Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 — Week 8
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The final Shore Sports Insider Top 10 was influenced by the projected seedings for the Shore Conference Tournament. This newest replace to the Top 10 is influenced by what has really occurred within the Shore Conference Tournament.
Each of the 4 remaining groups within the SCT is a top-five seed, with Christian Brothers Academy, Wall and Red Bank Catholic all advancing as top-three seeds. Even No. 5 Marlboro was the No. 4 staff in final week’s SSI Top 10, so this week’s prime 4 within the rankings stays unchanged.
The No. 5 place is the place the controversy begins, with 4 quarterfinalists that got here up brief on Saturday all within the combine, plus a couple of groups that misplaced powerful round-of-16 video games two days earlier. After this week, the main target turns the NJSIAA Tournament, when many of those groups can be enjoying in numerous brackets, making this the final week to really examine the groups from the Shore towards each other. There remains to be lots to determined, to make sure, however we’re getting nearer to the purpose at which the one manner for a staff to change its place within the rankings is with a unprecedented state-tournament run.
For the primary 4 groups on this week’s rankings, nonetheless, it’s all nonetheless on the desk.
CBA senior Matt Veirz fires up a three-pointer with the Colts bench cheering him on. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
1. Christian Brothers Academy (21-3, 10-0) Last Week: 1
Both of CBA’s Shore Conference Tournament video games final week have been shut after one quarter and on Saturday, Holmdel was even beating the No. 1 staff on the Shore by means of the primary eight minutes. In quarters two by means of 4, nonetheless, CBA was dominant towards each Point Boro and Holmdel. After two extra 30-plus level victories, CBA is once more asserting itself because the overwhelming favourite to win its first SCT championship in 16 years and can put that standing to the check on Wednesday towards Marlboro within the semifinal spherical at Brookdale Community College.
2. Wall (19-1, 10-0) Last Week: 2
Wall went 5 minutes with out scoring to finish its quarterfinal recreation vs. Manasquan and nonetheless managed to tug out the victory by holding the Warriors scoreless for the final three minutes. Wall’s protection was its power early within the season and after a stretch through which the Crimson Knights put up some eye-popping offensive numbers, match play has reminded Wall that its protection is its meal ticket. Wall’s opponents are averaging 40.5 factors by means of two rounds of the SCT and its semifinal opponent – Red Bank Catholic – scored 34 factors towards the Crimson Knights when the 2 groups met in December on the Kevin Williams Classic.
Red Bank Catholic junior Gavin Biasi shoots over Ranney defenders A.J. Mizhir (Ranney) and Ben Schaeffer. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
3. Red Bank Catholic (18-6, 8-2) Last Week: 3
While Wall will play its third rematch Wednesday when the Crimson Knights meet RBC, the Caseys won’t solely be doing the identical however can take it one step farther. If Red Bank Catholic can knock off Wall on Wednesday, the Caseys can be assured to face a fourth consecutive acquainted opponent within the championship recreation. RBC was a mixed 3-1 vs. Point Beach and Ranney heading into the match and beat each groups in a 3rd assembly, with Saturday’s win over Ranney avenging a loss to the Panthers in late January. RBC managed solely 34 factors vs. Wall within the December showdown between the 2 groups, however the Caseys have been down by solely 4 heading into the fourth quarter of that recreation earlier than going chilly on offense within the fourth.
4. Marlboro (18-4, 7-3) Last Week: 4
Without any expertise enjoying No. 1 CBA this season, Marlboro will hope Red Bank Catholic’s extra time loss to CBA is an indication the Mustangs may play with the Colts. Marlboro went 1-1 towards RBC through the common season, simply because the Mustangs did vs. Howell. On Saturday, Marlboro beat Howell in probably the most thrilling recreation of the day at Middletown South, with senior Ajay Mathews placing on a scoring exhibition within the fourth quarter and extra time and senior Rob Glorioso enjoying the function of surprising hero for his game-winning three-pointer with 30 seconds left. In that win, Marlboro had two gamers – Mathews and McEwan – go on runs through which they scored at leas 10 straight factors for his or her staff, which underscores the Mustangs’ stability.
(*8*)
Marlboro’s Drew Lubeck Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com
5. Manasquan (12-9, 6-4) Last Week: 7
The Warriors are actually a mixed 0-4 vs. the highest two groups within the Shore Conference, however the final three of these video games got here right down to the ultimate minute. Factor in wins over Rumson-Fair Haven, Holmdel, two over Freehold Township and one other vs. NJSIAA Group I favourite Thrive Charter and Manasquan’s résumé is again to trying worthy of the highest 5, regardless of a file that’s not too far past .500. After dropping a heartbreaker to Wall on Saturday, Manasquan will regroup for the NJSIAA match, which might produce a 3rd assembly between Wall and Manasquan if each groups can attain the Central Jersey Group II semifinals.
