St. Peter’s Prep Controls Early, Holds Off CBA to Punch Ticket to Sectional Final

coverage by: AJ Morales

St. Peter’s Prep came into Lincroft as the No. 3 seed with one goal in mind — control the game early and never give Christian Brothers Academy the momentum it needed to flip the script. That’s exactly what the Marauders did.

Behind a strong start from Nick Ferdinand and Mason Santiago, St. Peter’s Prep built an early lead and maintained control throughout, defeating CBA 59–46 in the South Jersey Non-Public A semifinal. With the win, the Marauders advance to the sectional championship and move one step closer to Rutgers.

From the opening minutes, Prep dictated the pace. Ferdinand found his rhythm quickly, knocking down a pair of early three-pointers that gave the Marauders confidence and forced CBA to adjust defensively. Santiago complemented that effort inside, battling on the glass and creating second-chance opportunities that kept possessions alive.

The defensive effort was just as important. Prep forced turnovers, contested shots and controlled the boards, making it difficult for the Colts to establish any consistent offensive flow. By halftime, the Marauders had built a 28–12 advantage, with CBA struggling to find its rhythm.

The Colts began to show signs of life in the second half. Izayah Cooper started to heat up offensively, attacking the rim and knocking down perimeter shots to keep CBA within reach. Cooper finished with 20 points to lead the Colts and sparked several runs that threatened to shift the momentum.

But every time CBA made a push, St. Peter’s Prep answered.

Ferdinand continued to deliver timely buckets while Santiago controlled the interior, finishing with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Ferdinand added 20 points and 11 boards in a dominant all-around performance, helping the Marauders maintain breathing room throughout the final two quarters.

Prep’s balance proved decisive. Bishop Foster chipped in 11 points, and the team’s defensive discipline prevented the Colts from putting together the type of run needed to erase the deficit.

After the game, Santiago reflected on what the win meant during his senior season. “Every year I’ve been here — freshman, sophomore, junior, now senior year, every win just feels even better,” Santiago said. “This one feels even greater. My teammates came through every single day like they came through today, and I’m excited to play on Monday.”

As one of the veterans on the roster, Santiago also spoke about his leadership role with the younger players.

“I always try to give words of encouragement,” he said. “Sometimes I’m yelling at them, but it’s always to help them get better. A lot of the younger guys look up to me, so I try to lead by example.”

That leadership showed Thursday night as the Marauders stayed composed despite CBA’s second-half push.

Now St. Peter’s Prep turns its attention to the sectional final. With a veteran core, balanced scoring and defensive intensity, the Marauders are playing their best basketball at the right time and they’re one win away from taking the next step toward Rutgers.