Maryland Football Coaches Association | Archive | February, 2008

By Scott Stump – Senior Editor

      We’re now only one step away from packing the Ritacco Center on Saturday to see who will be crowned as this season’s Shore Conference Tournament champion, but Thursday night’s semifinals look like they could be riveting theater in themselves.
      Out of the last four teams standing, you have “old reliable” (perennial power Neptune), “new reliable,” (rising power Monsignor Donovan), “scorching hot” (Monmouth), and “trying to make history (Colts Neck).”
      As for my picks, I picked a Neptune-Monsignor Donovan final before the tournament began (see: here. Or better yet, given the performance of the rest of my picks, just ignore it like the crazy uncle at a family party). I will stick with that selection for the final.
      Here’s the tale of the tape:

(1) Neptune vs. (5) Monmouth, 6 p.m.

     Coaching match-up: Neptune’s Ken O’Donnell is a veteran who has been to this point numerous times, so this is another day at the office for the head man at one of the state’s top programs. Monmouth coach Larry Cirignano is a coaching veteran overall, but this is his first season as head man for the Falcons, who are trying desperately to finally get over that hump and reach the SCT final. Will the atmosphere make a difference for a coach like Cirignano in relatively uncharted territory for the Falcons?
 
      The seniors: Neptune’s Gary Foster, Brennan Fitzsimmons and Terry Hicks are the main seniors for the Scarlet Fliers. Foster is in the running for Player of the Year, while Fitzsimmons has been hobbled by an ankle injury recently but will be called upon for rebounding and defense. Hicks is a 1,000-point scorer for his career and transferred to Neptune from Monmouth Academy before this school year. As for Monmouth, the main seniors are Kyle Fagan, a jump-shooting forward; Richard Gilbert, a forward who will be looked upon to grab big rebounds and finish on the break; and Sean Bard, another role player who will be counted on for a key basket here and there as well as finishing in transition.

      The stars: Foster leads the way for Neptune, as he is a relentless offensive rebounder and extremely difficult to slow down when facing the basket from the foul line. The main star for Monmouth is 6-foot-5 junior center Joe Willman, another relentless offensive rebounder who has the ability to step all the way out behind the 3-point line and knock down shots. Sophomore guard Neil Thompson is a rising star in his own right and this could be another big addition to his resume.

       The X-factors: For Neptune, it could be Hicks. He has shown flashes of taking over games at times, and at other times has seemed invisible in big games. If he gets them 12-15 points, that could be a huge boost. I also think that junior guard Thomas Jones could be due for an explosion with his ability to shoot threes. Watch out for Lem Walker’s ability to score in bunches off the bench as well. As for Monmouth, what it gets out of junior guard Anthony Gibson should be a big determining factor, and if it can get double digits and great defense from junior Austin Whitehurst that would be huge as well.

       The strategy
      
        For Neptune:

• Push the pace and make Monmouth have to go deep into its bench or risk tiring its starters out. Neptune’s depth advantage is key, while Monmouth only uses about 2-3 players off the bench at the most.
• Get Willman in foul trouble. Willman sometimes gets caught swiping at the ball against penetrators or swinging to make a block. Get him to pick up two quick fouls like that, and it opens up the middle for Foster and Co. to go to work.
• Knock down shots from behind the arc. Neptune has had some horrendous shooting nights at times this season, so the Scarlet Fliers need to show the Falcons that this will not be one of those nights by hitting some threes early, especially if the Falcons go to a 3-2 zone.
• Attack the offensive glass. This is Neptune’s bread and butter. The Scarlet Fliers win because they create turnovers and get more shot attempts than opponents.
• Force Thompson to finish with his right hand. Thompson is explosive off the dribble and will cross over to his right side, but often he comes back left or uses a hesitation dribble to the left baseline. Neptune needs to force him right and see if he can consistently finish drives going in that direction.
• Get good position on Willman. He has a tendency to go over the back for offensive rebounds because he is so aggressive, so get good position on him and force him into backing off or blatantly fouling.
• Use Jabari Joyner and D.J. Gutridge to hound Thompson from beginning to end and force him to give the ball up when trying to intiate the offense.
• Gutridge also needs to get into the lane on penetration because if Willman has to rotate and help, that could either mean finishes for Foster, Hicks, Fitzsimmons and others or possibly some fouls on Willman.
• Break Monmouth’s will early in the game. Neptune has been here before many times, while this is a rare spot for Monmouth. Try and overwhelm them early on to get their crowd out of the game and dull the momentum that comes from having won 16 of 17 games.

