Bubblicious

Montgomery (7-9), Union Catholic (8-9) and Plainfield (8-7) sit on the bubble as we close in on the state tournament cutoff. Teams must be .500 or better by the end of Saturday's games to qualify.
Here are my feelings on each team:

Montgomery: The Cougars entered the week 5-9, but consecutive wins against Ewing and Franklin have put them in a good position. Beating Franklin for the second time this season Tuesday night leads me to believe this team is on a mission. Last season, Montgomery qualified as the 12th seed in North Jersey, Section 2, Group III and won two games. The coach has changed, but the team's fight has not. Still, the road is not entirely open. Montgomery must still avenge an earlier loss to Bridgewater-Raritan -- which is playing its best basketball of the season right now -- on Thursday night and then defeat up-tempo Gill St. Bernard's in the second round of the Somerset County Tournament on Saturday afternoon. I'll be in attendance Saturday, so I hope to see that extra ingredient for my story. If Montgomery gets past BR on Thursday, I say the Cougars beat Gill and qualify. If they lose and are eliminated from states, I say Gill adds to their misery.

Union Catholic: 30-for-30. That's coach Kathy Matthews' streak when it comes to qualifying for state tournaments. But what might be one of the most impressive stats owned by any high school coach in state history, could come to a sad end Thursday. Union Catholic must beat Westfield, ranked No. 9 in the Courier News Top 10, to qualify. The Vikings were in a similar position last year, and beat Hillside in a must-win to extend the streak. Matthews has said she is very fond of this particular team because they are showing her how to have fun again. Now the question is: Can they win one for this legend? I say, UC gets it done.

Plainfield: As far as I can tell, Plainfield is still scheduled to play East Side on Thursday and South Brunswick on Saturday. If this remains true, enough cannot be said about coach Elizabeth Clark's fearlessness. Plainfield could cancel its South Brunswick game Saturday and clinch its berth regardless of Thursday's outcome. It may sound bush league, but you would be surprised how often this happens. Teams have cancelled a whole week's worth of games in the past.
Because of this gutsy move, my heart says to say Plainfield makes it. My mind, however, says Thursday is do-or-die time because the Cardinals are not beating South Brunswick.

UPDATE: I talked with Clark on Wednesday night. They are indeed playing South Brunswick whether they win or lose Thursday.

Clark's thoughts on canceling:

1. "It's unethical. There's already a contract between Plainfield and South Brunswick."
2. "Our girls need to earn their way into the states. They have to earn it. I don't anything handed to them."
3. "I will never do it as long as I'm a high school coach."

The point should be moot soon, however, because Plainfield should cruise past East Side, which it defeated 59-19 on Dec. 19.