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Shabazz and East Orange go down to the wire, Montgomery and Hillborough battle for a spot in the Somerset County semifinals, and more action from the court

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The first Saturday in February gives us our first taste of county/conference tournament season, plus a pair of great matchups in South Jersey. Shabazz and East Orange go down to the wire in the Essex County Tournament. Montgomery and Hillborough go to battle for a spot in the Somerset County semifinals. Then Salem and Cherry Hill East tangle as part of the Battle by the Bay in Atlantic City, while Eastern and Cedar Creek square off in a great non-conference clash.

Why it matters

These early-season matchups provide a glimpse into the competitive landscape of high school basketball in New Jersey, as teams jockey for position in their respective county and conference tournaments. The results of these games can have significant implications for seeding, momentum, and ultimately, championship aspirations.

The details

In the Essex County Tournament quarterfinal, Shabazz edged East Orange 79-66 in double overtime. In the Somerset County Tournament quarterfinal, Montgomery defeated Hillborough 53-38, with Penn commit Ethan Lin leading the Cougars with 21 points. In a non-conference clash, Eastern defeated Cedar Creek 69-55, with Keystone baseball commit Sean Karbach scoring a game-high 23 points for the Vikings. And in the Battle by the Bay event in Atlantic City, Cherry Hill East defeated Salem 74-56, with Chris Delgado leading the Cougars with 17 points.

  • The first Saturday in February marked the start of county/conference tournament season in New Jersey.
  • The Essex County Tournament quarterfinal between Shabazz and East Orange took place on February 7, 2026.
  • The Somerset County Tournament quarterfinal between Montgomery and Hillborough also took place on February 7, 2026.
  • The non-conference matchup between Eastern and Cedar Creek occurred on February 7, 2026.
  • The Battle by the Bay event in Atlantic City, featuring Cherry Hill East and Salem, took place on February 7, 2026.

The players

Ethan Lin

A Penn commit who led Montgomery with a game-high 21 points in their victory over Hillborough.

Sean Karbach

A Keystone baseball commit who scored a game-high 23 points for Eastern in their win over Cedar Creek.

Chris Delgado

The leading scorer for Cherry Hill East with 17 points in their victory over Salem at the Battle by the Bay event.

Neziah Spence

The top scorer for Salem with 21 points in their loss to Cherry Hill East.

Mike Simborski

Added 14 points for Montgomery in their win over Hillborough, extending his streak of scoring in double figures to 22 straight games.

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What they’re saying

“After falling behind 10-0 to start the game, Penn commit Ethan Lin led Montgomery (19-3) with a game-high 21 points, guiding the Cougars to a victory and a spot in the Somerset County Tournament Semifinals.”

— Ethan Lin, Penn commit (Jersey Sports Zone)

“Keystone baseball commit Sean Karbach led the way with a game-high 23 points in the victory.”

— Sean Karbach, Keystone baseball commit (Jersey Sports Zone)

What’s next

Montgomery will clash with Rutgers Prep in a rematch of last year's Somerset County Tournament semifinal.

The takeaway

These early-season matchups showcase the depth and talent of high school basketball in New Jersey, as teams battle for county and conference supremacy. The results of these games will have a significant impact on the postseason landscape, with players like Ethan Lin, Sean Karbach, and Chris Delgado leading their teams to important victories.