Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 — Week 9
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The finish of the Shore Conference Tournament marks the tip of the overwhelming majority of head-to-head competitors between Shore Conference groups and, subsequently, a major discount within the variety of head-to-head video games that might impression the ultimate Shore Conference rankings. That means the ultimate Top 10 – significantly the highest spot – is usually determined.
When huge issues occur within the NJSIAA Tournament, nevertheless, huge shifts occur within the rankings. There are nonetheless some potential Shore showdowns on the board, significantly in Central Jersey Group II, and championship runs at all times push groups up the board (Colts Neck in 2025).
Most of the work is finished, however each workforce needs to thrive in March and those who do can be primed for one final enhance within the Shore Sports Insider rankings.
1. Christian Brothers Academy (23-3, 10-0) Last Week: 1
With its first Shore Conference Tournament championship in 16 years, CBA basically assured it will likely be the wire-to-wire No. 1 workforce within the Shore Sports Insider Top 10 for 2025-26. Now, the Colts will attempt to finish a good longer drought by successful their first NJSIAA Non-Public A championship since 1995. The South Jersey part of the event is as loaded as ever, with St. Peter’s Prep, Paul VI and St. Joseph Metuchen are all within the prime 4 seeds and the Colts might probably open their state event run on March 2 with defending sectional champion Camden Catholic.
CBA junior David Buley challenges a shot by Red Bank Catholic junior Tyler Hager. (Photo: Patrick Olivero)
2. Red Bank Catholic (19-7, 8-2) Last Week: 3
RBC’s first ever journey to the Shore Conference Tournament championship nets the Caseys the No. 2 rating heading into the NJSIAA Tournament. Although RBC has extra losses than earlier No. 2 Wall and a head-to-head loss to the Crimson Knights, the Caseys have the more moderen win over Wall and have 5 different losses to workforce Wall has not performed. Ranney is the one workforce to beat RBC and lose to Wall and RBC has two wins over that very same Ranney squad.
3. Wall (19-2, 10-0) Last Week: 2
Although the Crimson Knights relinquished their No. 2 rating, they nonetheless have a chance to construct out the résumé to get again to No. 2 on the Shore whereas solidifying their place as the highest public college within the convention. With a win over RBC already in hand, a run to a sectional championship in a deep Central Jersey Group II bracket will give Wall an opportunity to get again to No. 2 if RBC can’t get by St. Joseph Metuchen within the Non-Public A playoffs.
Wall senior Brian McKenna drives baseline in opposition to Manasquan defenders Kennedy Larned (left) and Logan Cleveland. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
4. Manasquan (13-9, 6-4) Last Week: 5
Since shedding a two-point recreation vs. Wall within the SCT quarterfinals, Manasquan performed only one recreation previous to the NJSIAA Tournament and it was a significant one with respect to the rankings. In final week’s version, the Warriors jumped Howell for the No. 5 spot and final week, Manasquan proved it belongs in that spot by beating the Rebels at Howell. On prime of that, the Warriors have two shut losses vs. CBA, which bumps them forward of Marlboro. Now, Manasquan turns its consideration to pursuing a seventh straight NJSIAA sectional championship because the No. 5 seed in a Shore-loaded Central Jersey Group II part.
5. Marlboro (19-5, 7-3) Last Week: 4
Like Holmdel, Rumson-Fair Haven, Manasquan and RBC earlier than them, the Mustangs had a promising begin vs. CBA earlier than the Colts blew the sport open to beat Marlboro within the SCT semifinals. A showdown with CBA gave Marlboro an opportunity to change its body of reference earlier than the NJSIAA Tournament and can now go into the Central Jersey Group IV Tournament as a No. 2 seed with an thought of the extent of play it would take to make a championship run.
6. Holmdel (15-7, 6-4) Last Week: 7
With Manasquan beating Howell final week, the brand new toss-up spot is at No. 6, and for the second, it’s Holmdel that strikes into that place. The Hornets have a December loss to a Freehold Township workforce that Howell beat twice, however extra lately, Holmdel is 10-3 over its final three video games with two wins over Rumson and one vs. Manasquan. Holmdel’s solely losses in that 13-game stretch are twice to CBA and one on the buzzer at Sayreville on the eve of the Shore Conference Tournament first spherical.
7. Howell (19-6, 7-3) Last Week: 6
Already sitting on a single-season program report for wins in a season, Howell is trying to nail down win No. 20 in opposition to Millville within the first spherical of the South Jersey Group IV Tournament and make a bid to play into subsequent week. Drawing Cherry Hill East on their facet of the bracket will make reaching the sectional ultimate a problem for the Rebels, however Cayden and Jayson Parker can be a tricky matchup for any South Jersey workforce. If Howell can pull an upset, a transfer towards the highest 5 within the ultimate Shore rankings stays a chance.
Howell junior Jayson Parker defended by Marlboro junior Nolan Gon. (Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
8. Ranney (13-11, 7-3) Last Week: 8
With top-seed Rutgers Prep on the other facet of the South Jersey Non-Public B bracket, Ranney has a legit alternative to achieve a sectional ultimate as a No. 6 seed. The Panthers would seemingly need to get by Holy Spirit and Holy Cross in consecutive rounds – each on the highway – however regular-season exams vs. Red Bank Catholic, Wall, Holmdel, Marlboro, East Brunswick and Immaculata ought to have Ranney ready for the problem.
9. Middletown South (14-11, 6-4) Last Week: 9
Like Ranney, Middletown South ended up on the favorable facet of its Central Jersey Group III bracket, though on this case, drawing the identical facet because the No. 1 seed is helpful. No. 1 Lawrence can be a tricky opponent on the highway, however getting away from No. 2 Westampton Tech and No. 3 Ewing till the ultimate is a optimistic for Middletown South, which is able to open up its NJSIAA Tournament with Allentown.
10. Rumson-Fair Haven (16-8, 5-5) Last Week: 10
A roller-coaster season for Rumson might finish with the final word excessive of successful an NJSIAA sectional title in Central Jersey Group II. Rumson at full energy – senior Luke Cruz is again after a 3rd injury-related stint on the bench – is able to beating nearly any workforce in Group II and to additional aide their trigger, the Bulldogs acquired an ideal attract Central Group II that may hold them away from Wall, Manasquan and Holmdel till the sectional ultimate.
The Next 10
Freehold Township (14-10, 5-5)
Jackson (16-6, 7-1)
Point Pleasant Beach (18-7, 8-2)
Point Pleasant Boro (17-9, 7-3)
Ocean (17-9, 8-2)
Central (16-9, 6-2)
Brick Memorial (15-10, 5-5)
Southern (12-12, 5-3)
Red Bank (11-15, 2-8)
Monmouth (15-8, 7-3)