By Brian Deakyne | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
What are the best games in the week ahead?
Numerous Top 20 showdowns and other games with serious postseason implications will take over the girls basketball schedule this week. See the 21-best games, day-by-day, below.
MONDAY, JAN. 22
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
No. 8 Saddle River Day at No. 13 Notre Dame, 6
Saddle River Day, ranked No. 8 in the NJ.com Top 20, will venture to Mercer County to face No. 13 Notre Dame in a highly-anticipated non-conference showdown on Monday night. Saddle River Day has won six games in a row since a 10-point loss to top-ranked Manasquan.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
No. 11 Manchester Township at Donovan Catholic, 6:30
No. 11 Manchester Township, fresh off an impressive 59-50 win over No. 10 Rumson-Fair Haven, will face Donovan Catholic in an intriguing rematch from an early-season showdown. Manchester Township won that first meeting, 67-63, but will likely go without guard Kemari Reynolds again on Monday night.
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
South Brunswick at East Brunswick, 7
East Brunswick, unbeaten at the top of the Greater Middlesex Conference with Bishop Ahr, will get a tough test at home on Monday night as South Brunswick pays a visit. South Brunswick, a GMCT finalist a year ago, will aim to rebound from a five-point loss against Hunterdon Central and hand East Brunswick its first loss of the season.
Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media
Chatham at Morristown-Beard, 7
Two teams that are hopeful to make a run in the upcoming Morris County Tournament will meet Monday night as 8-5 Chatham faces 10-2 Morristown-Beard. Morristown-Beard rebounded from a double-digit loss to Jefferson with a win over Madison on Friday, while red-hot Chatham takes a six-game winning streak into the game.
Keith Muccilli | For NJ Advance Media
No. 17 Morristown at No. 20 Watchung Hills, 7
No. 20 Watchung Hills will look to rebound from a stunning loss to Montgomery Monday night, while No. 17 Morristown will look for a marquee win against a ranked opponent for the first time all season. Morristown has won seven games in a row since its lone loss to No. 16 Newark Tech.
TUESDAY, JAN. 23
Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media
Gill St. Bernard's at No. 4 Rutgers Prep, 4
In what will serve as a telling week for Gill St. Bernard’s, the Knights will open up against rival and No. 4 Rutgers Prep for the second time this year. Rutgers Prep rolled past Gill St. Bernard’s in the first meeting, but that was a game that was close until Sydnei Caldwell went down with a knee injury. Caldwell is close to returning, but likely won’t play against Rutgers Prep on Tuesday.
Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media
East Orange vs. Lodi Immaculate at Felician College, 6:30
East Orange, which hopes to throw its name into the ring with University and Newark Tech as one of Essex County’s best teams, will get a good challenge on the road against Lodi Immaculate at Felician College. East Orange will look to rebound from back-to-back losses to West Orange and University, while Lodi Immaculate will be going for its third straight win.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
No. 1 Manasquan at No. 5 Red Bank Catholic, 6:45
Another monster Shore Conference showdown is set for Tuesday as No. 1 Manasquan and No. 5 Red Bank Catholic wrap up their season series in Red Bank. Manasquan rolled past RBC for a 60-37 win back in the first week of the season – but a lot has changed since then. Red Bank Catholic will look to rebound from a 47-40 loss to No. 2 St. John Vianney on Saturday.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 24
Tim Hawk | For NJ Advance Media
No. 19 Mainland at Ocean City, 6
The rematch from last year’s South Jersey, Group 3 final will hit the hardwood on Wednesday as Kylee Watson and No. 19 Mainland face Ocean City. Ocean City lost nearly its entire lineup from last year’s sectional championship team – but still opened the season with 10 straight wins. Mainland is still unbeaten, but this will be one of its biggest tests since those two wins over Gloucester Catholic and Paul VI.
THURSDAY, JAN. 25
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
South Brunswick at Piscataway, 5:30
The second of two meetings between South Brunswick and Piscataway is set for Thursday after Piscataway’s narrow three-point win over South Brunswick earlier this season. This game will likely go a long way toward seeding implications in the Greater Middlesex Conference as the top five and six teams continue to jockey for position.
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
No. 9 Cherokee at Lenape, 6
No. 9 Cherokee, entering this week on a six-game winning streak, will face Lenape for the second time this year after a 35-33 win back on Dec. 21. This Olympic Conference American Division showdown should be good as Lenape hopes to get a marquee win against South Jersey’s best team.
