February 23, 2019 Volume-XI Issue-3
Kevin WILLIAMS Shore Sports Network Director kevin.williams@townsquaremedia.com
Steve MEYER Shore Sports Networkn Director High School Division steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com
732-233-4460 Managing Editor BOB Badders // bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com
Senior Content Providers MATT Manley // mmanley21@gmail.com GREG Glerner // glerner3@verizon.net
Shore Sports Network Journal is published by: Townsquare Media 8 Robbins Street Toms River, NJ 08753
Copyright 2019 Townsquare Media . All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of Shore Sports Network is prohibited
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2019 Shore Basketball Coaches Association Sr. All-Star Games By
T
Matt Manley
- Senior Staff writer
he Shore Sports Network is proud to announce this year’s Jersey Mike’s Shore Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Games on Thursday, March 21 at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River.
Finals and Tournament of Champions as well as many other tournaments and special events. The girls game will tip off at 6 p.m. on March 21 with the boys game to follow at 7:45. Admission for the doubleheader is $5 for Adults, $3 for Students/Seniors and free for High School and College Coaches, Athletic Directors and Children 12 and under. For the fourth year the “I’m Possible Slam Dunk Contest” will be held at halftime of the boys game with Ranney’s Scottie Lewis expected to defend his title for the third year. Look for details to be announced shortly. There will also be a 3 POINT CONTEST held at halftime of the girls game.
This is the third year the Boys and Girls games will be held at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, which allows many of the Shore's top players to put their talents on display in what has become the mecca of Check our website for more information: basketball in New Jersey. The arena is home to the NJSIAA Group www.shoresportsnetwork.com
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE
2019 ALL-STAR
GAME DAY PROGRAM Be part of a tradition at the Jersey Shore that reaches a large and enthusiastic Basketball audience from Monmouth and Ocean counties by having your business featured in this year's 2019 Shore Sports Network Shore Basketball Coaches Senior All-Star Game official game day program. The detailed game program put together by the Shore Sports Network staff not only recounts the past season and highlights this year's group of All-Stars, it also serves as a keepsake for all the players, coaches and fans involved. Not only is the program a chance for your business to reach a wide and passionate audience, it is a chance to become a permanent part of a lasting memory for many members of the Shore Conference Basketball community.
CALL TODAY 732-233-4460 3
By
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ast year, the Freehold Township boys basketball failed to qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament and it was not hard to figure out why. The Patriots had little senior influence, they played in a deep, talented Shore Conference Class A North division loaded with senior talent and on top of that, they played most of the season with their best player either out or hobbled due to injury. After last year’s disappointment, coach Brian Golub had no intention of letting his now-senior-laden team lean on those same excuses. Last year was last year and this year, the Patriots entered the season healthy and with plenty of experience, albeit as a 9-13 team from a year ago. The struggle of 2017-18 has led to the success of 201819, with the Patriots rolling at 19-3 and back in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals for the first time since winning the conference tournament in 2006-07. Its SCT wins over Brick Memorial and Holmdel are the culmination of a long season of consistency that both helped Freehold Township earn a favorable No. 4 seed and find a way to win when challenged by a hot team during the quarterfinals. After fighting off a furious comeback by Holmdel and reaching the SCT semifinals for the first time in 12 years, Freehold Township is the latest Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week. One of Freehold Township’s earliest announcements of its return to prominence was an 81-46 win over Brick Memorial in the WOBM Christmas Classic opening round. In its first SCT game, Freehold Township had to deal with that same seniorladen Mustangs team, now intent on proving that first game was a fluke. In some ways, Brick Memorial was successful but ultimately, Freehold Township controlled the game and rolled to a 69-58 win. In the next round, the Patriots faced a Holmdel squad not so different from themselves. The Hornets are a guard-heavy outfit with balanced scoring and a deep bench – the only difference is Holmdel relies on almost no senior talent. The latter part of the season, the Hornets have blossomed into a team that can do some serious tournament damage over the next 13 months and high-profile teams like Red Bank Catholic and Rumson-Fair Haven found out the hard way in February losses to Holmdel. For the first 10 minutes of its SCT quarterfinal game against the Hornets, Freehold Township appeared as though it would have no such trouble against the No. 12 seed. The Patriots stormed out to a 26-9 lead and maintained a 34-17 advantage
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Matt Manley - Senior Staff writer
t
hroughout the 2019 season, Jersey Mike’s and Shore Sports Network will be selecting a Team of the Week based on its performance over the prior weekend
with a little more than two minutes left in the first half. All of a sudden, Holmdel woke up and by the end of the third quarter, Freehold Township found itself in a 37-37 game and fighting for its SCT life. In the fourth quarter, Freehold Township played like a team with the senior advantage. They scored the first six points of the quarter and re-established a 10-point lead with under four minutes to go. The game wasn’t over, though. Holmdel made one last push and twice cut Freehold Township’s lead to two, even regaining possession with a chance to tie the game or take the lead. After surviving a possession in which the Hornets missed three potential game-tying three-pointers, Freehold Township bumped the lead back up to four on two free throws by senior Seth Meisner with 11 seconds left. The Hornets cut the Patriots lead back to two at 58-56 with four seconds left and senior Cristian Corcione answered with a free throw to push it to 59-56. Corcione missed the second of two shots from the line and Holmdel’s scramble to get off a tying shot ended with junior Derek Chan coming up short on a half-court. Corcione led the Patriots with 18 points in the win while senior Greg Billups – who started as a sophomore on Freehold Township’s 25-3 squad but missed most of his junior season with an ankle injury – scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half. Billups leads Freehold Township’s balanced scoring attack this season with 13.9 points per game through 22 games. Freehold Township is the No. 3 seed in the Central Jersey Group IV Tournament, which tips off next week. The Patriots are a serious contender to win the section and if they can overcome a field that includes other title hopefuls like No. 2 Old Bridge, No. 5 Middletown South and top seed and defending sectional champion Trenton, Freehold Township could be celebrating its first ever sectional title within the next two weeks.