        For Monmouth:

• Force Neptune to settle for long jumpers and limit the Fliers to one shot. This is under the “much easier said than done” category, but Monmouth has the athletes to keep Neptune’s offensive rebounding to an acceptable level. Foster obviously is the main concern in this area.
• Keep Gutridge out of the lane. Gutridge rarely, if ever, pulls up for a jumper, so back way off of him in an effort to keep him in front of the defender. Once he gets in the paint, bad things happen for opponents.
• Take care of the ball. Neptune lives off of turnovers, so the less easy baskets you give the Fliers and the more you make them work to score in half-court sets, the better shape you will be in.
• Get it to Willman in the post. I think any Neptune defender will have a tough time stopping Willman deep on the block if he catches it in the post. He can either get Fitzsimmons or even Foster in foul trouble early if they can lob it in there for Willman to make plays.
• When you have an opening, take it. Thompson and Gibson are tremendous open-court players, so if they grab a long rebound and have the numbers going the other way, take it. Don’t worry about getting in a track meet with Neptune in that instance. Just push it down floor and go for an easy basket.
• Get Gibson going early. When he is able to get a few cheap buckets early on, it usually means a big night for the junior guard.
• Dare Thomas Jones to consistently put it on the floor and score. Take away the 3-pointer by Jones even if it means allowing him to dribble by a defender who is crowding him behind the arc.
• Don’t dribble too much. Monmouth’s guards have a tendency to overdribble in the backcourt, and if they do that against Neptune’s press rather than rapidly passing the ball around, it will allow them to get trapped and allow Neptune to start tying them up for jump balls or poking the ball away for steals.
• Withstand the storm. Neptune has the capability to go on 10-0 or 12-0 runs in the blink of an eye, so the Falcons can’t get down if that happens. Keep fighting because Neptune’s shooting tends to run hot and cold, so a hot streak for Monmouth could be right around the corner.

Game 2
(2) Monsignor Donovan vs. (3) Colts Neck, 7:45 p.m.
*The Griffins are trying to reach their second final in three seasons
and win their first SCT ever, while Colts Neck is already playing in
its first SCT semifinal in school history.

     The coaches: Monsignor Donovan’s Mike Kearney used to be the most underrated coach in the Shore, but given his team’s success in recent seasons, I think you would be hard-pressed to say he is still under the radar. He is one of the top coaches in the conference and has brought this program to new heights, and he is experienced in these games, having led the Griffins to the SCT final two seasons ago. Colts Neck’s Lou Piccola, meanwhile, may be coaching in his first SCT semifinal, but he has over 400 career wins and coached in countless games against nationally-ranked powerhouses filled with major Division I-A players and future pros during his days at Xaverian in New York City. There is no atmosphere that could possibly faze him at this point.

     The seniors: Colts Neck has seven of them, and that could make a huge difference. Steve Spinella and Mitchell Kates headline that crew, but they will be discussed in the category below. It really will be the play of fellow seniors Craig Perry, Adam Dombrowski, Anthony Salvati and Alex LeRoy that could really determine the outcome of the game. If they finish inside and knock down the open looks that will come from double teams of Kates and Spinella, the Cougars will be tough to beat. Monsignor Donovan also has some big-time seniors in Kyle Milana and Tom Carter, who will also be discussed below. Tim Price already showed with 17 points in the quarterfinals against Red Bank that he is capable of stepping up, while forward Scott Niewiadomski will be needed to grab some rebounds and defend. Jeff Onysko is another important role player, and guard Greg Colucci could be the one to draw the assignment of slowing down Kates.

     The stars: Plenty of wattage here as well, as you have the Shore Conference’s leading scorer in Spinella, an athletic wing who can dump threes in people’s faces or drive hard to the baseline and throw down a two-handed dunk on somebody. He is at his best when he is attacking and not settling for jumpers, but he has the capability to completely take over games because he is also a good free throw shooter. Kates runs the show, and his play usually determines everything. When he is consistently breaking his man down off the dribble and whipping bounce passes to the block or scoring himself, that is when the Cougars are the toughest to stop. As for the Griffins, Milana is a four-year starter, a hard-nosed forward who takes it strong to the rim and knocks down shots. His only Achilles’ heel has been his foul shooting. When Carter is hitting from behind the 3-point line, he is one of the tougher assigments in the Shore because he is 6-foot-4 and can shoot over smaller opponents while also putting it on the floor and getting to the rim. He and Milana are both ferocious weakside rebounders on offense as well.

