What a season it has been, the Non-Public basketball season has had quite a lot of ups and downs, we have seen heroes and amazing comebacks, and all that has come to a head coming up into the final games at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Rutgers.

NON PUBLIC A

#5 Paul VI @ #1 Don Bosco Prep

The Ironmen have been prepping for a coronation, they have been building the past three years for this final season and the roster has gotten even stronger. As we have said before this ship is captained by the indomitable Dylan Harper. He has scored 578 points this season, a single-season high for him, and 1584 points in his career for the Rutgers commit. He scored 38 points in Bosco’s win against St. Peter’s Prep. Isiah Thomas has been a great facilitator as well, He had 47 assists this season and the setup of weapons has mitigated the strength of defenses and expanded the talent of Bosco offensively. Paul VI jumps into this game as a massive underdog. They should not be seen that way though, The Eagles were ranked in the top 10 of the state for most of December. Judah Hidalgo has been a sniper for Paul VI, he hit 47 3-pointers this year and 3 against Union Catholic in their stunning upset as well as scoring 15 points. Torren Greene also has worked better defensively and has been a stifling player. Paul VI could have the ability and speed to stop Bosco, but I foresee the final high school game for Dylan Harper being a great au revoir for him.

Peter’s Pick- Don Bosco Prep 76-54

Projected Player of the Game- Dylan Harper G Don Bosco Prep

NON-PUBLIC B

#2 Montclair Immaculate @ #1 St. Rose

The Montclair Immaculate Lions are in this final after an unbelievable last-second victory over Morris Catholic. Manny Smith hit a three-pointer with 3 seconds left to lift the Lions over Morris Catholic. They have been the cardiac kids and the comeback cats for a while now, prior to this game their comeback win over Newark Arts in the Essex County Semifinal was the stuff of legend. However, the competition is as stiff as you can imagine, as they are running into the third-ranked team in the state, Saint Rose. The Purple Roses have won 28 games and only lost two games and one of their losses was to Montverde Academy, the number one team in the country who field the best player in the United States, Duke commit Cooper Flagg. Matt Hodge is their leading scorer, and he scored 21 points in that game against Montverde, and he scored 26 in their previous blowout win against Bishop Eustace Do you want just Saint Rose was in me state championship game last year and lost to Roselle Catholic, they will look to go back this time and finish with some hardware.

Peter’s Pick- St. Rose 79-56

Projected Player of the Game- Matt Hodges