Week six
Ocean
Week Three
RBC
T
he Red Bank Regional boys basketball team entered the final week of the regular season with little to play for other than pride. With a 6-11 record, the Bucs were eliminated from Shore Conference Tournament contention and their opening-round NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Tournament was still three weeks away. Facing one of their toughest weeks of competition this season, pride turned out to be enough of a motivator for the Red Bank players. In three games last week, Red Bank took down two Shore Conference Tournament teams including one of the top-five seeds - and beat the Shore Conference's No. 1 scorer to pick up a head of steam pushing toward the state tournament, as well as earn the Week 7 Jersey Mike's Team of the Week Award. The Bucs opened their week with a 54-47 win over Matawan, which was the No. 15 seed in the Shore Conference Tournament. Junior Drew Valentino led the way with 19 points and Red Bank avenged an overtime loss at home to the Huskies earlier in the year. The next triumph came against Middletown North and its senior scoring dynamo, Rob Higgins. The Bucs dominated the Lions, 53-37, and bottled up Higgins (28.4 points per game) and limited him
Week Five
Midd South
Week Two
Wall
to 19 points. Valentino again delivered for Red Bank by scoring 18 points while senior Dean Hottmann posted 10 points and 11 rebounds. Wins over Matawan and Middletown North would have constituted a good enough showing for Red Bank, but the Bucs saved their loudest statement for the weekend. On Saturday in front of a spirited home crowd, Red Bank rallied from a nine-point deficit in the fourth quarter to upset Rumson-Fair Haven in the Ridge Road Rivalry game, 50-47. Junior Matt Weidman spearheaded the comeback win with 23 points and senior Liam Joyce poured in 18 to help the Bucs knock off the No. 5 seed in the Shore Conference Tournament and No. 6 team in the Shore Sports Network Top 10. On top of its standout play this week, Red Bank also stepped up by turning its rivalry game against Rumson on Saturday into a fundraiser for one of its more accomplished alumni. The Ridge Road Rivalry was the first game of a doubleheader with Ranney and Asbury Park and the all the proceeds from tickets sales were donated to Max Strong, which raises money for the family of Ranney coach Tahj Holden, whose son Max is fighting pediatric cancer, and other families facing childhood cancer. Holden is a former standout center at Red Bank who led the Bucs to a Shore Conference Tournament championship before going on to win an NCAA championship at Maryland in 2001-02. Holden now coaches the No. 1 team in the state, which beat Asbury Park in the second end of the double-header, 72-47.
Week Four
TR North
Week One
Matawan
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THE THREE AMIGOS OF THE SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT By
Kevin Williams
- Shore Sports Network Director
ike they did throughout the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds you’ll find Nick Pizzulli, Tom Stark and Randy Westrol courtside for tonight’s championship games.
L
Once the games begin they can watch as fans but before and after they have other matters to attend to. Pizzulli is the director of the boys tournament, Stark handles the girls tournament and Westrol assists both. The three are well known throughout the Shore Conference having served as longtime athletic administrators. Pizzulli is “retired” after working for many years at Red Bank Regional High School and later as an Interim AD. Likewise Westrol ended his career as the athletic director at Holmdel High School before returning to an interim post as well this past year. Both remain very active as Pizzuli is the Shore Conference Scheduler and Westrol continues to be involved in AAU Basketball and runs the Coaches Choice Girls Showcase every January. Stark is the current Athletic Director at Keansburg High School and also the Shore Conference B Central Division VP. The three have worked together on all aspects of the Shore Conference Tournament for years and take the responsibility of running the marquee event of the winter season very seriously. Once the champions are crowned tonight they can take a deep breath and then start planning things for 2020.
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left to right,
R a n d y We s t r o l , To m S t a r k & N i c k P i z z u l l i
7
E
very week this regular season, Shore Conference Basketball fans will have their chance to vote for the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey/ Shore Sports Network Basketball Player of the Week on our website.
W
eek
7
Player of the Week winner is
Fr e e h o l d To w n s h i p cl o s e d i t s r e g u l a r s e a s o n w i t h t h r e e more wins and earned the No. 4 seed in the Shore C o n f e r e n c e To u r n a m e n t . A s u s u a l , t h e Pa t r i o t s r o d e a t o t a l team effort to the strong week with Billups playing his usual part. The scored a team-high nine points in a win over Marlboro, 12 in a win over Middletown South and put up 20 in a win over Colts Neck to cap the stretch. The win over Marlboro was the ultima te team win, with the Pa triots bea ting a fello w top-10 team at the Shore, 51-46, without a single player scoring in double-figures. Billups has turned in a strong senior campaign, leading Fr e e h o l d To w n s h i p a t 1 4 p o i n t s p e r g a m e . T h e 6 - f o o t - 5 swingman missed the better part of the past two seasons due to ankle sprains - with last year's setting the Pa triots back
W
eek
6
Player of the Week winner is
With a healthy Billups and an experienced roster, Freehold To w n s h i p i s 1 8 - 3 a n d w i l l r o l l i n t o t h e S h o r e C o n f e r e n c e To u r n a m e n t s e m i f i n a l s S u n d a y i n To m s R i v e r a g a i n s t Holmdel. A win over the Hornets would put Freehold Township in the SCT semifinals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2006-07. Billups cruised to this week's win with 42 percent of the v o t e . Wa l l s o p h o m o r e Pa t L a c e y f i n i s h e d s e c o n d w i t h 1 7 . 6 percent, St. John Vianney senior James Rapley collected 12.6 and Manasquan junior Kieran Flana gan pulled in 11.
Freehold Boro’s Quincy Davis Manalapan, Freehold Boro's third win over the Braves this season. Davis – a standout receiver on the football team as well – also scored 14 points on Saturday in a 49-43 loss to Toms River East.
