By Brian Deakyne and Matt Stypulkoski | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
Title shakeup
The girls basketball season is in its homestretch, with the sectional tournaments behind us and the state finals looming this weekend. All of the high-profile games this week led to a handful of major changes within this week's Top 20 – which is based on games played through March 7 – so be sure to take a look.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
20-Morristown (26-3)
Last Week: N/R
Morristown picked up the North 1, Group 4 title by beating Montclair, 50-26, in the semifinals and pushing past East Orange, 45-35, in the sectional final before falling to Franklin in the Group 4 semifinals.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
19-Lodi Immaculate (20-7)
Last Week: No. 13
Lodi Immaculate reached the North Jersey, Non-Public A semifinals by beating Montclair Kimberley, 65-32, but fell to Queen of Peace, 41-37, once it got there.
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
18-Lenape (24-4)
Last Week: No. 19
Lenape made a run in South Jersey, Group 4, but ultimately fell to eventual sectional champion Cherokee in the semifinals, 55-42.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
17-Neptune (24-4)
Last Week: No. 10
Neptune was one of the best teams in the Shore Conference all season, but saw its season end with a 65-52 loss to top-seeded Ewing in the Central Jersey, Group 3 sectional final. Behind a historic year from Desiree Allen, Neptune finished 2016-17 with 24 wins.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
16-Saddle River Day (24-7)
Last Week: No. 12
Saddle River Day took down Morris Catholic, 57-40, and grabbed a 70-60 win over Marist before falling to Raven Farley-Clark and Queen of Peace in the North Jersey, Non-Public B final.
Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
15-Ewing (26-4)
Last Week: N/R
Ewing, which had a disappointing ending in the Mercer County Tournament, came back in a big way in the state tournament, knocking off then-No. 10 Neptune in the Central Jersey, Group 3 sectional final for a 65-52 win. Ewing will face South Jersey power Ocean City in the Group 3 semifinals on Thursday.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
14-Pascack Valley (28-1)
Last Week: No. 17
Pascack Valley rolled through the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 bracket. The Indians defeated Ramapo, 69-56, in the semifinals and avenged its lone loss of the season by beating Old Tappan, 70-42, in the final.
Tim Hawk | For NJ Advance Media
13-Ocean City (29-1)
Last Week: No. 15
Ocean City, considered one of the best teams in Group 3 all season, avenged its only loss with a 38-31 win over Mainland to take the South Jersey, Group 3 sectional title.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
12-Franklin (21-7)
Last Week: No. 14
Franklin won the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title by beating Westfield, 67-46, in the semifinals before taking down Bridgewater-Raritan, 78-56, in the final. The Warriors advanced to the Group 4 final with a 61-37 win over Morristown in the Group 4 semifinals.
Calista Condo | For NJ Advance Media
11-Cherokee (27-3)
Last Week: No. 8
Cherokee cemented its spot in the Group 4 semifinals with a buzzer-beating win over top-seeded Toms River North in the South Jersey, Group 4 final before a disappointing loss to Sayreville in the Group 4 semifinals.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
10-Sayreville (29-2)
Last Week: No. 16
Sayreville took down rival South Brunswick for the second time this postseason to secure the Central Jersey, Group 4 sectional title before an impressive win over Cherokee in the Group 4 semifinals to cement its berth in Sunday's Group 4 final.
Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media
9-Gloucester Catholic (21-7)
Last Week: No. 11
Gloucester Catholic's impressive season ended in the South Jersey, Non-Public B quarterfinals with a 48-43 loss to sixth-seeded St. Rose.
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
8-Newark Tech (24-5)
Last Week: No. 9
Newark Tech's season came to a close in the Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinals, where it ran into No. 3 Manasquan and fell, 68-61, after taking a one-point lead into the half.
Robert Samuels | For NJ Advance Media
7-Rumson-Fair Haven (22-7)
Last Week: No. 7
Rumson-Fair Haven saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion with a 67-66 loss to Manasquan in the Central Jersey, Group 2 final for the third year in a row. Tori Hyduke, making a name for herself as one of the best guards in the state, went for 38 points in the loss. Rumson-Fair Haven topped a strong New Providence team at home in the sectional semifinals.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
6-Patrick School (27-3)
Last Week: No. 6
Patrick School pushed its way to the Non-Public, South B final behind a 46-27 win over Roselle Catholic and a 53-42 win over Holy Spirit before falling to top-ranked Rutgers Prep.
Robert Samuels | For NJ Advance Media
5-St. John Vianney (23-5)
Last Week: No. 4
St. John Vianney, a team that wasn't expected to be one of N.J.'s best after graduating a ton of talent from last year's 31-1 team, reached the South Jersey, Non-Public A semifinals before running out of gas and falling to Red Bank Catholic, 47-39.
George McNish | For NJ Advance Media
4-St. Rose (26-4)
Last Week: No. 2
After a hard-fought, five-point win on the road against No. 11 Gloucester Catholic in the South Jersey, Non-Public B semifinals, St. Rose saw its season come to an end abruptly, with a 54-32 loss to No. 1 Rutgers Prep in the sectional semifinals.
Robert Samuels | For NJ Advance Media
3-Red Bank Catholic (26-3)
Last Week: No. 5
Red Bank Catholic booked its ticket to the Non-Public A final with a 47-39 win over defending T of C champ St. John Vianney in the South Jersey, Non-Public A semifinals before toppling Paul VI, 64-48, in the South Jersey, Non-Public A sectional final.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
2-Manasquan (29-2)
Last Week: No. 3 Manasquan survived the gauntlet of Central Jersey, Group 2 this week, topping No. 9 Newark Tech 68-61 in the semifinals before taking down No. 7 Rumson-Fair Haven on the back of two Dara Mabrey free throws at the buzzer for a 67-66 win for its fourth straight sectional title. The Warriors took down Manchester Township in the Group 2 semifinals to reach the Group 2 final for the fourth year in a row.
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
1-Rutgers Prep (29-1)
Last Week: No. 1
The Argonauts pushed their winning streak to 28 straight games and reached the Non-Public, South B final with a 50-point victory over Wildwood Catholic and a 22-point win against No. 2 St. Rose before topping Patrick School in the sectional final, 70-69.
Chris Monroe | For NJ Advance Media
More NJ.com girls basketball coverage
Be sure to bookmark these pages to catch all of our girls basketball news and notes this season:
• Girls basketball homepage
• High school sports homepage
Ad Choices