Tag: njsiaa

Watch: Manasquan applauds as Camden, the team that controversially knocked them out of the playoffs, wins the state championship

Manasquan boys attend the state finals to watch Camden win the championship.

The Manasquan boys basketball team was in attendance on Saturday afternoon for the state championship, just days removed from a controversial semifinal loss in the state semifinals.

The NJSIAA, the governing body for New Jersey high school sports, said this week that the wrong call was made in Camden’s (Camden, New Jersey) 46-45 win over Manasquan (Manasquan, New Jersey) in the state semifinals. Despite this fact, Manasquan stood and respectfully applauded Camden’s win in the state tournament.

It was an impressive display of sportsmanship, even as Manasquan had to feel that they belonged on the court at Rutgers on Saturday afternoon.

On Tuesday night, Manasquan had an apparent game-winner waived off by the game officials, a decision that gave Camden the win in the state semifinals. Video replay confirmed the original call by the officiating crew that the putback from Griffin Linstra of Manasquan had beaten the buzzer.

The original call, that Linstra made the shot in time to beat Camden, should have stood, giving Manasquan the win.

Instead, inexplicably, the basket was overturned and Camden was heading to Jersey Mike’s Arena on the Rutgers campus for the state championship.

 

On Wednesday, the NJSIAA acknowledged the officiating error in the game.

First New Jersey statewide girls ice hockey tournament will start this season

Chatham athletic director Bill Librera is organizing the first statewide girls ice hockey tournament in New Jersey this season.

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Lexi Campbell never meant to be a figure skater.

Though Campbell took to the ice immediately, she wasn’t particularly interested in becoming a delicate, graceful nymph.

Even at age 5, she wanted to play hockey.

With the encouragement of her figure skating coach – who noticed she “skated like a hockey player” after landing jumps – Campbell tried a Randolph boys rec team. She hasn’t stopped playing hockey since.

“Hockey, no matter what team I’m on, has brought me my second family,” Campbell said. “I felt like I was home, doing what I love most, and what I know how to do. Just being out there with the team, being able to help all the new players too, it’s not about me. It’s about me helping them learn what I know how to do best. Seeing them get happy when they make their first accurate pass, or their faces light up when they lift the puck over the goalie for the first time, it’s absolutely priceless.”

Campbell is a sophomore defender for the Randolph High School girls ice hockey team, as well as for the Ironbound Elite travel program. She played alongside boys in Randolph, watching the high school team play in the NJSIAA championship game when she was in elementary school and “wanting that glory and that feeling.”

Campbell may finally have her opportunity this winter.

Chatham senior Caroline Hannon smiles as she skates by the bench during hockey practice on Nov. 19. (Photo: Viorel Florescu / NorthJersey.com)

Chatham athletic director Bill Librera is organizing the first statewide girls ice hockey tournament, run concurrently with the NJSIAA Tournament. The girls final will be played at Codey Arena the same night in early March as two of the boys Group semifinals.

Read the Daily Record for more.