      The X-factors: For Colts Neck, it’s the finishing ability of Dombrowski and LeRoy, as well as Perry being a third scorer. Those two forwards are often the recipients of passes down on the block from Kates or Spinella when the double teams come. If they can convert those lay-ups and grab some offensive rebounds to keep possessions alive, that’s huge for the Cougars. For Mon Don, the match-up of freshman point guard Sean Grennan and Kates, the new and the old stars, is one where Grennan has to hold his own. He doesn’t have to outplay Kates, but he can’t get eaten alive by him, which Kates has done to some this season. Grennan may not end up guarding Kates, but Kates will most likely be on him, and Kates is excellent at anticipating passing lanes, so any telegraphed pass by Grennan and Kates is going to get his hand on it and maybe go the other way.

The strategy:

     For Colts Neck:

• Get Spinella the ball in space, where he can either make a move or pull up for a jumper, and if the Griffins send a double team at him, it will be too much ground for them to recover if Spinella finds the open man.
• Make Milana catch the ball far from the basket and have a defender cheating over to help if Milana puts it on the floor to drive. Milana doesn’t usually pull up from the wing to shoot unless he’s wide open, so just don’t let him catch it on the block or he will score, get fouled, or both.
• Get up in Carter’s face. Don’t let him get rolling from 3-point range or you’re done for. Make him have to keep putting it on the floor. He goes hard to the basket, so rotate and take a charge when he gets a full head of steam.
• Get Perry in a nice, 8- to 10-foot distance from the basket to sit and bury mid-range jumpers all day if the Griffins are going to double team Kates and Spinella.
• Don’t panic. Colts Neck has the offensive firepower to get back in the game if it gets down early, so it can’t get nervous despite being in this spot for the first time.
• Use Spinella to get Milana or Carter in foul trouble. The more Spinella can get into the lane, the better chance he has of getting fouled by one of those two.
• Dombrowski and LeRoy need to muscle Niewiadomski for offensive rebounds. Those two have good size and strength, so if they can carve out some position, they can get some points on the offensive glass.
• Limit the Griffins to one shot. Mon Don is not the best shooting team, but it is relentless in getting second chances. Seal off the defensive backboards and you’re in great shape.
• Occasionally run another defender at Grennan to trap him with Kates. Grennan loves to go left, so if Perry is in the area he should come off his man and come right at Grennan and force him to make a quick decision under duress.

For Monsignor Donovan

• Trap Kates repeatedly. Run another defender at him off of Perry
  or Salvati and get the ball out of his hands, even if it’s 25 feet from the basket. Make Perry score 16-18
  points to beat you.
• Show a double team at Spinella and then rotate back quickly. Many times
  when Spinella sees another defender coming, he gives the ball up. So
  take a few steps toward him and retreat to see if he’ll give the ball
  up.
• Post up Milana at any chance. He could be the key to getting Spinella in foul trouble, although Spinella could be matched up with Carter. If he is, Milana needs to use his quickness against a bigger forward to spin into the lane or slice underneath for a lay-up.
• Get some kickouts to Carter. If Grennan can back Kates into the lane and kick it out to Carter behind the arc early on, that could get the Griffins’ offense jump-started.
• Beat Colts Neck’s big men down the floor. The Griffins need to try to beat the Cougars’ forwards down the floor in transition and try to tire them out.
• Force Spinella to settle for jumpers. He gets a lot of points by going to the foul line, so the more Mon Don forces him to pull the trigger from the wing and not launch into the lane, the less effective he is. Colts Neck often gets impatient on offense, and Mon Don needs to exploit that.
• Price needs to step up and have another solid game. He goes strong to the baseline and can get to the basket. If he is in double digits again, that’s a great sign for the Griffins.
• Take care of the ball. Kates alone has killed teams in crucial spots by tipping passes away and going the other way for lay-ups. Make Colts Neck pay for gambling on steals by going backdoor and getting lay-ups.