Davis scored 16 points to put the Colonials in position to shock Middletown South on Tuesday and sophomore Ryan Neely finished the job with a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds.
Davis won the latest Player of the Week vote with 43.6 percent of the vote and by a 27-percent margin over runner-up Stephen Braunstein of Christian Brothers Academy. Barnegat sophomore Jaxon Baker also broke the 10-percent barrier with 14 percent of the vote.
5
Week
Andrew
3
Week
Niles
schulz
pinelands
e a r l y o n t h e w a y t o a 9 - 1 3 r e c o r d . A y e a r e a r l i e r, h e w a s enjoying a breakout sophomore campaign before suffering the first of the two ankle injuries in early Januar y.
The Colonials two-sport senior standout stepped up during an impressive week for his team, which included an upset win over Middletown South and a third win over Manalapan.
Davis then led a balanced effort with 12 points in a win over
Week
Freehold Twp’s Greg Billups
Quincy
Haliburton Week
4
Matawan
Washington Week
2
Luke
Tahaj
pinelands
Mater dei Prep
wiatrowski
1
Matawan
Parland
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 steve.meyer townsquaremedia.com 8
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1 st. John Vianney
”lady Lancers” (21 -2) By Gregg Lerner
Shore Sports Network Contributor
Road to the Final: Defeated No. 16 Jackson Memorial, 72-40 No. 8 Middletown South, 66-38, No. 4 Manasquan, 53-51
T
he fire eternally burns in the belly of St. John Vianney, each class of players driven by the incentive of authoring a championship chapter into the annals of one of the most storied girls basketball programs in New Jersey.
But, make no mistake, a hunger resides within the Lad y Lancers as well. This marks their fourth consecutive bid at an SCT cro wn with each of the last two ending in defea t, a trend they hope to buck. In order to do so, it will all start with a defense tha t will be put to
Those who do join a sorority with exclusive membership. At alumni reunions, where former players lace ‘em up to relive days gone by, no one wants to be left out of when the discussion eventually turns to the topic of titles reaped. The Holmdel school is home to an unprecedented 13 Shore Conference Tournament championship. There’s a good chance the current cast of Lad y Lancers could bestow histor y upon the uninformed as easily as those responsible for crafting it but this group is more about making it than reciting it. Senior Sarah Karpell kno ws the lore perha ps better than anyone. Certainly, she’s heard a tale or two from her mother, Dawn, who won three as a Lady Lancer in the ‘90s and has coached her alma ma ter to another in 2016 with her daughter getting a taste of the glor y as a freshman reser ve. Time is running out on the two to fetch a second together, their last opportunity to do so coming Saturday night when top-seeded St. John Vianney collides with third-seeded Manchester in the SCT championship at 7 p.m. at Monmouth University. A win would take the two full circle, not to mention, go a long way toward easing any lingering pain from a year ago, when the Lancers bo wed to Manasquan, 70-52, in the title tilt. St. John Vianney got its revenge on Tuesday, outlasting the defending champion Warriors, 53-51, to secure their 22nd appearance in the final against a hungr y Hawks’ squad making its first.
See
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SJV
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SJV
Cont from page 10
the test by the blazing quickness and floor balance of Manchester. Vianney has the committed defenders to neutralize a lot of what the Ha wks seek to accomplish, its relentless man-to-man and haste-producing fullcourt pressure surrendering 31.4 points an outing. Karpell (7.5 ppg., 3.9 a pg., 3.0 spg.) and fello w senior guard Rahmena Henderson (6.2 ppg., 1.4 a pg., 4.3 rpg., 3.3 spg.) sink their teeth into defensive assignments, harassing ballhandlers with active hands designed for thiever y to spring the fast break. Brelynn Bellamy (9.2 ppg., 3.2 apg., 5.1 rpg., 4-0 spg.,), a lengthy 6-0 senior forward, and bruising 6-0 frontcourt partner Sajada Bonner (14.5 ppg., 1.5 apg., 4.7 rpg., 1.8 spg.) aren’t the least bit hesitant when it comes to the physicality tha t comes with challenging on the interior and each goes to the boards with a passion, getting aid in tha t department from 6-0 sophomore guard Ka tie Hill (8.2 ppg., 2.1 apg., 4.0 rpg., 1.8 spg.). At the opposite end, the Lady Lancers run sets with meticulous, calculated execution. Karpell is a deferring playmaker, geared to enhance the play of others yet aware of when to attack off the dribble or load up from 3-point range. Henderson is a slashing
penetrator who throws caution to the wind when she ventures inside, drawing fouls and trips to the line. Bellamy is coming off a signature performance. In Vianney’s semifinal win over Manasquan, she buried five 3-pointers, shot 6 of 12 from the field and totaled 17 points, a sign of her growth and confidence asserting herself into the shooting rotation.
“I took her out and told her they were leaving her open,” Karpell said of the early message she sent to Bellamy on Tuesday night. “I wanted her to look to attack it. When the ball is reversing and she’s balanced, she can knock ‘em down. She stepped up and a hit a lot of big ones for us.” Bonner has been the Lancers’ most consistent scorer, riding a string of 15 straight games finishing in double figures. While her primary work revolves in and around the paint, she, too, must be accounted for behind the 3-point line. The wild card is Madison St. Rose. The 5-9 southpaw two-guard (9.3 ppg., 1.7 apg., 3.4 rpg., 2.4 spg.) has been a solid presence all season but formally introduced herself to the Shore basketball community Tuesday night. Her versatility yielded pivotal contributions in the form of blocked shots, steals, rebounds and 11 points while her commitment was evident when she twice stepped into the path of oncoming traffic to absorb a pair of inspiring charge calls. There have been multiple occasions throughout the season in which every component has hit on all cylinders, resulting in some of SJV’s finest work. It will a duplication of such performances for the group of authors to pen their names into history.
