The calendar is turning.
Check out some of the best matchups below in New Jersey high school girls basketball for the week of Monday, Dec. 29 through Sunday, Jan. 4.
Let us know if you have a game to add to the list.
MONDAY, DEC. 29
South River at Keansburg, 10
Keansburg, which snapped a four-game losing streak against South River last year, is off to a 2-0 start with wins over Monmouth and Iselin Kennedy. South River, which has already surpassed last year’s win total, is 4-0 with wins over Mother Seton, Wardlaw-Hartridge, Calvary Christian and Dunellen.
Monmouth at Sayreville, 10
These two non-conference opponents meet for the first time since 2023. Monmouth is off to a 2-1 start with wins over Pinelands and Henry Hudson and a loss to Keansburg. Sayreville, which is 2-1 in the GMC White National Division, has wins over Perth Amboy, Freehold Borough and Metuchen and a five-point loss to Carteret.
Moorestown Friends vs. Woodstown, 10
Moorestown Friends and Woodstown meet for the first time in recent memory at the Haddons Invitational at Haddonfield. Woodstown, which is 3-2 and 1-1 in the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division, opened with three-straight wins over Salem, Penns Grove and Gloucester Tech before losing two-straight against Glassboro and Holy Spirit. Moorestown Friends is 4-2 and 1-0 in the BCSL Freedom Division with wins over KIPP Cooper Norcross, Pemberton, Florence and Maple Shade and losses to Cherry Hill West and Haddonfield.
Cinnaminson at Shawnee, 10:30
Cinnaminson enters the game unbeaten at 5-0 with two-straight strong wins over Thrive Charter and Mainland. Shawnee is 3-2, but just beat Clearview, and has a solid road victory in the season-opener against 4-2 Egg Harbor. Cinnaminson and Shawnee have split the past two encounters. Cinnaminson won last January, 48-44, while Shawnee won in February of 2024, 40-36. This game is a part of the SJIBT Holiday Showcase at Clearview.
No. 18 New Providence at No. 16 Demarest, 11
New Providence and Demarest meet in a non-conference Top 20 matchup for the first time since 2016. The Pioneers, which are 4-0 in the UCC Watchung Division, are undefeated at 5-0 with wins over Plainfield, Roselle Catholic, Cranford, Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Northern Highlands. Demarest is 2-1 with wins over Colts Neck and Franklin and a five-point loss to No. 7 Trinity Hall.
No. 7 Trinity Hall vs. No. 15 Lenape, 11:45
Undefeated ranked teams Lenape and Trinity Hall will meet for the first time since 2022 at the Score at the Shore at Southern. Trinity Hall won the last meeting by nine points three years ago to the day. Trinity Hall already owns four statement wins against St. Rose, Demarest, Ewing and Shore, and it looks to make another against Lenape. The Indians will be tested for the first time this season against Trinity Hall after easy wins thus far.
No. 3 Gloucester Catholic vs. No. 19 Cherokee, 12
After losing the previous four head-to-head games with Cherokee since 2017, Gloucester Catholic topped the Chiefs last season and as it looks to win back-to-back contests against its Olympic Conference opponent. Gloucester Catholic has won three games in a row including the last two in impressive fashion over Moorestown and No. 9 Gill St. Bernard’s. Cherokee is unbeaten at 4-0 as it owns standout triumphs over Bishop Eustace and Cherry Hill West.
Bernards vs. Brearley, 12
Bernards, which has won four-straight over Brearley dating back to 2022, is 3-0 in the Skyland Conference Valley Division with wins over North Hunterdon, Warren Hills and Delaware Valley. Brearley, which last beat Bernards in 2020, is 3-0 and 2-0 in the UCC Valley Division with wins over Dayton, Roselle Park and Rahway.
No. 8 Westfield vs. Snyder, 1:30
FDU-Madison will play host for this game as Snyder and Westfield face-off at the Coaches Choice Holiday Classic. These two teams have no recent history against one another, but it has the makings of an intriguing matchup. Both teams enter the game undefeated as Westfield has wins over No. 9 Gill St. Bernard’s and Cranford. Snyder, one of the favorites sleeper teams this year of the HCIAL, has three road wins against overmatched foes. It has a chance to make a statement as it aims for an upset.
