Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 — Week 6
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With lower than every week to go earlier than the Shore Conference Tournament is seeded and just a little greater than every week left earlier than the event suggestions off, the groups within the working for a spot are making ready for must-win video games all through the week whereas keeping track of the competitors elsewhere across the Shore. The latest power-point rankings reveal a decent race for the ultimate two spots within the Shore Conference Tournament, which can embrace the 24 finest groups within the convention by energy factors and any division champion exterior the highest 24.
On Wednesday, Shore Sports Insider will publish its first projection of the SCT discipline, however within the meantime, the most recent Top 10 (and subsequent 10) will present a sneak peak of how the primary projection would possibly look, relying on the result of Monday’s and Tuesday’s motion on the courtroom. With Christian Brothers Academy and Wall persevering with to roll towards the primary two seeds within the discipline, the most important story within the seeding room is more likely to be which crew lands the No. 3 seed, thereby avoiding the potential of enjoying CBA till the championship spherical.
In this 12 months’s Shore Conference, lots can change in only one evening of video games, so with an entire week to go, don’t get too comfy with the present Top 10 association.
1. Christian Brothers Academy (17-3, 8-0) Last Week: 1
CBA has survived its share of shut calls on the Shore this 12 months, together with one other one vs. Rumson-Fair Haven final week in a 50-44 win at house. Through all of it, the Colts are 9-0 vs. the Shore Conference, are outright champions of the difficult Class A North division, first in energy factors within the Shore Conference and presently maintain the No. 1 seed within the South Jersey Non-Public A piece of the NJSIAA Tournament. Saturday’s convincing win over Middle Township on the Metro Classic units up CBA to shut out the common season towards Red Bank and Manasquan and if the Colts can full a 10-0 run by means of Class A North – and an 11-0 march by means of the Shore Conference common season, there received’t be a lot of an argument towards the Colts because the No. 1 seed in subsequent week’s Shore Conference Tournament.
2. Wall (15-0, 8-0) Last Week: 2
Looking on the Shore Conference discipline earlier than opening day, it was arduous to ascertain any crew difficult CBA for the No. 1 rating by means of the tip of divisional play, particularly if CBA was going to be undefeated vs. the Shore Conference heading into the SCT. Wall, nonetheless, has made a professional case to be thought of for the No. 1 seed. The Crimson Knights have but to undergo a loss heading into Monday’s house date with Freehold Township and in the event that they and CBA each end the week with no loss, Wall can declare superior performances vs. Red Bank Catholic and, relying on CBA’s outcomes this week, Manasquan. Short of CBA shedding, nonetheless, Wall is more likely to land at No. 2 and can be greater than content material with that end result.
Wall senior Brian McKenna drives to the basket towards Howell junior Jayson Parker. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
3. Marlboro (14-3, 6-2) Last Week: 4
The climb continues for Marlboro, which held on to its spot within the Top 10 throughout the early a part of the season and has surged to No. 3 during the last two weeks. The Mustangs management their destiny with respect to the Class B North championship: two wins vs. Ranney and Freehold Boro this week assure Marlboro no worse than a co-championship with Red Bank Catholic and if RBC loses, the Mustangs would win the division outright with these two wins on their finish. The debate for No. 3 within the Shore Conference is neck-and-neck between Marlboro and RBC and Marlboro has the present edge on this house because of wins over Howell and East Brunswick, plus the break up with RBC in divisional play.
4. Red Bank Catholic (14-5, 6-2) Last Week: 3
After surging to No. 3 within the rankings, RBC slips one spot following an time beyond regulation loss at Ranney this week – a recreation that featured Ranney scoring on a putback on the buzzer to ship the sport into time beyond regulation. The Caseys rebounded with a rout of Freehold Boro and a convincing win over Point Beach, which was their second win of the season over the 16-4 Garnet Gulls. Wins over Marlboro, Ranney and Colts Neck are résumé-boosters, however they don’t seem to be separators for RBC vs. Marlboro in the meanwhile. RBC’s finest wins exterior the division are towards Point Beach (twice), Freehold Township, Central and Lawrence, whereas the Caseys’ finest consequence exterior the division is perhaps its time beyond regulation loss at CBA. A win over Colts Neck this week would assure RBC no worse than the Class B North co-title.
