BCG Game Preview – Mainland Regional @ Somerville – Group 3 State Semifinal – November 22, 2024

Somerville will be playing in its first-ever state semifinal. The Pioneers won their first sectional championship since 2017, and its 9th overall. The Ville will be hosting a Mainland Regional team that won the 2023 Group 4 State Championship and is making its third straight state semifinal appearance.

State Playoff Predictions by Bracket – State Semifinals

For the third time in the last four years, the Big Central Conference has two of its member schools playing in state semifinals/regional finals. This year, the Phillipsburg Stateliners and Somerville Pioneers are representing the BCC in this round. The BCC has had 7 teams reach this round of the state playoffs. The 2021 Hillsborough Raiders are the only BCC school to have a win in this round.

Phillipsburg Stateliners – Big Central Conference (2020-2024) 

The third time was the charm for the Phillipsburg Stateliners. After losing in back-to-back NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2 Group 5 Championship Games in 2022 and 2023, the Liners defeated Northern Highlands in the 2024 NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 title game, 13-11. It was Phillipsburg’s first sectional championship since 2018. The Stateliners have won 80 percent of their games since the formation of the Big Central Conference.