Athletic rivalries between high schools North and South will heat up the schedule with crosstown matchups during the first weeks of the winter sports season.
The girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will play on Thursday, December 22, at High School South. The girls tip off at 5 p.m., while the boys game starts at 7:30 p.m. The two teams meet again later in the season at High School North on Tuesday, February 21, at the same times.
The Pirates boys were 15-7-1 last year and lost in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV state tournament to Brick Memorial, 62-59. The girls, who had a record of 10-13, also were defeated in the first round of the state tournament, losing to Howell 55-50.
At High School South, the boys’ team went 16-8 last year before losing to Manalapan, 75-62, in the first round of the state tournament. The girls’ team, with an 18-7 record, made it to the state seminfinals before being defeated by Rancocas Valley 67-48.
In ice hockey,the two schools will play at High School North on Monday, January 16, at 4 p.m.
High School North, 8-8-4 last season, was defeated in the first round of the state playoff, Public A, by a score of 8-4. Meanwhile, High School South, who had a record of 9-7-3 last season, also lost in the first round of the state tournament, 5-1, to Middletown North.
The wrestling teams at both high schools hope to improve on losing records last season. The teams meet on the mats on January 6 at High School South at 5:30 p.m. The Pirates finished with a 1-11 record last year while High School North fared a little better, going 3-16.
The North and South fencing teams meet two times in the coming season. The first match is on Friday, January 27, at 4 p.m. at High School South. The teams meet again on Wednesday, February 22, at 4:15 p.m. at North.
The South boys’ and girls’ squads go into the season looking to better losing records. The boys were 1-8 last year, and the girls were 4-5. Meanwhile, both squads at North had success last year. The boys’ finished with a 14-1 record, while the girls’ squad went 9-3.