St. John Vianney (21-2, 14-0 in B North) HEAD COACH: Dawn Karpell 13 th season (322-58, overall 398-101) PRIOR SCT FINAL APPEARANCES: 21 SCT CHAMPIONSHIPS: 13 (1990-92. 1994-99, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2016)
Photos by:
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3 manchester
”Hawks” (24-2) By Gregg Lerner
Shore Sports Network Contributor
Road to the Final: Defeated No. 19 Trinity Hall, 69-38. No. 6 Rumson-Fair Haven, 67-33 and No. 2 St. Rose, 62-45. While both were attractive feathers in the cap, neither topped the one added on Tuesday night when the Hawks upended second-seeded St. Rose, 62-45, in the semifinals. In the process, they checked off a number of notable boxes synonymous with victories in late February and March, but none bigger than closing out an excellent opponent in a high-stakes setting.
M
anchester will be shrewd in paying its respects to St. John Vianney. Players and staff will say the right things, expressing glee for reaching their first Shore Conference Tournament final and gratefulness for the opportunity to mark the special occasion by going against the program whose resume is littered with an unmatched 13 SCT title in the event’s 48-year history.
“This win gave us way more confidence than we already had,” said junior point guard Kemari Reynolds after the semifinal. “Coming off those losses to Saddle River Day and Bishop McNamara, we worked so hard to make sure we never lost again. We developed trust in each other. We’re going to give it our all, every
“With the tradition and history they have as a complete program, we’re really in a position with absolutely nothing to lose,” said Manchester coach Dave Beauchemin. “We just play our style of basketball and Saturday will be nothing different. It’s exciting.” The third-seeded Hawks are coy hunters, wise to dispense homage toward a revered opponent with thoughtful praise yet smart enough to conceal an internal confidence at the root of an impressive march to this grand stage, where they’ll get to see how they measure up against topseeded St. John Vianney in the SCT
single one of us.”
championship on Saturday Monmouth University at 7 p.m.
at
Whether it chooses to brim with conviction to support all its accomplished or tone down patting its own back, the record speaks for itself. Manchester took a step up this winter, elevating its schedule against non-conference challengers with the intent of polishing the edges for this time of year. Since dropping back-to-back games against reigning Non-Public B state champion Saddle River Day and national powerhouse Bishop McNamara of Maryland two days apart at separate showcases in early January, the Hawks have run off 16 consecutive wins, counting Gloucester Catholic and Long Island Lutheran among its victims.
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It should come as no surprise that Leilani Correa was the compass pointing the Hawks in the direction of West Long Branch. The elegant 6-0 senior guard was a picture of grace and efficiency while flirting with a rare quadruple-double, piling up 30 points, 12 rebounds, nine steals and six assists in a complete performance. The West Virginia pledge (16.4 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 2,7 apg., 3.5 spg., 36 3-pointers) is no stranger to big games, having competing in many during her first three years at Rutgers Prep, helping the Argonauts to a pair of Somerset County Tournament titles and two Non-Public B state championship before transferring to Manchester. Few players embrace magnified moments better than Correa,
whose exemplary play under the spotlight has had an infectious effect on those around her. Senior point guard Kemari Reynolds (10.1 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 5.0 apg., 3.1 spg., 15 3-pointers) conducts business with poise and purpose. Her slick drives, shooting range and attentive distribution balanced by fierce defense out high. Destiny Adams (14.0 ppg., 7.0 rpg., 2.4 apg., 2.2 bpg., 2.0 spg., 33 3-pointers), a 6-3 sophomore swing epitomizes where the game is at today, playing away from the paint with the same steady resolve she shows when gaining position in the low. Her senior sister, Dakota (10.1 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 1.2 apg., 1.5 bpg., 2.0 spg.), a rugged 5-10 forward, sets the hustle meter high for Manchester, relentless competing on the glass while providing a mid-range option as reliable as when she anchors on the blocks. And, junior guard Serenity Anderson (3.1 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 2.5 apg., 1.2 spg., 20 3-pointers), recognized for her willingness to set hard screens and illuminating teammates’ strengths with a heady pass, still has a delicate touch when she pulls the trigger from behind the arc.
“Everybody was doubting us,” said Destiny Adams of the feeling inside the Hawks’ camp leading into the encounter with St. Rose. “We felt, as a team, we were better than them and it pushed us. We like the competitiveness because it brings an urge to play harder”
While Manchester’s skill sets create an impressive dossier, including an offense that hums (70.5 ppg.) and a daring defensive style that yields 37.7 in return, what’s easy to overlook is the one physical element that came to light in the semifinal win over St. Rose. Yes, the Hawks have a talented pool of reserve guards in junior Nakaleigh Hayes-Jones, sophomore Morgan Brustman and freshman Myah Hourigan. However, the starting five is amongst the best conditioned in state, substantiated by the ironman effort Tuesday night that saw Manchester substitute not once, a credit to avoiding foul trouble. That’s nothing to balk at considering how often the Hawks like to run the floor, particularly breaking out in unison off the defensive class in what appears like an internal race to see who can get down the court the fastest in order to finish at the rim. So, yes, the task against St. John Vianney on Saturday night will be a daunting one, but not something Manchester can’t handle. It’s what the Hawks have been building for over the last two years, an express train on track and pulling into the station right on time.
MANCHESTER (24-2, 14-0 in Class B South) HEAD COACH: Dave Beauchemin 8th season 127-85 PRIOR SCT FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 Photos by:
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2019 SCT Championship Girls Team Rosters
NO NO
PLAYER PLAYER
HT HT
YR YR
POS POS
3
Emma Bruen
5’7
So.
G
4
Megan Cahalan
6’2
Fr.
10
Natalya Spinks
5’7
1 1
Rahmena Henderson
12 13 22
PLAYER
HT
YR
POS
2
Myah Hourigan
5’7
Fr.
G
F
3
Amyah Bray
5’6
Fr.
G
Sr.
G
5
Nahkaleigh Hayes-Jones
5’6
Jr.
G
5’9
Sr.
G
10
Kemari Reynolds
5’8
Jr.