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By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
     With the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals coming up on Sunday,
here’s a look at the scouting reports on all the games. The quotes are
from opposing coaches/assistants who have scouted and played these
teams head to head. They were granted anonymity in exchange for their
insights. I also had them select a scenario where if a specific player
is having a good game, the opponent is in real trouble. It also means
not an obvious star player. Saying, “If Red Bank Catholic’s Kristina Danella has a big
game, St. Rose is in trouble,” is basically one for the “duh” file
for any Shore Conference followers.
     All games are at Long Branch High School.

(2) Colts Neck vs. (7) Raritan, 11 a.m.

     Colts Neck: “They shoot the **** out of the ball. It’s all about trying to limit their clean looks. The thing that makes them so difficult to guard is there’s three of them (Brooke Hampton, Lauren Clarke and Tiffany DeTulio). I think if you have some size and length, you can get away with playing some zone. Raritan might be able to do that and then hope they miss (from long range).
     They’re usually one (shot) and done (offensively), but if it goes in, they just scored three points. They’ll wait for a clean look. They have a ton of speed at the guard position, and defensively, they try to steer the ball to certain areas that make an opponent uncomfortable, which is unique at this level.
     If you try to exploit them, you’ve got to get the ball inside. They will pressure your guards, but if you can get ball in there…That’s why a game against RBC would be interesting if (Kristina) Danella played them. You want to get the ball in the paint against them.
     If they’re going to shoot the three, it has to be contested. If they make it, ‘Nice shot.’ Them being young is irrelevant. They’ve played in more games than most seniors because they play all year.
     They’re very quick on the first step, which is ridiculously quick for some of them. It’s all about getting back in transition, and you have to trust your teammates that they won’t let up or give up because you can’t help off of them too much.”
     If this player is having a big game, Raritan is in trouble: Tiffany DeTulio, So., G: “If DeTulio or (forward Brittany) Howes can be that third scorer, you’re in a lot of trouble.”

     Raritan: “You’ve got to contain (junior Alexa) Ryan and (junior Loreta) Tonuzi. Those are the two big guns you have to stop.
     They’re well-coached, and they change defenses up to try and trick you and they handle the ball well.
      (Hannah) Mertz and (Meg) Lentine inside are two 6-foot-2 kids, and offensively they will run a high screen for Ryan, and will run a motion offense with handoffs. They also run a triangle offense to get the ball inside. They got (senior Kandace) Johnson who’s also very quick off the dribble to the basket.
      Defensively, they’re scrappy, and they don’t quit. They will run a half-court trap, zone, and man-to-man.
      You’ve got to stop Ryan. You cannot let Ryan get her points, and just shut down everyone else. They play low-scoring games, so one big game by Ryan could be enough. Off the drive and kick, Tonuzi or Johnson will drive and find Ryan behind the 3-point line all by herself, and she can shoot the lights out.”
       If this player is having a big game, Colts Neck is in trouble: Loreta Tonuzi, Jr., G. “Tonuzi can shoot, too, and she is tough. She also is not afraid to take big shots. If she is on, that is trouble.”

(3) Rumson-FH vs. (6) Howell

     Rumson-FH: “They’re very patient and they read the defense well. They adjust their cuts and coming off screens based on if your defense gets lazy. You have to stay in a defensive stance, and not get lazy and start standing up on them.
     With (Rumson junior Kate) Miller you need to body her up wherever she goes, and don’t help off of her. If she’s around, be wiithin a distance to help. Also you need to keep the ball out of Green’s hands or limit her because she’s an excellent passer who can dish to anyone. You have to keep her out of the middle and make her work for everything. Another big thing is keeping (senior forward Gabbie) DePalo off the boards.
      Defensively, they will pick you up full court, and then play either man or a match-up zone where they just pack everything inside. They have the best team defense we see, with switching, talking, and communicating. It’s like they have a string attached to everyone because they move so well together. You have to be patient, and if anything is open inside, you have to try to get it inside because usually they double, so then it’s about turning and looking to get the ball to the opposite wing.”
      If this player is having a big game, Howell is in trouble: Candice Green, Sr., PG. “It’s probably Candice Green, because if she can get into the paint at will, she can pick you apart. It’s not that she’s the best shooter, but she has a good handle on the ball, and she sees everyone on the court.”

