Conference Does Better Than in Recent Years, But Still Struggles Against UCC, Skyland, and Shore
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ—Looking back on the 2019-20 Greater Middlesex Conference Boys Basketball Season, one thing that can be taken away from it is the improved play by many of the GMC schools versus non-conference competition. Combined, the GMC went 100-109 for a .478 winning percentage this past season.
Most notably, the conference did better against schools from the Colonial Valley Conference (14-8), Super Essex Conference (7-5), and Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (5-4), but still struggled against the Union County Conference (14-22), Skyland Conference (15-20), and Shore Conference (26-28). In addition, the GMC was only 2-6 versus schools in the Burlington County Scholastic League, and 10-9 against Independent Schools.
Breaking down the GMC’s 100-109 Non-Conference Record by Division:
- White Division (33-22) .600
- Blue Division (22-30) .423
- Red Division (21-30) .412
- Gold Division (24-27) .471
Teams from the Greater Middlesex Conference that performed well against Non-Conference schools included:
- South Brunswick (8-1) .889
- Colonia (10-2) .833
- Calvary Christian (5-1) .833
- Dunellen (6-2) .750
- J.F. Kennedy (6-2) .750
- St. Thomas Aquinas (6-3) .667
- Middlesex (5-3) .625
- North Brunswick (5-3) .625
- New Brunswick (6-4) .600
- South Amboy (3-2) .600
- Monroe (4-3) .571
Teams from other conferences that performed well against teams from the GMC included:
- Ridge (4-0) 1.000
- CBA (3-0) 1.000
- Bound Brook (3-0) 1.000
- Immaculata (2-0) 1.000
- Irvington (2-0) 1.000
- Linden (2-0) 1.000
- Plainfield (2-0) 1.000
- St. John Vianney (2-0) 1.000
- Keyport (4-1) .800
- Academy of Urban Leadership (3-1) .750
- Marlboro (3-1) .750
- Robbinsville (3-1) .750
- Hightstown (4-2) .667
- A.L. Johnson (2-1) .667
- Franklin (2-1) .667
- Point Pleasant Beach (2-1) .667
The GMC placed 6 schools in sectional semifinals, and three teams in finals with South Brunswick giving the GMC it’s second straight sectional championship (Colonia in 2019). Playing well against non-conference schools is a huge key to winning a sectional and state championship.
The three GMC sectional finalists: South Brunswick (8-1), Colonia (10-2), and Dunellen (6-2) were a combined 24-5 against non-conference foes in 2019-20. Colonia, which was 7-4 versus non-conference opponents en route to the 2019 North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 Championship a year ago, is 17-6 against non-conference schools over the past two seasons.