HNT/GMC Boys Basketball Top 10

1. Linden (17-3): Linden lost its first game in almost six weeks after winning 12 straight games. The loss came at the hands of nationally ranked Montverde Academy in Florida on Friday at Kean University. The Tigers, which earned the No. 1 seed in the Union County Tournament, bounced back with a win over Plainfield on Sunday. Linden earned a bye into the UCT quarterfinals, and will face the winner of No. 8 Union and No. 16 Cranford on Saturday.

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2. St. Joseph (Met.) (20-1): After starting the season at 19-0, St. Joseph was dealt its first loss of the season on Feb. 7 against Old Bridge in double overtime. The Falcons, which were named the No. 1 seed in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament on Friday, rebounded with a win over Bayonne on Saturday and faced off against Christ the King on Monday. St. Joseph earned a bye into the GMCT first round and will face the winner of No. 16 Edison and No. 17 Colonia on Thursday.

3. Sayreville (17-5): Sayreville has won seven-straight games and was named the third seed in the GMC Tournament, earning a bye into Thursday's quarterfinals where it will face the winner of No. 14 J.P. Stevens and No. 19 New Brunswick. The Bombers will host Wayne Hills on Tuesday.

4. South Brunswick (18-3): South Brunswick has won two in a row since falling to St. Joseph (Met.) on Feb. 4. The Vikings, which advanced to the GMC Tournament final for the first time since 1993 last season, was given the No. 2 seed and a bye into Thursday's quarterfinals. South Brunswick hosted New Egypt on Monday and will face the winner of No. 18 Timothy Christian and No. 15 Perth Amboy on Thursday.

5. Old Bridge (15-7): Old Bridge has won six of its last seven games, including a double-overtime victory over St. Joseph (Met.) on Feb. 7. The Knights were named the No. 5 seed in the GMCT and will host the winner of No. 12 East Brunswick and No. 21 South River in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

6. Rahway (16-2): Rahway has won nine games in a row, including a win over Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Feb. 7, a team the Indians lost to in overtime on Jan. 17. The Indians, the No. 10 seed in the Union County Tournament, won their first game over No. 15 Hillside and will face No. 7 Westfield in the next round on Wednesday.

7. Woodbridge (16-4): Woodbridge has won two in a row since falling to Sayreville on 75-72 on Feb. 3. The Barrons, the No. 4 seed in the GMCT, will face the winner of No. 13 South Plainfield and No. 20 Middlesex in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

8. Bishop Ahr (14-8): Bishop Ahr has won three in a row since falling to South Plainfield on Feb. 1, with wins over Middlesex, Metuchen and New Brunswick. The Argonauts are the No. 7 seed in the GMCT and will face the winner of No. 10 J.F. Kennedy and No. 23 Metuchen on Thursday.

9. Piscataway (11-8): Piscataway has gone 2-2 in its last four games, with wins over Monroe and J.P. Stevens and losses against Bishop Ahr and East Brunswick. The Chiefs, the No. 9 seed in the GMCT, will face No. 24 Spotswood in the preliminary round on Tuesday.

10. Carteret (17-6): Carteret has also gone 2-2 in its last four games, falling to Rahway and South Brunswick while beating Metuchen and South River. The Ramblers, the No. 6 seed in the GMCT, will face the winner of No. 11 North Brunswick and No. 22 Monroe in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Records through Sunday. Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego