Maryland Football Coaches Association - Official Athletic Website

     Neptune appears to be putting it all together, as I took in its 66-39 win over Freehold, and a huge key going forward for them could be senior forward/center Brennan Fitzsimmons.
     Known primarily as an excellent soccer player, Fitzsimmons is the guy who takes charges, dives for loose balls and grabs rebounds in traffic. However, he has had trouble finishing around the rim and at the foul line this season, but last night he dropped in a career-high 14 points. If he can fill the lane and finish on the break and also capitalize on his offensive rebounding opportunities for second-chance points, he makes this team that much more dangerous. One Neptune assistant coach jokingly compared him to former Nets center Chris Dudley, in that he does all the dirty work and intangible stuff and provides decent scoring, which a coach couldn’t hope but love, but he can’t shoot free throws, an area where Dudley struggled mightily. Also, Fitzsimmons is an excellent student, and Dudley went from Yale to the NBA.
     Their guard depth is unmatched in the Shore, as well. D.J. Gutridge was in foul trouble all night and had to sit for a few stretches, while Terry Hicks sat out the first half, yet you would hardly have noticed because the Scarlet Fliers still have Lem Walker, Jabari Joyner and Thomas Jones out there. It’s just an endless bench right now.
     Gary Foster has also noticeably picked it up a notch offensively. He started slow out of the gate, struggling to get shots, but now he attacks right from the beginning. He pretty much has to play well in big games for Neptune to win. He is an underrated defender as well, as he did a nice job on Freehold standout Christian Garcia. Gutridge and Joyner have also become a tough tandem that Neptune coach Ken O’Donnell sics on opposing guards to great effect.
     Despite the loss, Freehold still has the talent to cause trouble in the postseason. I’m interested to see how they do in the remainder of their Class B North schedule because most of their big wins in the division came at home, so they’ll have to get it done on the road against the likes of a rejuvenated Monmouth Regional team. Guard Andrew Gerbehy also showed flashes of being able to take over games by being able to put it on the floor and also hit from 2-3 feet from behind the 3-point line.
     As for the other games, you have to be impressed by the job done by Pinelands coach John Tierney this season. The Wildcats upended Point Boro and continue to play well in Class B South despite losing one of their best players, Paul Huch, to a broken hand. They have already surpassed their win total (4) from last season with six wins, and they are still right in the thick of the divisional race behind heavy favorite Monsignor Donovan. For a program that has been in basketball Siberia for so long to be on track to make the Shore Conference and state tournaments despite the adversity it has endured is a real tribute to the Wildcats. I hope they keep it going.
     Another eyebrow raiser was St. John Vianney’s win over Rumson-Fair Haven. The Lancers had been struggling in Class A Central, but showed that you can never take it easy against anyone. Rumson now has lost three straight heading into a tough game against a Red Bank team looking for revenge on Thursday. Manasquan, meanwhile, continues to roll through the division as it beat RBC.
     Mater Dei is hovering right around the .500 mark after an overtime thriller against Henry Hudson, and this is a team that I think could be very dangerous in the early rounds of the SCT and state tournament if they are able to qualify.
     Toms River North is going at full throttle right now, having won 12 straight after routing the only team that has beaten the Mariners this season, Toms River South, last night. I knew Steve Nyisztor primarily as a rising baseball star and Pat Szukics primarily as a kicker/wideout on the 12-0 football team, but both have been integral to North’s success under new coach Andrew Bilodeau.
     At the Neptune game last night, I saw a couple Freehold Township players watching their cross-town rivals, and that will be a game to watch on Thursday as CBA heads to play in the Patriots’ raucous home gym for a key Class A North game. CBA won the first meeting between the two teams.
    Finally, a quick story recommendation on Wednesday. Check out the feature in the new Sports Illustrated on Corey Gahan, a champion in-line skate whose father is in jail for providing him with steroids and HGH since he was 13. Just when you think parents can’t get any crazier, you are sadly mistaken.

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