      Howell: “They have three guards that can shoot, which makes them somewhat similar to Colts Neck.
     (Point guard Denise) Crudup is fast, she can shoot off dribble, and she can penetrate. (Guard Michelle) Blum is a great spot-up 3-point shooter. (Sophomore Jacquie) Ward is very quick and can shoot, and their players inside are fast to the basket.
      They’re quick, they play good defense, and they run. They are one of the most balanced teams around. You have to make sure to contest their shots and limit them to one shot.
       They don’t press, and they are mainly a man-to-man team.”
      If this player is having a big game, Rumson is in trouble: Michelle Blum, Sr., G. “It’s either Blum or Ward. Crudup is going to get hers, but it’s that next scorer that will make them trouble.”

(1) St. John Vianney vs. (8) Freehold

     St. John Vianney: “Their offense feeds off their defense. They pressure the ball for 84 feet and try to create a tempo to their liking.
      Offensively, they run their cuts hard, and try to beat you off the dribble to the baseline. The X-factor is (junior guard Katelyn) Linney because she can create for herself and for everybody else. That’s why they’re No. 1 in the Shore right now because she is playing better than anyone.
      Against their diamond press, there’s two schools of thought – you either take the ball right at them and be aggressive, or you can methodically get it up the floor and throw it over them. Good luck with either one. They’re all quick, and I think the thing that separates them is their speed. That’s why tomorrow is so intriguing because Freehold has the athletes to stay with them.
      They are vulnerable in the post, and on second shots, so (Freehold’s) Shannon Mayrose could have a big game. Alone, she is a tough match-up for anybody.”
       If this player is having a big game, Freehold is in trouble: Jackie Kates, Fr., G; Missy Repoli, Fr., F. “Any combination of Kates, Repoli or (junior Jen) Mulvey getting into double digits in points, and you are in serious trouble.”

       Freehold: “(Sophomore Sehmonyeh) Allen can shoot, (Ashley) Lewis can shoot, and even (senior Quasonna) Moore as a ‘4,’ she handles the ball extremely well. They have four people that can score.
       They’re very fast, and if the game was a track meet, they would succeed in it. If they just break Vianney’s press and go to the basket, they’ll be very successful. I don’t think Freehold is good enough at executing in a half-court set for them to score enough to beat Vianney.
        Out of all the styles that are left, other than St. Rose, Freehold is the hardest match-up for SJV because Freehold’s strength is their strength. They’ll probably put Mulvey on (standout junior forward Shannon) Mayrose. The biggest factor in Mayrose’s game is her offensive rebounding and not letting her get to the basket. If she has the ball on the foul line, you would rather have her shoot it because if she goes by you, even if she misses, she’s likely to get the rebound, get it back up and in, and get fouled.”
        If this player is having a big game, St. John Vianney is in trouble: Sehmonyeh Allen, So., Freehold. “Allen needs to score for Freehold to be successful. If she hits a couple of threes early and gets going, then it should be a **** of a game.”

(4) Red Bank Catholic vs. (5) St. Rose

     Red Bank Catholic:  “Make anyone else besides Kristina Danella beat you. If she is going to catch it anywhere in the paint, smother her.
     Make other kids make shots. Someone else has to have a big game. (Megan) Spanarkel and (Kasey) Hobbie can shoot the ball, so you’ve just got to limit their strengths. If Danella gets 20-plus points, you’re done. You can’t foul her. When she catches the ball, you need to get there before she can move so that she can’t dive into you and draw a foul.
    Defensively, they’ll pressure the ball, they’ll jump in and out of defenses, and they’ll play some half-court trap. I think St. Rose needs to shoot the ball well, and I think they can.”
     If this player is having a big game, St. Rose is in trouble: Kasey Hobbie, Fr., G. “Hobbie can shoot, and she burned St. Rose the first time. Someone else is going to have to step up and help Danella, so if Hobbie is making shots, St. Rose is in trouble.”