G
Mikaela Drennan
5’4
So.
G
1 1
Leilani Correa
6’0
Sr.
F
Sarah Karpell
5’8
Sr.
G 13
Morgan Brustman
5’7
So.
G
15
Dakota Adams
5’10
Sr.
F
20
Destiny Adams
6’3
So.
F
24
Victoria Labrecque
5’4
Jr.
G
Madison St. Rose
5’9
Fr.
NO
G
23
Sajada Bonner
6’0
Sr.
F
25
Katie Hill
6’0
So.
G
3 1
Ashley O’Connor
5’8
Fr.
G
42
Brelynn Bellamy
6’0
Sr.
F
30
Serenity Anderson
5’9
Jr.
G
45
Christina Whitehead
5’10
So.
G
3 1
Emily Barron
5’3
So.
G
Head Coach: Dawn Karpell
Head Coach: Dave Beauchemin
A s s i s t a n t s : L y n d s a y R o we & F r a n k M o h l e r
Assistants: Troy Madison & Sar ah Paturzo
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2019 SCT Championship Boys Team Rosters
NO
PLAYER
HT
YR
POS
1
Bryan Antoine
6’5
Sr.
G
2
Elijah Perkins
6’2
Fr.
G
NO 1
PLAYER
HT
YR
POS
Kieran Flanagan
6’1
Jr.
G
2
Casey Mulligan
5’10
So.
G
3
Brad McCabe
6’5
Sr.
G
4
Jack Heenan
6’0
Sr.
G
3
Alex Klatsky
6’4
Sr.
G
4
Phillip Wheeler
6’9
Jr.
F
10
Benjamin Roy
6’0
Fr.
G
10
Ahmadu Sarnor
6’2
Sr.
G
1 1
Quinn Galvin
6’3
Sr.
F
1 1
Nick Troccoli
5’11
So.
G
13
Jack Collins
6’3
So.
G
14
Connor Walsh
6’3
So.
G
15
Max O’Shaughnessy
6’5
Jr.
F
20
Tim McEneny
6’7
Jr.
F
2 1
Shayne Leddy
5’10
So.
G
22
Xander Korolik
6’6
Sr.
F
25
Alex Galvan
6’6
Jr.
F
30
Andrew Solomon
6’5
So.
F
2 1
Brandon Klatsky
5’10
Fr.
G
23
Scottie Lewis
6’6
Sr.
G
24
Mike Dettro
6’1
Sr.
G
25
Cole Redman
6’0
Sr.
F
32
Chris Autino
6’7
Sr.
F
Head Coach: Tahj Hol den
H e a d C oach : A n d r ew B i l o d e a u
Assistants: Rich Sherman, John Tierney & Matt Malc
Assistants: Ryan Ritchie & Colin Eldridge 17
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1 Ranney School
”Panthers” (23 -3) By Matt Manley - Senior Staff writer
Road to the Final: Defeated No. 17 Jackson Liberty, 94-39; No. 8 Middletown South, 72-53; No. 4 Freehold Township, 78-50
T
hree years and some two months ago, Bryan Antoine, Scottie Lewis, Alex Klatsky and Chris Autino took the floor for their first high school basketball game at the Ranney School. On that night in December of 2015, the four-year hype train left the station for a nation-wide tour that took them to some of the the most significant venues in amateur and prep basketball.
From the moment the group enrolled together at Ranney, they dreamed big and in the grand scheme of things, they have already achieved things that a lot of people might not have been able to envision four years ago. They reached four straight Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinal rounds, made the semifinals each of the last three years and won Ranney’s first ever Shore Conference championship in any team sport. Other than the fourth trip to the quarterfinals and third trip to the semifinals, that list of accomplishments doesn’t even include this season. Now seniors and with classmate Ahmadu Sarnor also in his third year with the team, the Ranney core has added some even more noteworthy bullet points to its four-year résumé. This year alone, the Panthers have beaten three nationally-ranked teams, including the No. 1 team in the state while themselves ascending to the No. 1 spot in New Jersey. The ultimate goal at Ranney for this season is to capture the NJSIAA
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Tournament of Champions title but before that opportunity comes, the Panthers will try to successfully defend their Shore Conference Tournament championship Saturday night at OceanFirst Bank Center. Outside of its Class B Central schedule, Ranney has played its only games against Shore Conference competition this year within this Shore Conference Tournament and, in all likelihood, Saturday’s showdown with Manasquan will be the last game ever within the Shore Conference for this standout senior group.
“At this point in the season, we are only guaranteed two more games,” Ranney head coach Tahj Holden said. “I think that is in the back of their minds and to their credit, they are going out and playing every game like it might be the last one.” In each of the past two years, Ranney has been a tournament favorite along with Mater Dei Prep and even though the Panthers dominated the field during last year’s title run, there was at least an element of uncertainty with Mater Dei returning a strong core from a two-time championship team. This time around, not only is Ranney proven as a defending champion but the Panthers have been in a class of their own this season relative to the rest of the Shore Conference. As they have for nearly four full seasons, Antoine and Lewis have been the driving force behind Ranney’s fouryear run, during which the Panthers have gone 95-17 on the way to three Class B Central titles, one Shore Conference Tournament title and one NJSIAA Non-Public B championship. Both superstars were selected
to play in the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Game in Atlanta on March 27 and both will be headed to high-level college programs – Antoine to Villanova and Lewis to the University of Florida. On Feb. 6, Antoine became the Shore’s all-time leading scorer and is averaging a career-best 22.2 points per game to lead Ranney. If there is one concern for Ranney heading into the heat of its postseason schedule, it is Antoine’s health. He has been ba ttling a na gging right shoulder injury throughout the season and aggravated it in his team’s quarterfinal win over Middletown South. He also injured his left foot in a loss to Montverde Academy on Feb. 8 and averaged a mere 11 points per game over his next three games. Antoine looked just fine in Ranney’s semifinal win over Freehold Township, scoring 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field. One of the reasons Ranney has not had to lean on Antoine so much is because it has Lewis. Just as he did last season, Lewis has hit his stride heading into the Shore Conference Tournament. After scoring a season-high 32 points with Antoine out to lead his team past Asbury Park for its 20th win of the season, Lewis has carried over his stellar play into the SCT. He scored 26 points in a round-of-16 win over Jackson Liberty, posted 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists against Middletown South, and went for 10 points in Thursday’s win over Freehold Township despite battling foul trouble for most of the game. Lewis recently added an extra accolade to his standout career when he was chosen to play for Team USA in the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Or. on April 12.
