St. Joseph’s Jeremy DeCaro hustles to save the ball from going out of bounds in the 3rd quarter of its non-conference clash with Rutgers Prep on Thursday night. The Falcons, which knocked off the Argonauts, earned the 4th seed in the 2023 GMCT boys bracket on Friday morning.
P-Way and Perth Amboy Seeded 8th and 9th Was Turning Point
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ – The seeding of the 2023 GMCT Girls and Boys Tournament just completed about an hour and a half ago at Spotswood High School. There were some surprises as expected, but the first 7 and last 9 went as expected according to the final draft of the GMC Hoops mock seeding. However, the seeding turned when the 8th and 9th seeds came up. So, let’s look back and reflect on what happened in the 2023 GMCT boys seeding.
The final draft of the GMC Hoops mock seeding posted very early this morning, correctly projected 22 of the 33 seeds in the GMCT boys bracket. Five other seeds: Piscataway, Spotswood, Timothy Christian, Carteret, and Highland Park were only off by one. Here is a side by side comparison:
| GMC Hoops Mock Seeding- Final Draft | Actual 2023 GMCT Boys Seeding |
| 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (20-1) | 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (20-1) |
| 2. Colonia (16-5) | 2. Colonia (16-5) |
| 3. South River (20-1) | 3. South River (20-1) |
| 4. St. Joseph’s (12-8) | 4. St. Joseph’s (12-8) |
| 5. South Plainfield (18-3) | 5. South Plainfield (18-3) |
| 6. North Brunswick (19-3) | 6. North Brunswick (19-3) |
| 7. South Brunswick (13-5) | 7. South Brunswick (13-5) |
| 8. Calvary Christian (14-2) | 8. Piscataway (9-14) |
| 9. Piscataway (9-14) | 9. Perth Amboy (9-10) |
| 10. J.P. Stevens (9-12) | 10. J.P. Stevens (9-12) |
| 11. Old Bridge (9-10) | 11. Old Bridge (9-10) |
| 12. Spotswood (16-5) | 12. Woodbridge (10-9) |
| 13. Perth Amboy (9-10) | 13. Spotswood (16-5) |
| 14. Woodbridge (10-9) | 14. Edison (8-13) |
| 15. Monroe (2-17) | 15. Monroe (2-17) |
| 16. East Brunswick (7-13) | 16. East Brunswick (7-13) |
| 17. Timothy Christian (10-10) | 17. North Plainfield (7-10) |
| 18. Edison (8-13) | 18. Timothy Christian (10-10) |
| 19. Middlesex (13-8) | 19. Middlesex (13-8) |
| 20. North Plainfield (7-10) | 20. Carteret (8-12) |
| 21. Carteret (8-12) | 21. Sayreville (4-18) |
| 22. Metuchen (8-13) | 22. Metuchen (8-13) |
| 23. Highland Park (14-3) | 23. Calvary Christian (14-2) |
| 24. Sayreville (4-18) | 24. Highland Park (14-3) |
| 25. J.F. Kennedy (5-15) | 25. J.F. Kennedy (5-15) |
| 26. New Brunswick (2-19) | 26. New Brunswick (2-19) |
| 27. South Amboy (9-8) | 27. South Amboy (9-8) |
| 28. East Brunswick Magnet (10-8) | 28. East Brunswick Magnet (10-8) |
| 29. Piscataway Magnet (5-12) | 29. Piscataway Magnet (5-12) |
| 30. Somerset Tech (8-8) | 30. Somerset Tech (8-8) |
| 31. Dunellen (4-15) | 31. Dunellen (4-15) |
| 32. Wardlaw-Hartridge (0-14) | 32. Wardlaw-Hartridge (0-14) |
| 33. Perth Amboy Magnet (0-14) | 33. Perth Amboy Magnet |
Adding the Born Index Rankings of all 33 GMC boys teams:
| GMC Hoops Mock Seeding- Final Draft | Born Index GMC Boys Rankings | Actual 2023 GMCT Boys Seeding |