     St. Rose: “(Senior center Kelly) Clark will get lobs in the post and then see if you are going to double her before kicking it back out to their guards. They have a couple guards that can shoot, and Janine Mullin has shown the ability to get on hot streaks for a quarter or so, so you have to at least contest her shot. Clark can **** you on the offensive boards if you don’t make a serious effort to put a body on her. She can absorb contact and finish underneath.
     Gia Russo is physical for a guard but also quicker than you think. She also is capable of knocking down the 3-pointer.
     They will probably zone RBC like they did the first time because they don’t have any one defender that matches up well with Danella. They will force RBC to knock down some shots from outside to loosen up things inside for Danella.
      They struggle badly at the foul line at times. Clark is a liability at the foul line, so RBC will foul her any time she gets it deep in the post, rather than conceding the basket, particularly late in the game. It also means that RBC can make up points on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter without using much time if St. Rose is not converting its free throws.
      If this player is having a big game, RBC is in trouble: Janine Mullin, Sr., G: “When she is confidently taking threes and Clark is commanding a double team, she can break a game open with her shooting.”

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By Scott Stump – Senior Editor

      With the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals coming up on Sunday, here’s a look at the scouting reports on all the games. The quotes are from opposing coaches/assistants who have scouted and played these teams head to head. They were granted anonymity in exchange for their insights. I also had them select a scenario where if a specific player is having a good game, the opponent is in real trouble. It also means not an obvious star player. Saying, “If Neptune’s Gary Foster has a big game, Asbury Park is in trouble,” is basically one for the “duh” file for any Shore Conference followers.
      All games are at Brookdale Community College.

(1) Neptune vs. (8) Asbury Park, 11 a.m.

     Neptune: “They don’t really run an offense – they just have tendencies. They have three tendencies on offense: 1) They run a baseline screen off the
box, and then that kid looks to seal and post you up; 2) They ball
screen and try to make a play off that; 3) The third tendency is just dribble breakdown. They spread the court and just try to break you down off the dribble and crash the offensive glass.
      Defensively, they got to a full-court man-to-man, and they also use a 2-1-2 press where they look to trap the sidelines and the division line. They will play a 2-3 zone only off an inbounds, and then they’ll either stay in it or check you depending on where you catch the ball.
      They killed us on second-chance points. Also, they are all putting up decent numbers in shooting from behind the 3-point line. Perimeter defense was our main concern, but the problem is that when a shot went up, we weren’t in any position to check the boards because we had to help a lot.
      Rebounds are a big thing for Neptune, especially with (senior forward Gary) Foster. They don’t have much size, but they’re quick, and they go for the ball hard. You’ve got to watch everybody. You’ve got to keep them in front of you, but you can say that as much as you want, and it’s not easy to do. They have something like four kids between 16 and 37 3-pointers (made) this season, so you are taking your chances by zoning them. They all can hurt you off the dribble. Playing perimeter defense and then hitting open looks on the offensive end are the two big keys.”
      If this player is having a big game, Asbury Park is in trouble: Terry Hicks, Sr., F. “We were worried about him because he can put it on the floor and get to the rim as well as knock down 3-pointers. He is up and down at times, but if he’s on, they are a very balanced offense that is tough to slow down.”

     Asbury Park: “Playing on the bigger court at Brookdale will hurt them because they have a big advantage in being able to smother teams in that tiny gym of theirs.
      They play some man-to-man, but they really just sit in a 2-3 zone on all you all day, which is surprising with all the athletic ability they have.
      You’ve got to keep (Steve) Raymond and (Darryl) Jefferson from getting penetration because their big guys won’t hurt you at all unless it’s on a penetration and dish. (Jefferson and Raymond) both love the baseline, and they stay on separate sides of the floor all the time. (Ron) Berardesco is a pure shooter. If he’s on the floor, he’s only out there to shoot threes. It’s really just those guys on the penetration that **** you, especially Raymond.
       You have to be patient against their zone,
and not try to force up shots. It’s a little different at Brookdale, because you can’t shoot threes form the corner in Asbury’s gym because you’re out of bounds. Neptune needs to resist the urge to fire up shots right away because if it can get Foster the ball facing the basket at the foul line rather than putting up a 3-pointer, Asbury is in trouble because it is vulnerable in the paint on defense.”
      If this player is having a big game, Neptune is in trouble: Anthony Simmons, Sr., PG. “Simmons will **** you from three if you’re not paying attention to him. If the other two (Jefferson and Raymond) are getting penetration and finding him for open looks, he can go for 20-plus points and that makes them a whole different team.”