5. Howell (14-3, 6-2) Last Week: 5
On the floor, Howell has a physique of labor that places them within the working for the No. 3 spot within the rating. Like RBC, the Rebels break up with Marlboro and their solely two losses past that Marlboro loss had been two to undefeated Wall. Where Marlboro and RBC separate themselves from Howell is the remainder of the schedule, which isn’t as sturdy for Howell as it’s for the opposite two groups, though it does embrace a win over East Brunswick that stacks up favorably towards something RBC and Marlboro have carried out. Marlboro and Red Bank Catholic have additionally not been blown out, whereas Howell misplaced its two video games to Wall by a mixed 40 factors. RBC, in contrast, went to time beyond regulation in three of its 5 losses and misplaced to Wall by 10 in a recreation that was shut heading to the fourth quarter. All that stated, Howell has an opportunity to 4-0 this week and make an actual case for No. 3 within the Shore Conference Tournament.
6. Rumson-Fair Haven (13-6, 4-4) Last Week: 6
Consistency has eluded Rumson this season, which has one thing to do with well being eluding the Bulldogs as properly. The roster is beginning to spherical into kind and the crew is hoping the play follows, which it gave the impression to be the case when the Bulldogs had CBA combating for its proverbial life on Thursday in what was finally a 50-44 Colts win. In the tip, although, it was the second of two losses final week for Rumson, which additionally dropped a recreation at Holmdel and has two losses to unranked groups (Middletown South, Red Bank). A win over Red Bank Catholic and a lopsided win over Manasquan are different examples of what Rumson appears to be like like at its finest and the Bulldogs will look to re-establish that kind Tuesday vs. Manasquan.
7. Jackson (12-4, 5-1) Last Week: 7
Like Rumson, Jackson is looking for itself after delivering quite a few spectacular performances, whereas additionally laying some clunkers alongside the way in which. Recently, it has been extra of the previous, which is an encouraging signal for the Jaguars heading into the beginning of February. Jackson has received 4 straight that features wins over Central and Southern, which places the Jaguars in place to clinch the Class A South championship if they’ll beat Central once more on Friday – which Jackson will host. Two wins over Manasquan in December push Jackson excessive as a top-eight crew, however there are nonetheless some happenings exterior of Jackson’s management that would impression that.
8. Manasquan (9-7, 4-3) Last Week: 8
Wins over Freehold Township and Point Pleasant Beach have been maintaining Manasquan within the Top 10 all year long after the Warriors obtained off to a 2-4 begin to the season. A loss to Holmdel on Friday may need put the Warriors at risk of dropping out, however Manasquan rebounded with a formidable win over reigning Group I champion Thrive Charter of Trenton – the No. 17 crew in New Jersey heading into Saturday’s recreation on the Jeff Coney Classic at Rancocas Valley. Manasquan additionally has a near-upset vs. CBA at house in a 50-46 loss and if the Warriors can journey the momentum into this week and knock off Rumson on the highway on Tuesday, they may regain some momentum to doubtlessly get into the highest seven.
9. Freehold Township (10-7, 4-4) Last Week: 10
Manasquan’s win over Thrive and shut name vs. CBA is boosting the Warriors and the Jackson crew that beat them twice over Freehold Township and the brand new No. 10 crew. Freehold Township hammered Jackson within the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic semifinals in December, but additionally misplaced at house to Manasquan by a 13-point margin. The Patriots’ finest work this season has come exterior of Class A Central divisional play, with their solely divisional wins coming over St. John Vianney and Manalapan two instances apiece. Freehold Township could have an opportunity to vary that Monday at Wall and later within the week vs. Middletown South and if the Patriots can hand Wall their first lack of the season after shedding to the Crimson Knights by seven in every of the primary two assembly, a leap to No. 6 or 7 would probably be on faucet.