Gov. Livingston at Metuchen, 2
These two teams meet in a non-conference showdown for the first time since 2023 and fourth time since 2018. Gov. Livingston, which is 2-1 in the UCC Mountain Division, has wins over Linden and Elizabeth and a two-point loss to Oak Knoll. Metuchen, which is 2-1 in the GMC White National Division, has wins over Highland Park and Iselin Kennedy and a loss to Sayreville.
No. 20 Teaneck vs. St. Rose, 4:15
Teaneck will be looking to shake off a two-game losing streak to ranked opponents No. 17 Immaculate Heart and No. 13 Manasquan against another formidable foe in St. Rose. Don’t let its record fool you. Despite being 0-4 it is still one of the better teams in the state even if it isn’t ranked. Each of the Purple Roses’ losses this year have come against ranked teams including close defeats to No. 7 Trinity Hall and No. 12 Bayonne. They’ve also faced No. 4 Rutgers Prep and No. 6 Paul VI. This game will be played at the RWJBarnabas Center as part of the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic.
Newark Tech vs. Pompton Lakes, 4:30
A pair of 4-0 teams are set to play in Hackensack at the Jay Maloney Holiday Jam Fest. Newark Tech has put up plenty of points this season, scoring 71 against Empowerment Academy Charter and 70 against Orange. Pompton Lakes has been steady as well winning by wide margins in every game so far but one. Expect some offense in this one.
No. 1 Red Bank Catholic vs. No. 4 Rutgers Prep, 6
This is the game of the season so far in New Jersey. Both teams have jumped out to strong starts this winter and look like top four teams. Rutgers Prep has downed No. 5 Morris Catholic, previously ranked Franklin and St. Rose among others by double-digits. Red Bank Catholic has done the same against Blair and No. 17 Immaculate Heart. The Caseys defeated the Argonauts last February by 20, so Rutgers Prep, which appears to be deeper than it was a year ago, will have revenge on its mind in Toms River at the RWJBarnabas Center.
TUESDAY, DEC. 30
Kittatinny at Newton, 10
These two NJAC opponents meet for the first time since February when Newton won 46-45. Newton, which has won three-straight over Kittatinny dating back to 2024, is 4-0 and 2-0 in the Freedom Division with wins over Vernon, Lenape Valley and Wallkill Valley (twice). Kittatinny, which is 4-0 and 2-0 in the Colonial Division, has wins over Wallkill Valley, Sussex Tech, Veritas Christian and Vernon.
No. 13 Manasquan vs. Hudson Catholic, 10
Manasquan and Hudson Catholic are set to meet at the Holmdel Holiday Showcase. Winners of the last two Group 2 championships, Manasquan has picked up where it left off with wins with a recent win over No. 20 Teaneck. Hudson Catholic has played well since a season-opening loss to Keary with wins over Union City and Ranney. Hudson Catholic continues to get healthier as it has used a balanced attack so far.
No. 12 Bayonne vs. Saddle River Day, 10:30
Bayonne will be looking to push the reset button following a loss to No. 17 Immaculate Heart on Friday. Bayonne, which topped St. Rose earlier this year, was outscored by IHA 27-9 in the fourth quarter last time out. Saddle River Day has played a challenging schedule so far against Franklin, West Orange and Neumann Goretti (PA). This game is a part of the Holiday Hoopfest at Paterson Kennedy.
Woodbridge vs. Spotswood, 11:30
Spotswood, which won both meetings last season and four of the last five against Woodbridge,, is off to a 2-1 start and is 2-0 in the GMC Red National Division. The Chargers opened with two-straight wins over Edison and Old Bridge before a two-point loss to Cheltenham (PA). Woodbridge is 3-1 and 3-0 in the GMC White American Division with wins over South Plainfield, North Brunswick, J.P. Stevens and a loss to Snyder.
No. 9 Gill St. Bernard’s vs. No. 17 Immaculate Heart, 1:10
Paterson Kennedy plays host for these Top 20 teams as part of the Holiday Hoopfest. Gill St. Bernard’s has lost its last two previous games against ranked opponents No. 3 Gloucester Catholic and No. 14 West Orange. The latter by just two points. On the flip side, Immaculate Heart has two ranked wins over No. 20 Teaneck and No. 12 Bayonne.
