ROBBINSVILLE — New Jersey high school basketball now has a mercy rule.
The clock will run once a team’s lead reaches 35 points after halftime, under a measure adopted Wednesday by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s executive committee. The clock will continue to run in the second half even if the lead dips below 35 points.
The only way the clock returns to normal is if the game miraculously goes to overtime. This rule is in effect for the regular season and state tournament. It is only for varsity games.
The Cape-Atlantic League was one of the few leagues in the state already with a basketball mercy rule. The CAL rule called for a running clock after a 35-point lead in the second half. Normal time resumed when the lead dipped below 30.
The NJSIAA rule now supersedes the CAL regulation.
“Now there’s consistency for officials,” NJSIAA executive director Colleen Maguire said. “We saw some confusion in crossover or non-conference games.”
Wrestling changes
The Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference college basketball tournament in Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall means more work for high school wrestlers.
Wrestlers will be able to participate in 33 regular season matches this season up from 30 in 2024-25.
The reason is simple: The MAAC tournaments in Atlantic City will be held a week earlier than normal in 2026. That means the state individual wrestling tournament at Boardwalk Hall is a week later, which means the wrestling regular season is a week longer.
The change is only for this season.
“We’re not quite sure where we are long-term,” Maguire said, “with our dates with Boardwalk Hall.”
The MAAC currently has a three-year deal with Boardwalk Hall that runs through 2026. Atlantic City and Albany, New York, are expected to contend to host the MAAC Tournament in the future.
The NJSIAA also announced its wrestling district and region alignment for 2026.
What follows are the districts in Region 8 for schools in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties (local schools in bold):
District 29: Eastern; Gateway co-op with Woodbury; Hammonton; Highland co-op with Triton, Lindenwold; Overbrook; St. Augustine; St. Joseph Academy; Williamstown; and Winslow.
District 30: Absegami; Atlantic City; Holy Spirit; Kingsway; Mainland; Middle Township; Oakcrest; Pinelands; and Southern Regional.
District 31: Buena; Cedar Creek; Cumberland; Delsea; Egg Harbor; Millville; Pennsville; Schalick; Vineland; and Woodstown.
District 32: Clayton co-op with Glassboro; Clearview; Deptford; Lower Cape May; Paulsboro; Penns Grove; Pitman; and Salem.
Transfer update
NJSIAA chief compliance officer Paul Popadiuk said the organization has dealt with more than 1,800 transfers for the 2025-26 school year.
There has been only appeal, according to NJSIAA attorney Steve Goodell. The NJSIAA passed a comprehensive update to its transfer rules in 2023.
“This (the lone appeal) gives you an understanding of how efficiently the new transfer rule is running,” Goodell said.
Contact: 609-272-7209
MMcGarry@PressofAC.com
X @ACPressMcGarry
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Mike McGarry
Staff Writer
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