Trojans’ Historic Season Comes To An End at 27-2
NORTH EDISON, NJ—In a highly anticipated match-up between two non-public schools in Central Jersey ranked statewide in the Top 10, something had to give. Unfortunately for the Trojans of second seeded St. Thomas Aquinas, the historic season came to an end in a 68-59 loss to third seeded Rutgers Prep of Somerset in the 2022 NJSIAA Non-Public A South Semifinals on Monday night.
The Argonauts ranked 9th in the most recently NJ.com boys basketball Top 20, jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and led at one point in the first quarter 15-7 before Aquinas rallied with the last five of the frame to pull within three. The Trojans, ranked third in the same NJ.com poll, trailed by five at 25-22 before Rutgers Prep closed out the first half with an 10-1 spurt for a 35-23 halftime lead.
Trailing 46-33 midway through the third, Aquinas rallied with the last six points of the period, and then 10 of the first 15 of the fourth including a layup by Adam Silas to pull within two at 51-49 with a little more than five minutes remaining. The two teams traded scores for several possessions for a 55-53 Rutgers Prep lead with four minutes to play before the Argonauts scored five straight points to go up by seven at 60-53.
Samar Abdullah sank a trey from the left corner to pull Aquinas within four at 60-56 with under two minutes to play, but Rutgers Prep ended the game by scoring 8 of the last 11 points including a two handed jam by Ryan Zan to close out the win to advance to the Championship Game at Lenape High School on Wednesday.
Leading the way in victory for the Argonauts was junior Jadin Collins, who entered last night’s contest averaging 16.7 points per game, nearly doubled that by dropping a game high 30 in the win. Collins, who also grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double while also collecting 7 steals, 4 assists, and a block, made 12 total field goals including two threes while also making four from the line.
Zan also picked up a double-double with 12 points including two dunks and 10 rebounds while also tallying 3 blocks, 2 assists, and a steal. Ryan Pettit also chipped in with 11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block. Cameron Piggee added 6 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals while Franklin Jones (5 points and 3 rebounds) and Jordan Atkins (4 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) rounded out the Argonaut scoring.
Rutgers Prep outscored Aquinas in three of the four periods including an 18-11 showing in the second, and a 22-20 showing in the fourth. As a team, the Argonauts collected 34 rebounds, 17 assists, 12 steals, and 5 blocks. The Argonauts compiled 27 total field goals including four threes and 10 from the foul line. Aquinas outscored Rutgers Prep by a margin of 21-12 from long distance.
Meanwhile for the Trojans, sophomore Jaden Kelly led the way with a team high 14 points including three treys. Junior forward Jalen Pichardo battled his way to 13 points. Seniors Silas and Abdullah each had 12 points including two threes. Silas, who entered the game averaging 19.3 points per contest, scored 11 of his points in the second half. Terrell Pitts and Sherief Guinyard rounded out Aquinas’ scoring with two each.
After both teams struggled to get themselves established early on, Rutgers Prep was the first to get into some sort of rhythm by scoring the first six points of the game including a steal and a soaring layin by Collins at the 4:40 mark. Aquinas did eventually get going but still ended up falling behind further as the Trojans just exchanged scores for a bit with the Argos, and then fell behind a bit further in a 9-7 Rutgers Prep run including a two handed jam from Zan for an 8 point lead.
The Trojans rallied though with the last five points including a score from Sherief Guinyard to close the gap to 15-12 before the Argos added a score for a five point, 17-12 lead going into the second. Rutgers Prep then started the second with 7 of the first 9 points for a 23-14 advantage before Aquinas rallied with 8 of the next 10 points.
The Trojans rally included threes from Samar Abdullah and Jaden Kelly and then a pull-up jumper along the left baseline by Kelly to close within three at 25-22 at the midway point of the second. However, Aquinas was unable to get closer or take the lead as Rutgers Prep finished the half scored 10 of the last 11 points of the half including two buckets by Collins to take a 12 point lead into the locker room.
Over the initial four minutes or so of the third quarter, Rutgers Prep increased its advantage to a baker’s dozen. Aquinas began the second half by scoring 7 of the first 9 points including a layup by Kamal Lee, a three from the right corner by Kelly, and a bucket from the right side by Abdullah to close the gap to 37-30. The Argonauts responded with 9 of the next 12 including a couple scores from Collins to go up 46-33.
With the season on the brink, the Trojans began to battle back with 6 straight points to end the third. Highlighting the rally with scores were Jalen Pichardo and Adam Silas to pull Aquinas back within seven again at 46-39. Rutgers Prep nudged its lead to 8 at 51-43 by scoring 5 of the first 9 points of the fourth. The Trojans then answered again with six unanswered including a putback by Pichardo at the 5:57 mark, and a layup from Silas with 5:04 left to make it a two point game at 51-49.
The game went back and forth for a bit with Rutgers Prep scoring first only to have Aquinas promptly respond with a bucket to stay within two. The two teams repeated a similar exchange for a 55-53 Argonauts lead with four minutes to play. Then, Rutgers Prep began to put some distance between itself and Aquinas by scoring the next five as the Trojans came up empty on a couple key offensive possessions.
Trailing 60-53 with just over two minutes to play, St. Thomas Aquinas pulled within a couple of possessions again as Abdullah connected on a three from the left corner. However, despite being assessed a technical in the final 15 seconds for hanging on the rim, Rutgers Prep was still able to outlast Aquinas for the nine point victory.
With the win, Rutgers Prep improved to 25-3 overall on the season, and more importantly advance to the 2022 NJSIAA Non-Public A South Championship Game versus Red Bank Catholic on Wednesday night at Lenape High School. Red Bank Catholic trailed fourth seeded St. Joseph’s, 36-22 at the half before putting together a 48-22 surge in the final two periods for a 70-58 win in the other semifinal.
St. Thomas Aquinas concluded its season at 27-2, which is the best record ever for the school. The Trojans won their second GMCT title in the past three years, and appeared in last year’s Karl Anthony Towns-Jay Williams Pod Championship as well. Bob Turco has put together three 20 plus win seasons over his first four year’s at Aquinas with last year being the only exception due to COVID. Turco owns a record of 80-19 in that 4 year span.
Best Boys Basketball Seasons at Aquinas
| Year | Record | Accomplishments |
| 2021-22 | 27-2 | Won GMC White and 2nd GMCT title in 3 years. Reached Non-Public A South Semis. |
| 1991-92 | 24-3 | Won GMC White and GMCT Championship |
| 2019-20 | 23-5 | Won GMC Blue and first GMCT title in 28 years. |
| 2018-19 | 21-7 | Won GMC Blue and first state playoff game in 38 years. |
| 1981-82 | 18-5 | Won MCT Championship |
| 1990-91 | 17-6 | Reached GMCT Semis |
GMC HOOPS TRIVIA: During his tenure as athletic director at both St. Joseph’s (2004-2017) and St. Thomas Aquinas (2018-present), the boys basketball teams at both schools made 16 GMCT finals appearances and won 11 titles combined. All of them were coached by either Dave Turco (St. Joseph’s) or Bob Turco (St. Thomas Aquinas). As a program (freshmen, JV, and varsity), Aquinas finished 61-3 overall with county titles at all levels.