Jaguars to Become 2nd Team Outside Middlesex County to Join Conference
BRIDGEWATER, NJ—Last month, GMC Hoops learned that Somerset Tech will be joining the Greater Middlesex Conference next season in time for the next division alignment cycle. The Jaguars, which have previously been an independent school, will compete in the Gold Division in boys and girls basketball.
Somerset Tech has played many GMC schools during the time GMC Hoops has been on the beat of the Greater Middlesex Conference boys basketball beat. The Jaguars have been a consistent competitor of the GMC Gold schools, especially the Vo-Tech schools: East Brunswick Tech, Perth Amboy Tech, and Piscataway Tech.
As a matter of fact, Somerset Tech defeated Perth Amboy Tech in the opening round of the 2019 Central Jersey Group I Boys Basketball State Tournament on February 26th in Perth Amboy, and opened the season with a hard fought, 62-60 loss to South Amboy on December 19th. The Jaguars also competed against East Brunswick Tech (won 56-52) over the holidays in the North Jersey Tech Holiday Tournament.
So far this season, the Jags are 3-5 overall with wins over EB Tech, Koinonia Academy (59-44), and Bard (55-44). Somerset Tech has also suffered single digit losses to South Amboy and Keansburg (61-54). Last year, the Jaguars finished 12-14 overall after suffering a 65-47 defeat to Academy Charter in the CJ Group I Quarterfinals on February 28th.
A year ago, Somerset Tech played four different GMC schools: Calvary Christian, East Brunswick Tech (twice), Perth Amboy Tech, and Timothy Christian, and went 3-2 in five games. So far this season, the Jags are 1-1 vs. GMC schools this year. Somerset Tech is led this year by 6’5” senior forward, Norbert Malik, who is averaging 23.4 points and 14.4 rebounds per game.
A year ago, Malik, averaged 17.9 points, 16.1 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game including a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds along with 3 blocks in Somerset Tech’s 59-55 come from behind win over Amboy Tech in the state playoffs. Andy Tombeng also returned this year after averaging 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.6 steals, and 1.8 assists per contest.
Somerset Tech will become the 2nd school outside Middlesex County to join the Greater Middlesex Conference. Mother Seton, located in Clark in Union County has been a member of the GMC for all girls sports. In addition, Franklin, located in Somerset County, also applied to become a member of the GMC twice including 2009, which had been approved, but then the Warriors attempt was rejected by the Skyland Conference.