Three Bridgewater-Raritan High School teams simultaneously competed in their respective state tournaments on Thursday, February 27: both of Bridgewater-Raritan’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams and Bridgewater-Raritan’s ice hockey team, which is ranked No. 16 in all of New Jersey.
Despite fierce fights by all three squads, unfortunately, all of their seasons came to a close.
Bridgewater-Raritan's ice hockey team started off the three-game schedule and was defeated by Monroe High School, 3-2, in overtime in the quarterfinal of the South Public State tournament at the Rock Ice Arena in Dunellen.
On the hardwood, Thursday, February 27, marked the first day both the Bridgewater-Raritan High School boys’ and girls’ basketball teams simultaneously competed in their respective state tournaments for the first time since 2021-22.
The girls' basketball team was eliminated by Elizabeth High School, 45-38, in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Grou 4 state tournament in Elizabeth.
Shortly later in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 boys' basketball state tournament, Bridgewater-Raritan valiantly fought to make it a one-possession game three times in the final 2:25 of regulation before Piscataway High School escaped with a 60-56 victory in Piscataway.
Bridgewater-Raritan, which came into the game with the 13th seed, almost pulled off the upset against fourth-seeded Piscataway.
Senior Brody Nussman (18 points), junior Richie Gardner (16 points), and sophomore Tyler Hamby (14 points) each finished in double figures in defeat for Bridgewater-Raritan, while seniors Ramses Binns (four points) and Bobby Gillespie (four points) rounded out the scoring.
Gene McAteer ended his his 17th season at Bridgewater-Raritan with a record of 15-11, which signalled the program’s most victories in a season since winning 20 games eight seasons ago.