Shore Sports Insider 2025-26 Most Improved Team
Most Improved Player of the Year
Shannon Looney, Sr., Manasquan
Manasquan’s Shannon Looney (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
2025 Stats
150 PTS, 5 PPG, 46 REB, 24 AST, 2 BLK, 12 STL, 30 GP
2026 Stats
312 PTS, 10 PPG, 77 REB, 49 AST, 5 BLK, 37 STL, 31 GP
The majority of the time when children are chosen to the Most Improved Team it’s as a result of they take benefit of a bigger function given to them by their head coach. The alternative for a bigger function can current itself for a a number of of seasons together with older gamers graduating, accidents, exhausting work in the low season, or a mixture of elements.
This season was one of the hardest to slim down the checklist. There had been a number of gamers who stepped up this season and improved tremendously from final yr. The participant imagine rose to the event and took the largest benefit of her elevated function this season was Shannon Looney from Manasquan.
Manasquan’s Shannon Looney (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Primarily a defender off the bench final season as a junior, Looney not solely saved her function of getting the hardest assignments on protection, however she additionally turned an integral half of the Manasquan offense.
“On top of being our primary defender, Shannon helped fill a void on the offensive side with the graduation of our seniors from last season.” Manasquan head coach Lisa Kukoda mentioned. “Her ability to play off the ball, making reads and cuts in the opponents’ defense, provided a perfect compliment to the skill set of Jordyn Hollawell. Her improved consistency from the perimeter also made her difficult to guard. Shannon’s continuous movement on the floor, always giving 100%, made her an impactful player on both ends. I believe Shannon thrived in pressure situations, often reliable and focused in some of our biggest games. Our postseason run would not have been possible without the impact of Shannon on the offensive and defensive side.”
Looney had some of her finest video games on the largest levels, not solely with the quantity of factors she would rating, however with the timing of these factors. On the largest stage of the season, the Group 2 state championship at Rutgers University, Looney scored a career-high 19 factors. Scoring the first 4 baskets of the recreation for Manasquan, she completed with 15 first-half factors to assist Manasquan blow the recreation open and win their third straight Group 2 title. Her largest basket of the season, perhaps the largest basket all through the total Shore Conference, occurred in the Group 2 semifinal recreation towards Cinnaminson. Tied 31-31 with 1:17 left, Looney made a backdoor reduce and obtained a cross from Jordyn Hollawell to present the Warriors the lead and save their season.
What made her season so particular on the offensive aspect of the flooring was the work she did on the defensive aspect of the flooring. Most instances in basketball when you could have the hardest defensive task, you aren’t one of the main scorers. Guarding the opposing groups high gamers in the Shore Conference isn’t any simple process and requires you to be mentally and bodily robust. Players can exert lots of vitality on that aspect of the flooring, which might take away from their offensive manufacturing. Looney excelled at each.
Manasquan’s Shannon Looney deflects a cross (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
“Shannon had a senior season that we are so proud of,” Kukoda mentioned. “ We knew coming into the season that she was going to step up into our primary defender role. Her energy and work ethic on the defensive end was evident last season, and she relieved Shea Donnelly from the role throughout her junior year when needed. I think she really prided herself this season on being our primary defender, and would ask questions during our scout film and practices that showed how much she understood the importance of this role.”
Looney transferred to Manasquan her sophomore yr after being enrolled at rival St. Rose for her freshman season. Transferring into a brand new atmosphere will be difficult, however transferring right into a high tier program like Manasquan might have been actually troublesome for lots of children.
“When Shannon joined our program sophomore year, I believe it was a natural transition for her,” Kukoda mentioned. “She grew up in Brielle and played with our Manasquan girls throughout her younger years. She was apart of this community and knew what being a Manasquan Warrior was all about.”
Playing at a faculty wealthy in custom like Manasquan, you typically have to attend to listen to your title referred to as to step on the courtroom. Playing as a freshman could be very troublesome and typically it’s exhausting to crack the rotation as a sophomore. When you go to Manasquan you might be conscious of this and must be keen to attend your flip. Looney did simply that. She discovered the system her sophomore yr, was a task participant off the bench her junior yr and have become a star her senior yr.
“As I talk about with all of our players, you make sacrifices to be a part of this program, and I am so grateful to our players for buying into our team philosophy and culture, often pushing individual goals aside for the overall team goal,” Kukoda mentioned. “Shannon is a prime example of this. She came into our program and learned our system, developed throughout her years, and had a senior year many would dream of. Not many players are willing to wait around for their moment in the spotlight, but Shannon knew that her work ethic and team mentality would help get us to where we wanted to be. I am so happy for her and proud of her for being able to say she ended her career a state champion!”
Most Improved Team
Olivia Batchelor, Jr., Freehold Boro
2025 Stats:
250 PTS, 10 PPG, 64 REB, 69 AST, 25 BLK, 57 STL, 25 GP
2026 Stats:
405 PTS, 15.5 PPG, 109 REB, 80 AST, 4 BLK, 95 STL, 26 GP
Libby Dickman, Jr., Toms River East
Toms River East’s Libby Dickman places up a shot (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
2025 Stats
216 PTS, 7.7 PPG, 136 REB, 22 AST, 5 BLK, 48 STL, 28 GP
2026 Stats
385 PTS, 13.7 PPG, 163 REB, 34 AST, 20 BLK, 78 STL, 28 GP
Lana Ellington, Jr., Neptune
Neptune’s Lana Ellington (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
2025 Stats
163 PTS, 6 PPG, 69 REB, 22 AST, 4 BLK, 51 STL, 27 GP
2026 Stats
325 PTS, 14.7 PPG, 82 REB, 28 AST, 2 BLK, 76 STL, 22 GP
Allison McAndrew, So., Colts Neck
Allison McAndrew knocked down two 3-pointers to complete with 15 factors in the Group 3 semifinal. 3/11/26 Photo by Patrick Olivero
2025 Stats (Trinity Hall)
90 PTS, 3.5 PPG, 70 REB, 9 AST, 5 BLK, 15 STL, 26 GP
2026 Stats
395 PTS, 14.1 PPG, 207 REB, 58 AST, 8 BLK, 39 STL, 28 GP
Sophie Smith, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Red Bank Catholic senior Sophie Smith. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
2025 Stats
108 PTS, 3.4 PPG, 66 REB, 24 AST, 26 BLK, 18 STL, 32 GP
2026 Stats
196 PTS, 6.1 PPG, 138 REB, 44 AST, 24 BLK, 36 STL, 32 GP