North 2 Group 3 Championship: Colonia 62, Mendham 43

On its home floor and in search of its fourth consecutive sectional title, Colonia overcame a sluggish start to run away with things in the closing minutes behind the versatile two-way play of star junior [player_tooltip player_id='1595674' first='Aiden' last='Derkack']. Derkack would finish with a gritty 14 points while being faceguarded and double teamed throughout. Mendham senior [player_tooltip player_id='2107790' first='Kevin' last='King'] led all scorers with 23 points. The Patriots advance to a state semifinal matchup next week, looking to avenge a loss in the same round last year to eventual state champion Ramapo.    Sometimes the truest test of a great player can come in their subpar games, where you see if they have it in them to persevere through the struggles and still emerge with a win. Derkack did just that, overcoming some offensive struggles to stuff the stat sheet and come up with a series of crucial plays to spark his team. A natural guard, he used his size to establish himself in the post and on the glass against a guard-heavy team. Derkack never forced his own offense, generating efficient workmanlike buckets near the cup and using his gravity to make plays for teammates out of double teams. In an age where some highly-touted prospects play more to the crowd or the cameras, it's refreshing to see a leader and competitor like Derkack who just figures out ways to win even when he doesn't have everything clicking. Tonight's championship represents just the latest accomplishment in what's quickly becoming a legendary high school career.     Coming off the bench in a sixth man role, Rodriguez made the most of his minutes with 12 huge points on near-perfect shooting to help swing the outcome. A knockdown shooter with picturesque mechanics, he converted on three spotup attempts from deep, including a consecutive pair in the fourth quarter to really break things open. In limited opportunity, Rodriguez also flashed some ball skills in space to create his own shot. The level of polish and confidence he showed as a freshman on the big stage was a strong indicator of the bright future that awaits Rodriguez as he looks bound for D1 attention in years to come.     The unquestioned leader of a feisty, experienced lineup, King applied pressure from start to finish with his crafty dribble-drive attack en route to a game-high 23 points. Equipped with a muscular frame and outstanding balance, he routinely worked his way to the cup using series of spins and pivots, finishing strong with either hand or getting to 2 feet for a kickout. King was aggressive from start to finish without ever even bordering on being out of control. It would likely rake a more dangerous perimeter stroke to earn him a scholarship, but there are certainly a number of small-college programs that could use King's tough-nosed, high-IQ play.     With Colonia off to a slow start and facing an early deficit, Wortman provided a necessary spark with his energy and versatility. A hybrid forward who works both inside and out, he established himself vs. an undersized defense with activity-based interior scoring. He also got into transition for a momentum-swinging dunk before tossing in consecutive 3s to open the second half to keep Mendham at bay. A talented wide receiver on the football field, Wortman should have a fair share of small-college programs gauging his interest in pursuing hoops at the next level.     Much like his senior leader in King, Wehmeyer stayed in attack mode from the opening tip with a heady, methodical attack off the dribble. With a polished, airtight handle and pristine footwork, he drove effectively to both sides for a series of crafty finishes using either hand. Wehmeyer also showed good fight on the defensive end, making Derkack work for much of the game before fouling out. We'll want to see more from him as a shooter in years to come, but the young guard should certainly be on college radars in the future as he steps into a featured role at Mendham moving forward.

On its home floor and in search of its fourth consecutive sectional title, Colonia overcame a sluggish start to run away with things in the closing minutes behind the versatile two-way play of star junior Aiden Derkack Aiden Derkack 6'6" | SG Spire | 2026 State #50 Nation OH . Derkack would finish with a gritty 14 points while being faceguarded and double teamed throughout. Mendham senior Kevin King Kevin King 6'0" | CG Mendham | 2025 State NJ led all scorers with 23 points. The Patriots advance to a state semifinal matchup next week, looking to avenge a loss in the same round last year to eventual state champion Ramapo.