| 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (20-1) | 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (20-1) | 1. St. Thomas Aquinas (20-1) |
| 2. Colonia (16-5) | 2. South Brunswick (13-5) | 2. Colonia (16-5) |
| 3. South River (20-1) | 3. St. Joseph’s (12-8) | 3. South River (20-1) |
| 4. St. Joseph’s (12-8) | 4. Colonia (16-5) | 4. St. Joseph’s (12-8) |
| 5. South Plainfield (18-3) | 5. South Plainfield (18-3) | 5. South Plainfield (18-3) |
| 6. North Brunswick (19-3) | 6. South River (20-1) | 6. North Brunswick (19-3) |
| 7. South Brunswick (13-5) | 7. North Brunswick (19-3) | 7. South Brunswick (13-5) |
| 8. Calvary Christian (14-2) | 8. Piscataway (9-14) | 8. Piscataway (9-14) |
| 9. Piscataway (9-14) | 9. Old Bridge (9-10) | 9. Perth Amboy (9-10) |
| 10. J.P. Stevens (9-12) | 10. East Brunswick (7-13) | 10. J.P. Stevens (9-12) |
| 11. Old Bridge (9-10) | 11. Spotswood (16-5) | 11. Old Bridge (9-10) |
| 12. Spotswood (16-5) | 12. J.P. Stevens (9-12) | 12. Woodbridge (10-9) |
| 13. Perth Amboy (9-10) | 13. Woodbridge (10-9) | 13. Spotswood (16-5) |
| 14. Woodbridge (10-9) | 14. Monroe (2-17) | 14. Edison (8-13) |
| 15. Monroe (2-17) | 15. Timothy Christian (10-10) | 15. Monroe (2-17) |
| 16. East Brunswick (7-13) | 16. Edison (8-13) | 16. East Brunswick (7-13) |
| 17. Timothy Christian (10-10) | 17. Perth Amboy (9-10) | 17. North Plainfield (7-10) |
| 18. Edison (8-13) | 18. Middlesex (13-8) | 18. Timothy Christian (10-10) |
| 19. Middlesex (13-8) | 19. Carteret (8-12) | 19. Middlesex (13-8) |
| 20. North Plainfield (7-10) | 20. North Plainfield (7-10) | 20. Carteret (8-12) |
| 21. Carteret (8-12) | 21. Sayreville (4-18) | 21. Sayreville (4-18) |
| 22. Metuchen (8-13) | 22. J.F. Kennedy (5-15) | 22. Metuchen (8-13) |
| 23. Highland Park (14-3) | 23. Calvary Christian (14-2) | 23. Calvary Christian (14-2) |
| 24. Sayreville (4-18) | 24. Metuchen (8-13) | 24. Highland Park (14-3) |
| 25. J.F. Kennedy (5-15) | 25. Highland Park (14-3) | 25. J.F. Kennedy (5-15) |
| 26. New Brunswick (2-19) | 26. New Brunswick (2-19) | 26. New Brunswick (2-19) |
| 27. South Amboy (9-8) | 27. South Amboy (9-8) | 27. South Amboy (9-8) |
| 28. East Brunswick Magnet (10-8) | 28. East Brunswick Magnet (10-8) | 28. East Brunswick Magnet (10-8) |
| 29. Piscataway Magnet (5-12) | 29. Dunellen (4-15) | 29. Piscataway Magnet (5-12) |
| 30. Somerset Tech (8-8) | 30. Piscataway Magnet (5-12) | 30. Somerset Tech (8-8) |
| 31. Dunellen (4-15) | 31. Somerset Tech (8-8) | 31. Dunellen (4-15) |
| 32. Wardlaw-Hartridge (0-14) | 32. Wardlaw-Hartridge (0-14) | 32. Wardlaw-Hartridge (0-14) |
| 33. Perth Amboy Magnet (0-14) | 33. Perth Amboy Magnet (0-14) | 33. Perth Amboy Magnet |
As mentioned earlier, the first 7 seeds went exactly according to what our mock seeding had projected. However, the 8th seed, which usually goes to the GMC Gold Division champion, didn’t because Calvary Christian and Highland Park didn’t complete their divisional schedules to determine a winner. As a result, Calvary Christian wasn’t able to be seeded in the 8th spot by rule.