John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
No. 7 University at No. 18 Rancocas Valley, 6:30
No. 7 University will look to secure another impressive win on the road as it heads south to face No. 18 Rancocas Valley. University’s only loss came at home against No. 2 St. John Vianney this year, and this game should serve as a good measuring stick for both programs to see where they stand at this point in the season.
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Bishop Eustace at Camden Catholic, 7
One of South Jersey’s best rivalries will cap its season series on Thursday as Bishop Eustace visits Camden Catholic. Camden Catholic beat Bishop Eustace, 46-43, in overtime in the first meeting when both teams figured to be two of the best in the state. With both teams stumbling at different points since then, this game will provide an opportunity for the victor to get back on track.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Gill St. Bernard's at No. 12 Franklin, 7
Gill St. Bernard’s will visit No. 12 Franklin on Thursday for a good test two days after playing No. 4 Rutgers Prep. Franklin has lost six times already this season, but has started to regain its form over the last few weeks. Gill St. Bernard’s athleticism makes for a good matchup with Franklin, but it will need to play better than it has in recent weeks to have a chance to win.
Mark R. Sullivan | For NJ Advance Media
Roselle Catholic at Patrick School, 7
Two teams very much in the hunt for a Union County Tournament title will meet for the second time as Roselle Catholic visits the Patrick School. Roselle Catholic won the first meeting, 59-52 on Jan. 5, but will be hungry for a big win after losing to Westfield last week. St. Patrick’s has won five of its last six games and has started to hit its stride.
FRIDAY, JAN. 26
Lary Murphy | For NJ Advance Media
Steinert at Allentown, 5:30
Steinert, which enters the week with an eight-game winning streak, will get a big challenge as it visits Ryan Weise and Allentown with a chance to move into the No. 3 spot in the Colonial Valley Conference. Allentown rebounded from a loss to Ewing with a 58-44 victory over Lenape at the end of last week as Ryan Weise became the school’s all-time points leader.
SATURDAY, JAN. 27
Alexandra Pais | For NJ Advance Media
Piscataway at Bishop Ahr, 1
Two of the top teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference will clash on Saturday as unbeaten Bishop Ahr hosts Piscataway. Bishop Ahr has been the top team in the GMC all year and this should be a good challenge as Piscataway has been impressive this year.
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
Bridgewater-Raritan at East Brunswick, 1
East Brunswick, which enters the week undefeated, will get a tough non-conference test against Bridgewater-Raritan at home on Saturday. Bridgewater-Raritan, which coasted to a win over Piscataway last Saturday, has battle some of N.J.’s toughest teams in Somerset County this year.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
No. 11 Manchester Township at No. 12 Franklin, 3:40
No. 11 Manchester Township will travel to Somerset to face No. 12 Franklin at the Coaches Choice Showcase on Saturday afternoon. Manchester Township took out Rumson-Fair Haven – a team Franklin lost to in December – and will look to improve its resume even further with a win over the defending Tournament of Champions winner. Franklin will look to knock off a ranked team for the second time in as many weeks after a win over Newark Tech last Saturday.
SUNDAY, JAN. 28
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Gill St. Bernard's vs. No. 5 Red Bank Catholic at Holmdel, 12:30
Gill St. Bernard’s will cap off its brutally tough week as it takes on No. 5 Red Bank Catholic at the Coaches Choice Showcase in Holmdel. Gill St. Bernard’s will face No. 4 Rutgers Prep and No. 12 Franklin during the week, while Red Bank Catholic will get a crack at No. 1 Manasquan on Tuesday at home.
Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
No. 1 Manasquan vs. No. 4 Rutgers Prep at Holmdel, 5:15
This highly-anticipated rematch between No. 1 Manasquan and No. 4 Rutgers Prep will close out the Coaches Choice Showcase on Sunday. Last year, Rutgers Prep took out Manasquan in this game on its way to a 29-game winning streak that saw it hold the No. 1 ranking throughout that run. Manasquan will look to avenge that loss and Rutgers Prep will look to get a win away from home against a Shore Conference team this season after road losses to No. 2 St. John Vianney and No. 3 St. Rose.
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Brian Deakyne may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.
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