(2) Monsignor Donovan vs. (10) Red Bank, 12: 45 p.m

     Monsignor Donovan: “They do a lot of three out (on the perimeter), two-in (the paint) stuff. They’ll look to isolate (senior Kyle) Milana in the post against smaller and weaker guys. They’re very patient, and they will not jack up crazy shots.
     (Point guard Sean) Grennan is a freshman, but he plays like a  junior because of their tough schedule, and is a good scorer going to his left, but he will not force the issue. (Senior Tom) Carter is a match-up nightmare. He is 6-4, can put it to deck, and he can flat-out shoot the three and won’t miss a lot of shots. (Guard Greg) Colucci will shoot ball 2-3 times a game, but if he’s open, he’ll knock it down.
      They defend you and take you out of your stuff. They’re very, very physical on and off the ball, and with their experience, they look to impose their will on the other team. They play mostly man, but sometimes they’ll show zone. They’re very, very aggressive, so you can look to backdoor them, and if you have guards that can break them down, you can score.
      They lose a lot when they go to their bench. Once you go past six (in the rotation), they start to lose it. (Red Bank’s Matt) Pebole can’t be guarded by (center Scott) Niewiadomski because Niewiadomski isn’t quick enough. One scenario could be that Milana takes (Red Bank guard Will) Sanborn and Carter can take Pebole, but Pebole could have the advantage inside there. They also could have Milana on Pebole and Colucci on Sanborn. Colucci is an underrated defender, and puts good pressure on the ball.”
      If this player is having a big game, Red Bank is in trouble: Sean Grennan, Fr., PG. “If Carter is knocking down open shots because you’re helping on Milana and if Grennan gets in double figures (in scoring) and doesn’t throw the ball around the gym, which a freshman is prone to do in this spot, you’re in trouble.”

     Red Bank:  “They have two high-level scorers (Will Sanborn and Matt Pebole). Pebole has really
transformed his game from being a complementary player who got offensive rebounds and post-ups to somebody who can take you off dribble and
beat you by shooting threes. He relies on his 3-point shot and his ability to break you down by going to his left. He’s a good foul shooter who looks to draw contact.
     Sanborn is the World B. Free of the Shore Conference.  He only shoots when he’s open, and he’s always open. He can shoot you in and out of a game. When he’s on, he’s impossible to stop. His step-back 3-pointer is almost unguardable. When he is not going well, he will not
defend, and he starts taking crazy shots and he goes south on his team. (Point guard Eric) Raybon is an underrated point guard who can knock down the open shot, but is very comfortable being more of a distributor. He plays good, solid defense, and he knows his role.
     (Forward Stephen) Frost is extremely athletic. He’s like a jumping jack. He’s like a poor man’s Gary Foster. He attacks the offensive glass, he rebounds the
ball, and blocks shots everywhere. His game is improving, and he can be a difference-maker if he is able to score to give them that third weapon. (Forward Mike) Pignataro is the muscle. He sets good screens, and plays fundamental defense. (Forward Kyle) Grant will never shoot. He’s more of a defender/rebounder.
     Defensively, they play man-to-man, and it’s not that good because their main two players (Sanborn and Pebole) are not willing to defend as much as they’re
willing to play offense. If you have a bigger guard to go at Sanborn, you can get him in foul trouble.
     You just need to throw a lot of defenses at
them. Zone them, man them, run and jump them – keep mixing it up, because they get out of rhythm. Every time Sanborn got doubled, he gets very frustrated.”
      If this player is having a big game, Monsignor Donovan is in trouble: Stephen Frost, So., F. “If Frost gets double figures (in scoring) and he is able to become a presence
defensively, rebounding and blocking shots, they are very difficult to stop if the other two guys get their points.”

(14) Freehold vs. (6) Colts Neck, 2:30 p.m.