of talk about either or both heading to the NBA as potential lottery picks after one year of college. While that talk is still premature considering they have yet to finish their senior seasons of high school, the chances to watch the two players as amateurs are fading fast and their final SCT game on the grand stage at Monmouth University should be one of the more memorable ones of their storied careers.
"It's the last time playing at Monmouth and the last Shore Conference game so it's going to mean a lot to us," While Lewis and Antoine have deservedly earned the lion’s share of the accolades, Ranney would not be where it is without its supporting cast. Chief among that group is Sarnor, who joined the program as a sophomore in 2016-17 and has routinely stepped up for Ranney in its biggest games. The 6-1 senior was named MVP of last year’s 52-28 SCT championship win over Mater Dei Prep and in the four games Ranney has played against the No. 1 ranked team in the state over the last three seasons, Sarnor has led the Panthers in scoring in three of them. He scored 28 points as a sophomore in a 10-point, state-tournament loss to the Patrick School, put up 18 in a regular-season loss to Roselle Catholic last year and scored 16 points in the Non-Public B final loss to Roselle Catholic to cap his junior season. Klatsky is a four-year starter who is enjoying his best season as a senior. The 6-4 sharpshooter is averaging 10.5 points per game this season and has connected on 71 three-point attempts.
With the seasons both Lewis and Antoine are turning in, there has been plenty See
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Ranney Cont from page 19 Autino has bounced from the starting lineup to the bench over the past three seasons and has settled back in as a starter this season to give the Panthers five senior starters. Autino is averaging just under seven rebounds per game this season and has increased his scoring production over the last two games, posting eight points and nine rebounds vs. Middletown South and throwing up four points and seven boards vs. Freehold Township. Depth has not been a strong suit of Ranney’s in the previous three seasons but this year, the Panthers bring some serious offense off the bench. Junior Phillip Wheeler played in the SCT semifinals and the NJSIAA Group II semifinals with Rumson-Fair Haven last year and will play his first game at Monmouth University on Saturday. Wheeler has settled in as an interior scoring threat for Ranney, averaging 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds in his 16 games this season, including 20 points and 13 rebounds in Sunday’s quarterfinal win over Middletown South. Freshman Elijah Perkins is Ranney’s other key cog off the bench. With Sarnor and Wheeler ineligible for a significant chuck of the schedule early in the season, Perkins stepped in and produced while Ranney opened the season with 10 straight wins before Wheeler’s first game. The 6-3 guard is averaging 8.2 points per game for the season. It is quite possible that this four-year run has laid the foundation for Ranney to continue on as a Shore Conference power beyond 2019, particularly with Wheeler and Perkins potentially returning as the team’s new leading duo next season. Whatever happens going forward, though, no group in Ranney basketball will do what this group has done as trailblazers for a program that essentially did not exist prior to its arrival. Antoine, Lewis, Klatsky, Autino and Holden joined a program with no NJSIAA Tournament wins and no Shore Conference Tournament appearances to its name and made it a state power, a Shore Conference Tournament champion and home to the leading scorer in the history of the Shore Conference.
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“We might think about that kind of stuff after the game or maybe on the bus, but once we get to the gym, we’re focused on the game,” Antoine said. “We all kind of realize this is our last run together but we knew that coming into the season. At this point, it’s just about basketball.” The best may still be yet to come for Ranney and the best is certainly yet to come for Antoine and Lewis in their careers to follow. On Saturday, the two McDonald’s All-Americans get a chance to leave the Shore Conference with one more lasting image of their two years of dominance within a four-year journey that no one around these parts will soon forget.
RANNEY SCHOOL (23-3, 12-0 in Class B Central) HEAD COACH: Tahj Holden, 4 th season Prior SCT Finals Appearances: 1 (2018) SCT Championships: 1 (2018) Photos by:
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2 Manasquan
”warriors” (25 -2) By Matt Manley - Senior Staff writer
Road to the Final: Defeated No. 18 Toms River East, 96-64; No. 7 Red Bank Catholic, 79-59; No. 3 CBA, 70-64
M
anasquan is an old-school town with an old-school high-school sports tradition. That includes its boys basketball team, coached by a man who likes to think of himself as an oldschool coach.
The last time Manasquan won a Shore Conference Tournament championship, some versions of the old school had yet to be invented. It has been 62 years since Manasquan last won a Shore Conference Tournament championship and since that title in 1957, the Warriors have been to the title game only four times – including just once in the last 38 seasons. In 10 previous seasons under coach Andrew Bilodeau, Manasquan has accomplished plenty. The Warriors have won at least a share of seven straight Shore Conference division championships, won two NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II championships and have been to the Shore Conference Tournament semifinal round four times, including this season.
This year, however, Manasquan has what appears to be the most dangerous team in Bilodeau’s 11 seasons and perhaps in the last four decades – and the Warriors owe it to a new twist to an old-school approach. Manasquan’s teams under Bilodeau have excelled defensively, rebounded relentlessly and shared the ball unselfishly on a year-to-year basis and that much has not changed with this year’s team. One thing, however, looks different: the speed. Manasquan has gone from a team more comfortable pounding teams in the half court on both ends to one that digs in on defense, grabs the rebound and fires the ball up the court.