Another example was just last season. A year ago, Timothy Christian was unable to complete its division slate prior to the tournament since a game with Perth Amboy Tech in late January was halted due to wet floor conditions in Amboy Tech’s gym. Nevertheless, the Tigers were still able to get the 8th seed since they didn’t have any other games to make up and still held a lead despite splitting with 2nd place Wardlaw during the season. Calvary and HP still have several division games to play.
However, to be fair to Calvary Christian, and the other Gold Division schools, this season has been more complicated to get games in due to the NJSIAA moving up the end of the boys basketball season by a week with state championships being held on March 4th and 5th. In the past, the state finals were held on the second Saturday and Sunday in March.
In addition, there was also the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions involving all group state champions in both public and non-public. So, usually the boys basketball season would end the following week, but the T of C is no more. Another thing to consider here is the fact that Calvary Christian and Highland Park were only a game apart in the loss column, and were slated to play for the GMC Gold title, or at least a share of it on Friday afternoon in Highland Park.
The contest was postponed, but had it been played and Highland Park won, both Calvary and Highland Park would be tied. Now, if the game was played on Thursday afternoon or evening, both teams had played their full slate of divisional games, and Highland Park won, then the two teams would have tied for first, and by rule, would have to be seeded in the Top 9.
A similar scenario happened with the GMC Gold back in 2004. Going into the final game of the regular season, defending champion Piscataway Tech, Dunellen, Perth Amboy Tech, and St. Peter’s were in a horse race for first place. As a matter of fact, if the game between Piscataway Tech and Dunellen had been played as scheduled, and Dunellen won, there would have been a four way tie in the GMC Gold.
So, by rule, P-Way Tech, Dunellen, Perth Amboy Tech, and St. Peter’s would have had to been seated in the Top 11. In order to avoid that, the game between the Raiders and Destroyers was moved to a week later at The Faber in Dunellen, and the Raiders won a thriller to earn back to back division titles, and avoid a four way log jam in the division.
With Calvary Christian not being able to get the automatic placement in the 8th slot, the Lions were basically left out in the cold like the other Gold Division teams were since they lacked the quality wins P-Way, J.P. Stevens, Old Bridge, Spotswood, Perth Amboy, Woodbridge and others had. As a result, Piscataway came up with the 8th seed, and get a bye to the Round of 16.
The Chiefs opponent was even more surprising. Perth Amboy was projected to be a 13 seed in the GMC Hoops mock seeding. Although the Panthers defeated Sayreville to earn a tie with Woodbridge for 3rd in the GMC White, and came out first in the tiebreaker due to its quality win over North Brunswick earlier in the season at home, they were able to get the 9th seed.
Keep in mind though that J.P. Stevens had defeated Woodbridge and Edison head to head, which both split with Perth Amboy. The Eagles had just defeated Amboy at Cangelosi Gymnasium on Tuesday night. The Hawks also defeated P-Way on Thursday and split with Old Bridge, which also defeated Perth Amboy in a crossover on January 23rd in Old Bridge. The Knights also knocked off Stevens in their last match-up, and Edison on Thursday night.
Nevertheless, Perth Amboy, which had lost 7 of 9 games entering the seeding meeting on Friday morning, got the nod due to its win over North Brunswick on January 3rd (53-51). Stevens had been struggling as well though with losses in 6 of 8 games prior to defeating TCS and P-Way this week. Old Bridge was playing better though with 6 of its last 8, and lost to North Brunswick at NBTHS on Monday by single digits (66-59).