No. 8 Westfield vs. No. 11 St. Thomas Aquinas, 3
These two non-conference opponents meet in a Top 20 matchup at the Coaches Choice Holiday Classic for just the second time after St. Thomas Aquinas beat Westfield 47-39 back in 2016. Westfield, which has wins over then-No. 8 Gill St. Bernard’s, Plainfield, Roselle Catholic and Cranford, is allowing an average of 43 points a game. St. Thomas Aquinas, which is 3-0 atop the GMC Red American Division, is 6-1 and has won five-straight over Scranton (PA), South Brunswick, Piscataway, North Plainfield, Thrive Charter and St. Joseph Hill (NY).
Kingsway vs. Middle Township, 4:15
The Boardwalk Classic and the Wildwood Convention Center plays host for this Tri-County Conference versus Cape-Atlantic League battle. Kingsway is 4-1 following a key 53-44 win over Haddon Heights where it finished admirably in the fourth quarter. Middle Township is 3-0 so far with wins over Holy Spirit and Atlantic City. The Panthers won the last time these teams met also at the Boardwalk Classic in 2024.
No. 18 New Providence vs. Glen Ridge, 5
Both of these teams won sectional titles last season as New Providence edged Glen Ridge in the Group 1 state final at Rutgers. New Providence is unbeaten and has remained stout this year with wins against Cranford, Plainfield and Roselle Catholic. Glen Ridge, which lost bulk production to graduation, enters at 3-1 with its best win coming against University.
FRIDAY, JAN. 2
St. Rose vs. No. 17 Immaculate Heart, 1
St. Rose, which snapped a three-game losing streak against Immaculate Heart in January, is winless to start the season with Top 20-ranked losses against Trinity Hall, Bayonne, Paul VI and Rutgers Prep. Immaculate Heart is 3-1 with wins over Northern Highlands, No. 20 Teaneck and No. 12 Bayonne and a loss to No. 1 Red Bank Catholic.
Roxbury at Pequannock, 7
These two NJAC opponents meet in a cross-divisional matchup for the first time since 2019. Roxbury, which won three-straight over Pequannock from 2017-19, is 3-0 and 2-0 in the NJAC National Division with wins over Montville, Morris Hills and Summit. Pequannock, which is 2-0 in the Independence Division, is 4-1 with wins over Kinnelon, Morristown-Beard, Mount Olive and Morris Tech and a loss against Mount St. Dominic.
SATURDAY, JAN. 3
No. 7 Trinity Hall at No. 13 Manasquan, 10
Manasquan, which has won four-straight games over Trinity Hall dating back to 2023, is off to an undefeated start at 3-0 with wins over Middletown South, Pingry and then-No. 9 Teaneck. Trinity Hall, which is averaging 54 points a game this season, is undefeated after four-straight wins over St. Rose, Demarest, Ewing and Shore.
Jefferson at Voorhees, 10:30
These two non-conference opponents meet for just the third time since 2018. Jefferson, which beat Voorhees 40-34 in February, is 4-0 and 2-0 in the NJAC Freedom Division with wins over Hackettstown, High Point, Morris Hills and West Morris. Voorhees is 3-0 in the Skyland Conference Valley Division with wins over Immaculata, North Hunterdon and Warren Hills.
Glen Ridge at Marlboro, 11:30
This matchup features another set of non-conference teams that will meet for the first time. Marlboro, which plays in the Shore Conference B Central Division, opened with three-straight wins over Ranney, Manchester Township and Toms River North before a loss to Scranton Prep (PA). Glen Ridge, which advanced to the Group 1 final last year, is 3-1 under first-year head coach Grace Cannon with wins over Bloomfield, University and Columbia and a loss to Caldwell.
Haddon Heights at Cherry Hill West, 11:30
Cherry Hill West got the better of Haddon Heights last year, 56-32, as it had a banner year winning Group 3. This year, Cherry Hill West has fallen to Moorestown and No. 19 Cherokee, but it is on a two-game winning streak as it continues to find its footing. Haddon Heights owns a key win over Haddon Township earlier this year, and it will look to make another push forward with a win over Cherry Hill West.