6. Howell (18-5, 7-3) Last Week: 5
After coming painfully near its first ever journey to the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals, Howell will now put together for the NJSIAA Group IV playoffs on the heels of two SCT video games that might not have been extra aggressive. The Rebels pulled out a 53-52 win Thursday over a Middletown South staff that beat them by 31 factors simply 10 days earlier, then had Marlboro on the ropes earlier than a heroic efficiency by Mathews and a clutch shot by Glorioso denied the Rebels in extra time. Cherry Hill East would be the heavy favourite to win the South Jersey Group IV part, however the Rebels have a chance to get a crack on the Cougars within the semifinals, so long as Howell can deal with the primary two rounds.
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Holmdel senior Jack Vallillo. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
7. Holmdel (13-7, 6-4) Last Week: 9
The Hornets have confirmed to be each bit pretty much as good as – maybe even higher than – Manasquan and Rumson-Fair Haven, however unlock these two groups, the Hornets weren’t in a position to determine the best way to maintain the sport shut vs. CBA. In a 3rd try and compete with the Colts, Holmdel obtained off to a promising begin on Saturday on the SCT quarterfinals, however the final two minutes of the second quarter began an avalanche that ended Holmdel’s SCT run. Even if that outcome was disappointing for the Hornets, they’re nonetheless an actual menace to win the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II title and may even be their finest likelihood to win the part since dropping a good 2012 championship recreation at Ewing. The street, nonetheless, gained’t be simple: if the seeds stay as undertaking, Holmdel might probably must undergo Wall, Manasquan and Rumson-Fair Haven in consecutive rounds – all on the street.
8. Ranney (13-9, 7-3) Last Week: Not ranked
The Panthers push their manner into the Top 10 after a convincing round-of-16 street victory at Jackson that positioned Ranney within the Shore Conference quarterfinals for the eighth time within the 11 seasons since Tahj Holden took over a program that had by no means gained a Shore Conference Tournament recreation previous to his arrival. Ranney now owns wins over Red Bank Catholic, Marlboro, Middletown South and Jackson, which strikes the Panthers from the sting of the rankings to comfortably positioned within the prime eight. As the projected No. 6 seed within the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B bracket, Ranney has a practical shot to make it to the sectional closing for the primary time since ending No. 1 within the state in 2019.
Ranney senior Shaan Nayar guarded by Red Bank Catholic senior Ryan Saxton. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
9. Middletown South (14-9, 6-4) Last Week: 10
The Eagles have been the bounce of the ball away from knocking out Howell on Thursday and enjoying Marlboro within the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals Saturday of their residence fitness center. The one-point loss to Howell within the spherical of 16 was a tricky tablet for the Eagles to swallow, but it surely provides them an opportunity to regroup and put together for a run in a NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III part that could possibly be once more wide-open once more after a Shore Conference staff gained it in each 2024 (Freehold Boro) and 2025 (Colts Neck).
10. Rumson-Fair Haven (15-8, 5-5) Last Week: Not ranked
The final spot within the Top 10 in the meanwhile comes right down to Freehold Township and Rumson. To decide one is to separate hairs: each have almost similar data vs. frequent opponents (Freehold Township 6-4; Rumson 5-4) and each completed in fourth place at 5-5 of their respective divisions. The lone distinction is that Freehold Township has gone 2-1 vs. Holmdel and Middletown South (Rumson is 1-3 vs. these groups) whereas Rumson is 2-1 vs. Red Bank Catholic and Manasquan (Freehold Township is 0-3). Since Red Bank Catholic and Manasquan are larger within the rankings than Middletown South and Holmdel, Rumson at the moment owns the sting. If the Bulldogs can get wholesome and benefit from a good attract Central Jersey Group II, they might climb even larger.
Dropped Out
Jackson (15-5, 7-1) Last Week: 6 – Jackson solely has 5 losses, however all 5 are by at the least 16 factors after falling to Ranney, 67-50, within the SCT spherical of 16. Two wins over Manasquan maintain the Jaguars within the dialog, however it can take a particular state-tournament efficiency to climb again into the Top 10.
Freehold Township (13-9, 5-5) Last Week: 8 – The Patriots obtained a great check forward of the state match of their loss at Manasquan within the SCT spherical of 16 and can attempt to carry that have into the NJSIAA Group IV playoffs as a projected No. 8 seed in Central Jersey.
The Next 10
Point Pleasant Beach (18-7, 8-2)
Point Pleasant Boro (15-8, 7-3)
Ocean (17-9, 8-2)
Monmouth (15-7, 7-3)
Central (15-9, 6-2)
Brick Memorial (13-10, 5-5)
Southern (11-10, 5-3)
Red Bank (8-15, 2-8)
Colts Neck (11-11, 6-4)