourney for the third straight year under the direction of Bob Turco, a.k.a. Captain Chaos.
  • South Brunswick (8-5)–With five games left before the cutoff, the Vikings only need to win to contests to qualify for the eighth straight season.
  • Metuchen (6-6)–Like South Brunswick, the Bulldogs have five games left before the cutoff, and have less room for error as they must win three games. Favorable home schedule should help. If the Dawgs qualify, it will mark the fourth straight year under current coach, Rich Stoner that they would have made it to the dance.
  • Spotswood (7-7)–The Chargers have four games to go before the deadline on Feburary 2nd, and with a .500 mark, all they have to do is split the games to break even at 9-9. However, with McCarrick on the schedule as well as a road game at a Kennedy team that defeated them in overtime, and home against North Plainfield, it’s not going to be easy.
  • Dunellen (8-8)–Despite the struggles the Destroyers have had earlier this season, a much tougher schedule, and not having Jim Schleppenbach at 100% as well as dealing with the recent losses to graduation over the past several years, they still have a good chance of qualifying. With three games to go before the cutoff, all DHS has to do is win two of the three, and they’ll be dancing for the sixth straight year.
  • Piscataway Tech (5-5)–After winning five games all of last season, the Raiders have an opportunity to return to the state tournament for the fifth time in the last six years. What Karl Towns and his kids need to do is win two of their next three.
  • J.F. Kennedy (6-8)–The Mustangs are looking to qualify for the first time since the 2001-02 season, but will have to put together a solid run. With six games to play before the cutoff, Kennedy has to play fellow bubble teams Metuchen and Spotswood at home, and playoff qualifiers Stevens, South Amboy, and Bishop Ahr before hosting Woodbridge the day of the cutoff.
  • South Plainfield (6-9)–The Tigers are still hanging in there despite losing a plethora of close contests in the beginning of the season. With four games left before the deadline, SPHS must run the table, and win all four games. It doesn’t look good for my alma mater as it has three games on the road at Sayreville, North Brunswick, and Carteret before hosting Colonia on February 2nd.

Teams that are out: East Brunswick (3-11), East Brunswick Tech (4-10), Edison (2-12), Old Bridge (4-11), Perth Amboy (3-13), Woodbridge (3-11), New Brunswick (1-11), South River (4-11), and Highland Park (0-14).