Seeding P-Way at 8 and Amboy at 9 did change the complexion of the rest of the seeds because now Woodbridge and Edison had higher quality wins due to their splits with Perth Amboy, and managed to move up in their own seeds. The Barrons were able to get the nod ahead of Spotswood, which didn’t have any quality wins off the board at that point after being swept by South River, and only having crossover wins against South Amboy and Sayreville. Amboy and Woodbridge both swept Sayreville. By the way, Sayreville did defeat Calvary on opening weekend too (More on that later).
Edison also benefited since the Eagles split with Perth Amboy and Woodbridge, and finished 5th in the division. The Eagles have also come into tournament time playing very well. Since opening the season at 3-9, Edison has won 5 of its last 9, and only lost on the road to Perth Amboy by five and Old Bridge by three.
Monroe and East Brunswick came as expected at 15th and 16th. Although, the GMC Red pilot standings, which had EB tied for last with Monroe at 1-7, and the Falcons getting the tiebreaker due to its head to head win over the Bears in December, possibly cost EBHS a higher seed. East Brunswick had opened the season with 7 losses in its first 8 games, had recently won 5 of its last 8 including a crossover over Edison, and two head to head wins over Stevens. Unfortunately, due to the pilot, the 2nd win over the Hawks and the recent win at Monroe didn’t matter.
Originally, GMC Hoops had EB seeded 12 in its first draft mock seeding since it took into account the Bears’ season in its totality, but the Red Division pilot standings produced a different outcome. Speaking of EB at 16, North Plainfield was next up for the GMC White after Edison went off the board, and went up against both Monroe and East Brunswick for the 15th and 16th spots.
Now, Monroe and EB did have wins over each other and Stevens. In addition, EBHS defeated Edison and Sayreville decisively in GMC crossovers. However, North Plainfield has a split with Perth Amboy, which would give the Canucks a higher quality win off the board with the Panthers at 9 while Stevens was at 10.
While it is true that North Plainfield spilt with Edison and Sayreville and won by lesser margins, it did defeat Amboy on the road. Doesn’t that matter? Especially since Amboy got the 9 due to its win over 6th seeded North Brunswick despite losing head to head at Old Bridge? These kind of inconsistencies with the seeding process has always been a bone of contention for GMC Hoops. While there are rules, they aren’t always applied in every case with every school for every seed.
Now, Timothy Christian, Middlesex, and Carteret were seeded in the general spots that were projected by GMC Hoops in its mock seeding. However, Sayreville was able to garner a higher seed thanks to wins over Calvary and North Plainfield. Metuchen lost to the Canucks at the Dog Pound on January 14th in a game covered by GMC Hoops. Calvary Christian lost to Sayreville (67-64) in the Friends of South Amboy Charity Basketball games on December 17th.
It is important to point out though that Calvary Christian was leading the Bombers by 17 in the middle of the 3rd quarter when its top player and 1,000 point scorer, Jack Zink, who had picked up two fouls on offensive charges earlier in the game, fouled out after being assessed a technical in the 3rd quarter. The Bombers were able to take advantage and rally from behind for the three point win.
The Lions have also added another player to its roster since then as Robert Kaufman became eligible a few weeks ago. Kaufman is currently averaging 17.3 points per game, and is already 2nd on the team in threes behind Zink with 17 in just 7 games. Calvary Christian ended up with the 23rd seed, which puts them in a match-up against 26th seeded New Brunswick, which split with Sayreville during the regular season.
The rest of the seeding went pretty much as expected with Kennedy, New Brunswick, South Amboy, EB Magnet, P-Way Magnet, Somerset Tech, Dunellen, Wardlaw-Hartridge, and Perth Amboy Magnet were all seeded as projected in the mock seeding. The tournament field is set. Now it is time to start playing the games, and getting the 2023 edition of February Frenzy underway.