“We don’t run anything in the summer time so that gives us a chance to just watch the team play,” Bilodeau said. “They played fast every time we played. They show you how they want to play when you just watch them and it was just natural for them.” The faster pace has manifested itself on the scoreboard. Manasquan is averaging 66.4 points per game this season – one point better than the 2012-13 team that is the highest-scoring during Bilodeau’s tenure and nearly seven full points better than the 2015-16 team that won 24 games. This year’s team hasn’t sacrificed on the defensive end either. Manasquan is allowing 49.0 points per game, which is better than the 2012-13 team (51.7) and a point higher than the 2015-16 team (47.9). The change in approach is rather simple in its origin. Manasquan has athletes and Bilodeau wants to get the most out of them. At the forefront of the attack are 6-foot-5 senior wing Brad McCabe and 6-6 junior Alex Galvan. McCabe is a three-year varsity mainstay who scored the See
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Manasquan Cont
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Thursday’s win over CBA and an even 16 per game during the SCT. 1,000th point of his high school career this year and is putting up 14.9 points and 7.4 rebounds during his senior campaign. “It’s really just playing to our strengths,” Bilodeau said. “We are a strong rebounding team, so you try to get out and run off the rebound. Then we have multiple ball-handlers so we don’t have to wait around for one guy to bring it up, so the personnel lends itself to play fast.” While McCabe was the known commodity coming into the season, Galvan has been the revelation. After a breakout summer as a pitcher that led to Louisville offering him a scholarship to play baseball – which Galvan accepted in the form of a non-binding verbal commitment – the junior forward has broken out on the basketball court as well. After averaging 7.8 points and 7.2 rebounds as a sophomore, Galvan has raised his game several levels and is now putting up a team-best 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds on a 25-win team. Manasquan’s back court came into the season short on experience but high on upside and the young Warriors have begun to meet that upside. Junior Kieran Flanagan is averaging 8.5 points and 3.1 assists for the season and 12.3 points and 5.0 assists since Feb. 1. During Flanagan’s recent surge, Manasquan is averaging 73.6 points per game. Freshman Ben Roy is also averaging better than eight points per game thanks to a strong start to the season and a resurgence of late. The rookie averaged 11.4 points in his first five high school games and after enduring some growing pains throughout the bulk of the season, he has come on with 13.2 over Manasquan’s last six, including 17 in
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Sophomore Casey Mulligan is Manasquan’s other guard and has combined with Roy to be a perimeter stopped on defense, as well as a hard-nosed player who is always looking to take charges on the defensive end. Manasquan can show a smaller lineup with Flanagan, Roy and Mulligan on the floor with McCabe and Galvan or the Warriors can go big. Senior Xander Korolik is in his third varsity season and starts alongside Galvan in the front court, giving the Warriors some additional scoring and rebounding down low. Junior Tim McEneny has come on strong lately as well and at an athletic 6-7, he allows Manasquan to match up with bigger front courts as well as overwhelm smaller teams without sacrificing too much speed. Don’t be fooled by the change in tempo: Manasquan can still hit teams with a highlow set in the half court and while the Warriors can be dangerous from beyond the threepoint arc – and may need to be to win on Saturday night – they are not overly reliant on the three-point shot. In order to end a 62-year drought since its last Shore Conference Tournament championship, Manasquan will have to go through a loaded Ranney squad with two McDonald’s All-Americans and likely seven Division I athletes in its rotation. The Panthers enter Saturday as the No. 1 team in New Jersey and ranked No. 13 in the country by USA Today.
“You can’t change who you are now,” Bilodeau said. “We have made it this far playing our game so we have to play the way we know how and execute the way we’re capable. We have to play them but they have to play us too.” With a top seven that includes five players due back in 2019-20, Manasquan has the chance to at the very least lay the foundation for a run that ends the long wait between SCT titles next year. At most, the Warriors can pull off one of the great upsets in the history of the SCT finals and start what could be a dynasty not seen at Manasquan since the Eisenhower Administration.
Now that is old school. Manasquan (25-2, 13-1 in Class A Central) HEAD COACH: Andrew Bilodeau, 11 th season Prior SCT Finals Appearances: 17 (1939-43, 1945-48, 1952, 1954-55, 1957, 1960, 1972, 1980, 2005) SCT Championships: 6 (1941, 1945, 1947-48, 1955, 1957)
Photos by:
Most Titles: 1. Neptune (22) 2. CBA (16) 3. (tie) Lakewood, Red Bank (8) 5. Manasquan (6) Most Consecutive Titles: Neptune, 7 (1961-67) 2018:
Ranney School 52, Mater Dei Prep 28
2017:
Mater Dei Prep 54, Marlboro 41
2016:
Mater Dei Prep 50, CBA 43
2015:
Rumson-FH 50, CBA 24
2014:
Point Beach 49, CBA 41
2013:
Lakewood 39, Point Beach 33
2012:
Neptune 37, Colts Neck 33
2011:
Raritan 43, Rumson-FH 35
2010:
CBA 60 Middletown South 44
2009:
CBA 58 Neptune 49
2008:
Neptune 67 Monsignor Donovan 52
2007:
Freehold Township 55 CBA 49
2006:
CBA 65 Monsignor Donovan 56
2005:
CBA 57 Manasquan 41
2004:
Raritan 60 Neptune 58
2003:
CBA 44 Raritan 30
2002:
Neptune 57 CBA 47
2001:
CBA 56 Neptune 39
2000:
CBA 60 Neptune 38
1977:
Long Branch 65 Lakewood 49
(Class B) Matawan 70 Pt Beach 56
1999:
Red Bank 44 CBA 43
1976:
Neptune 59 Long Branch 54
1998:
Neptune 55 Red Bank 48 (OT)
1975:
Lakewood 55 Neptune 45
1997:
Long Branch 44 CBA 42
1974:
Lakewood 65 Wall 60
1996:
CBA 64 Toms River North 58
1973:
Ocean 71 Neptune 63
1995:
CBA 58 Lakewood 57
1972:
Neptune 80 Manasquan 66
1994:
CBA 51 Long Branch 38
1971:
Ocean 65 Henry Hudson 56
1993:
CBA 60 Red Bank 52
1970:
Long Branch 88 Neptune 67
1951:
Neptune 61 Hoffman 52
1992:
Red Bank 60 CBA 54
1969:
Henry Hudson 56 Long Branch 53
1950:
Red Bank 56 Neptune 52
1991:
Lakewood 86 Lacey 67
1968:
Lakewood 61 Ocean 55
1949:
Neptune 71 Atlantic Highlands 45
1990:
CBA 42 Neptune 30
1967:
Neptune 48 Lakewood 45
1948:
Manasquan 58 Freehold 48
1989:
Lakewood 79 Neptune 77 (OT)
1966:
Neptune 61 Lakewood 44
1947:
Manasquan 57 Point Pleasant Beach 25
1988:
CBA 57 Lakewood 55
1965:
Neptune 63 Lakewood 56
1946:
Red Bank 34 Manasquan 27
1987:
CBA 58 Asbury Park 55
1964:
Neptune 59 Matawan 53
1945:
Manasquan 31 Red Bank 26
1986:
Asbury Park 61 Lakewood 60
1963:
Neptune 66 Point Pleasant Beach 54
1944:
Lakewood 40 Toms River 36
1985:
CBA 70 Asbury Park 63
1962:
Neptune 82 Keyport 58
1943:
Neptune 32 Manasquan 25
1984:
CBA 58 Mater Dei 51
1961:
Neptune 69 Keyport 60
1942:
Neptune 42 Manasquan 40
1983:
Red Bank 61 CBA 58
1960:
Matawan 62 Manasquan 59
1941:
Manasquan 35 Neptune 32 (OT)
1982:
Toms River South 83 Neptune 80
1959:
Red Bank 68 Matawan 47
1940:
Hoffman 33 Manasquan 31
1981:
Neptune 59 Long Branch 28
1958:
Lakewood 59 Atlantic Highlands 57
1939:
Neptune 41 Manasquan 38
1980:
Neptune 72 Manasquan 45
1957:
Manasquan 79 Red Bank 56
1938:
Atlantic Highlands 28 Neptune 22
1979:
Middletown South 73 Red Bank 68
1956:
Red Bank 55 Lakewood 51
1937:
Keyport 31 Atlantic Highlands 22
1978:
Asbury Park 41 Long Branch 37
1955:
(Class A) Manasquan 76 Neptune 65
1954:
(CLass A) Neptune 73 Manasquan 52 (Class B) Atlantic Highlands 62 Hoffman 59
1953:
(Group II) Red Bank 60 Neptune 55 (Group I) Hoffman 53 Atlantic Highlands 41
1952:
(Group II) Neptune 60 Manasquan 39 (Group I) Hoffman 56 Atlantic Highlands 53 (OT)
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SPECIAL THANK YOU to all the
PHOTOGRAPHERS who allow us to use their great photos seen throughout all our Issue as well as our website: shoresportsnetwork.com
FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 30
steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com
Most Titles:
1. St. John Vianney (13) 2. Neptune (7) 3. Red Bank Catholic (6) 5. Manasquan (5) 4. (tie) St. Rose, Asbury Park
Most Consecutive Titles: St. John Vianney,(6) 1994-1999 2018: 2017: 2016: 2015: 2014: 2013: 2012: 2011: 2010: 2009: 2008: 2007: 2006: 2005: 2004: 2003: 2002: 2001: 2000: 1999:
Manasquan 70, St. John Vianney 52 St. Rose 56, St. John Vianney 31 St. John Vianney 59, Manasquan 48 Manasquan 69, St. Rose 60 Manasquan 61, St. Rose 41 Red Bank Catholic 50, Point Boro 46 St. Rose 65, Manasquan 56 Neptune 57, St. John Vianney 48 Neptune 60, Colts Neck 50 Neptune 56, St. John Vianney 54 Colts Neck 66, Red Bank Catholic 53 Red Bank Catholic 34, Rumson-FH 31 Red Bank Catholic 41, Rumson-FH 31 St. John Vianney 47, Monmouth 30 St. John Vianney 56, Toms River North 47 Red Bank Catholic 48, Marlboro 46 St. John Vianney 39, Marlboro 36 Red Bank Catholic 44, St. John Vianney 39 Red Bank Catholic 62, St. John Vianney 56 St. John Vianney 56, Red Bank Catholic 52
1998: 1997: 1996: 1995: 1994: 1993: 1992: 1991: 1990: 1989: 1988: 1987: 1986: 1985: 1984: 1983: 1982: 1981: 1980: 1979: 1978: 1977: 1976: 1975: 1974: 1973: 1972:
St. John Vianney 45, Red Bank 34 St. John Vianney 59, Red Bank Catholic 45 St. John Vianney 53, Red Bank Catholic 47 St. John Vianney 61, Red Bank Catholic 55 St. John Vianney 86, Red Bank 46 St. Rose 67, St. John Vianney 57 St. John Vianney 54, St. Rose 50 St. John Vianney 58, Keyport 47 St. John Vianney 59, Toms River East 48 Neptune 79, St. John Vianney 49 Neptune 70, Raritan 48 Neptune 61, Manasquan 46 St. Rose 55, Freehold Twp. 52 Middletown South 50, Neptune 48 Southern 42, Neptune 40 Manasquan 43, Lakewood 36 Neptune 59, Rumson-FH 46 Manasquan 45, Middletown North 35 Freehold Twp. 70, Brick 47 Middletown South 46, Asbury Park 43 Shore 48, Asbury Park 45 Asbury Park 56, Shore 33 Asbury Park 83, Lakewood 56 Asbury Park 51, Toms River South 27 Asbury Park 45, Long Branch 37 (OT) Shore 43, Brick 41 Brick 37, Point Boro 27
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