10. Holmdel (9-5, 4-4) Last Week: Not Ranked
After opening the season within the prime 10, Holmdel is again within the rankings for the primary time since December on the heels of certainly one of its finest regular-season weeks of the final decade. The Hornets beat Rumson for the primary time since 2020, avenging losses to the Bulldogs in each the NJSIAA Central Group II semifinals final 12 months and earlier this season. Then, Holmdel topped that win by beating Manasquan for the primary time since 2011 on Friday, which units the Hornets as much as win a minimum of a bit of the Class A North public division title. Rumson and Manasquan every have a aggressive loss to CBA and a few higher-end wins, which leaves the Hornets behind these groups in the meanwhile, regardless of the 2 wins final week. With a wholesome roster now, Holmdel once more appears to be like the a part of a Top 10 outfit and could have an opportunity to climb with a deep run within the Shore Conference Tournament.
Holmdel senior Connor Paul places up a shot over Rumson-Fair Haven seniors Luke Lydon (left) and Luke Cruz (Photo: Patrick Olivero)
Dropped Out
Point Pleasant Beach (16-4, 7-1) Last Week: 9 – A loss to RBC just isn’t what knocked Point Beach out, nor was narrowly escaping an enormous comeback by Point Boro earlier within the week. Holmdel’s enormous wins over Rumson and Manasquan in back-to-back video games gave the Hornets the ammo to leap the Garnet Gulls and Freehold Township’s win over Holmdel retains the Patriots in as properly.
The Next 10
Ranney (9-7, 5-3) – Ranney has now overwhelmed each Red Bank Catholic and Colts Neck in divisional play and an in depth loss to Colts Neck is the Panthers’ solely loss to an unranked Shore Conference crew.
Central (13-5, 5-1) – The Golden Eagles cracked the highest 10 on the Shore power-points listing at No. 9 and might strengthen their case to return to the SSI Top 10 by beating Southern and Jackson this week to assert a second straight Class A South championship.
Ocean (13-7, 7-1) – On the heels of a six-game profitable streak, the Spartans have climbed all the way in which to No. 7 in energy factors within the Shore Conference, with wins over Colts Neck, Henry Hudson, Shore and Monmouth (twice) fueling that climb.
Colts Neck (10-7, 5-3) – It was every week of ethical victories for Colts Neck. The Cougars trailed Marlboro by 20 heading into the fourth quarter on Thursday and misplaced, 68-65, then misplaced on a last-second layup Saturday to a Holy Spirit crew that handed Cherry Hill East its first lack of the season the next day.
Point Pleasant Boro (11-7, 5-3) – The résumé is spotty, however the Panthers have two wins over Brick Memorial, a win over Ocean, two aggressive losses to Point Beach and a aggressive loss to Hudson Catholic.
Brick Memorial (10-8, 3-4) – If not for 2 losses to Point Boro, Brick Memorial would have an ironclad case to get a house recreation within the Shore Conference Tournament because of wins over Point Beach and Middletown South.
Middletown South (11-7, 5-3) – A 20-point loss to Brick Memorial and a 16-point loss to Ranney damage an in any other case compelling Top 10 case for Middletown South, which additionally has double-digit wins over each No. 6 Rumson and No. 9 Freehold Township.
Southern (9-7, 4-2) – Southern’s season has been outlined by close-call losses to high quality groups (Trenton, Lawrence, Atlantic City), besides relating to Jackson. The Rams beat the Jaguars by 16 factors at house, then misplaced by 24 at Jackson within the second assembly.
Red Bank (7-11, 2-5) – Since beautiful Rumson-Fair Haven, Red Bank has dropped video games to Ranney and St. Rose and can might have a win vs. Holmdel Monday to really feel protected about its SCT spot heading into the weekend.
Monmouth (12-5, 6-2) – At No. 14 in energy factors within the convention, Monmouth is a lock for the SCT and can attempt to enter the postseason on a excessive be aware with a powerful exhibiting throughout a four-game week that begins with Matawan and ends at Colts Neck on Saturday.