Glen Rock at No. 10 DePaul, 12
These two non-conference opponents meet for the first time in recent memory. Glen Rock, which plays in the NJIC Colonial Division, is 4-1 with wins over Cresskill, Eastern Christian, Rutherford and Fair Lawn and a four-point loss to Ridgewood. DePaul, which plays in the Big North United Division, is 3-0 with wins over Mahwah, West Milford and North Star Academy.
No. 15 Lenape at Bishop Eustace, 12:30
This game figures to be a critical measuring stick for both programs. Bishop Eustace is 4-1 with a win over previously ranked Ramapo. Its one loss was by seven points to No. 19 Cherokee. It’ll be interesting to see how 3-0 Lenape fares given the success of its Olympic Conference American Division rival, Cherokee, had against an improved Crusader crew. Lenape has won the last three meetings and four of five dating back to 2020. The Indians have looked good so far this winter with wins over Eastern, Shawnee and Our Lady of Mercy.
No. 14 West Orange vs. Ewing, 1
Ewing suffered a somewhat surprising loss to Princeton Day this past weekend, but it has a chance to right the ship with a win at West Orange. Ewing is 3-3 with solid wins over Shore and Notre Dame. It also hung tough with No. 7 Trinity Hall (lost by seven points) and defending Group 4 champion Hillsborough. West Orange, which played in the Group 4 title game last year, was blown out by No. 5 Morris Catholic in its third game of the year, but has made strides since with wins over Old Tappan, Saddle River Day and No. 9 Gill St. Bernard’s.
Ramapo at University, 3
Ramapo and University meet in a non-conference matchup for the first time in recent memory. Ramapo, which plays in the Big North Freedom Division, is 3-1 with wins over Holy Angels, Paramus Catholic and Tenafly and a nine-point loss to Bishop Eustace. University, which plays in the SEC American Division, is also 3-1 with a loss to Glen Ridge and three-straight wins over West Essex, Murry Bergtraum (NY) and Newark East Side.
No. 9 Gill St. Bernard’s vs. Hudson Catholic, 1
Weequahic High is set to welcome Gill St. Bernard’s and Hudson Catholic for what should be a competitive game. The Knights from Somerset County and the Hawks from Hudson County feature star individual players who will look to make an impact and help their teams come out on top. Gill has won the last two meetings including by 46 and 31 points the last two years, respectively. Last year’s encounter came in the North Jersey, Non-Public B semifinals.
Chatham at Morristown, 6
Chatham, which has won four-straight games over Morristown dating back to 2024, is off to a 2-4 start and is 1-1 in the NJAC American Division. The Cougars have wins over Randolph and Hill (PA) and losses against Rumson-Fair Haven, Pope John, Arts and Sparta. Morristown, which is 5-0 and 1-0 in the division, has wins over Mendham, Mountain Lakes, Sparta, Paramus Catholic and Union City.
SUNDAY, JAN. 4
No. 4 Rutgers Prep vs. Cardinal O’Hara (PA), 10:25
The Blue Star Invitational at Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pa. will feature some of the top teams in the United States. Rutgers Prep will be one of a few teams representing New Jersey at the event. Rutgers Prep defeated Cardinal O’Hara the last time they played in 2018.
No. 1 Red Bank Catholic vs. Long Island Lutheran (NY), 1:15
Jefferson University hosts these two star teams at the Blue Star Invitational. Red Bank Catholic has lost five-straight games against Long Island Lutheran, ranked No. 2 in the country by ESPN, dating back to 2015. The Caseys are undefeated at 4-0 to start the season with wins over Hazelton (PA), Neumann Goretti (PA), Blair and No. 17 Immaculate Heart.
No. 2 St. John Vianney vs. St. John’s College (DC), 2:35
These two powerhouse programs will play at the Blue Star Invitational in Philadelphia. St. John Vianney will face St. John’s College, which is ranked No. 8 in the country by ESPN, for the first time since 2019. The Lancers are currently undefeated at 2-0 with wins over Arts and Potomac School (VA).
No. 6 Paul VI vs. Neumann Goretti (PA), 3:55
Another New Jersey squad will be playing in the Blue Star Invitational. Paul VI is 4-0 on the young season with a standout 21-point win over St. Rose at the Shore Games. Neumann Goretti is already 1-1 against Garden State teams this year. It has a win over Saddle River Day and a loss to Red Bank Catholic.