     Freehold: “Besides Neptune’s guards, I look at Freehold’s guards as the most talented and up-and-coming group in the Shore. They’re young, extremely athletic and can handle the ball.
     (Sophomore Christian) Garcia doesn’t get the recognition he deserves because he’s a sophomore, but he can score on the low block and in the mid-range, and has the makings of a big-time scorer. (Sophomore Lance) McKenzie is lightning-quick, and when he is playing under control, he is nearly impossible to keep in front of you. (Junior guard Andrew) Gerbehy knows his role and can knock down open shots. If you give him an inch, he’s going to bury it.
      (Senior forward Brandon) Carter is an undersized post player who uses his body and is surprisingly athletic. He has to be kept off the boards, and he is able to back you down underneath the basket. (Junior guard) Brandon Brown, if he gets going, he becomes a big, big X-factor because he becomes that extra scorer.
      Offensively, they try to get in transition, and they like to  dribble drive and kick for shots especially if it’s Gerbehy or Brown. Garcia and McKenzie will look to penetrate, and they try to run their offense through Carter in the low block and see if you double him.
      Defensively, they play mostly man-to-man. They sometimes fall asleep away from the ball, so if you reverse the ball and run screens and cuts, you may get them to bite. They are foul prone because they like to reach. If you protect the ball, you’re going to get stuff. They also have problems guarding bigger guards and they have problems against teams with size. (Colts Neck’s Steve) Spinella will give them a hard time because he’s too quick for Carter and he’s too big for Gerbehy or Brown, so they have to put Garcia on him, which means there’s a very good chance (Garcia) can get into foul trouble.”
      If this player is having a big game, Colts Neck is in trouble: Lance McKenzie, So. G. “If McKenzie is playing under control and Carter is able to establish himself on the low block, Colts Neck is in trouble.”

     Colts Neck: “That four corners offense is the key to their success because (senior point guard Mitchell) Kates
does such a great job penetrating and then he finds his guy, and (senior forward Steve) Spinella loves that baseline move.
     Spinella (the Shore’s leading scorer), will make that one-dribble, baseline drive
for a dunk or a score. They don’t run as much motion as they have in the past. They run a motion with some backscreens because they’re pretty
efficient. They’re less of a structured offense this season, with a lot of dribble penetration.
      Defending them, you look to double or help on Kates and Spinella off of (Adam) Dombrowski and (Anthony) Salvati.
      Defensively, they’re a lot of man-to-man. Their vulnerable spot is the post because Spinella usually guards someone in the wing area. Their post defense hasn’t been all that great, so you’ve got to get it going down low. I think this is going to be a great game.”
      If this player is having a big game, Freehold is in trouble: Craig Perry, Sr. G. “The guy you have to look out for is Perry, a lefty shooter who can
catch fire from outside off kickouts from Kates and Spinella.”

(4) Christian Brothers Academy vs. (5) Monmouth, 4:15 p.m.

     Monmouth: “Monmouth is the team that has arguably the most talent in the Shore. They have two lightning-quick guards in (junior Anthony) Gibson and (sophomore Neil) Thompson that they use to get to the rack.
    (Austin) Whitehurst is an underrated defender and can score but is comfortable in his role. He is a phenomenal defender on the ball, one of the best defenders in the Shore. (Junior center Joe) Willman is playing like an absolute beast. He can beat you inside and out, and he has been playing like a man possessed. (Senior forward Kyle) Fagan is a big body in the post , but has trouble with athletic forwards.
     They rely on their athletic ability to create all their points and they let Willman do whatever he feels like he needs to do, which may be their biggest problem with playing CBA. The biggest problem with Monmouth is, can they be disciplined? If they do so, they are as good or better than anybody in the Shore. If they are undisciplined, they can lose to anybody.
      Defensively, they play mainly man, although they’ll show some zone. They depend on Whitehurst to take teams out of their offense and hope the athletic ability of Gibson and Thompson will create turnovers to get in an up-and-down, fast-paced game. The main thing to do against them is to protect the ball, cut hard and get backdoor cuts and make them defend. They gamble so much that if you’re patient, you’ll get what you want because they take chances. If CBA is patient, that is the worst possible thing for Monmouth.
      CBA will have a lot of problems defending Monmouth man-to-man, so it’s smart to go to a zone and say, ‘If you’re going to beat us, you’re going to have to have Thompson and Whitehurst knock down shots.’ They can also pack it in on Willman, and that makes Willman go over the back and make stupid fouls.”
      If this player is having a big game, CBA is in trouble: Austin Whitehurst, Jr., G. “If Thompson and Whitehurst are able to knock down perimeter shots and play under control on drives to the basket, CBA is in trouble.”

   CBA: “They’ve changed it up offensively. At the beginning of season,  they were running a lot of sets, but the second time through, it was a lot more of a motion offense with (junior center Pat) Light at the high post. They like to hit him and then the wings wil go back door. He’s a great passer from the high post.
      (Senior guard Mike) Kuhn and (junior swingman Brian) Neller are difficult (to defend) because against most teams, you can help off the other three players, but against CBA, you can’t do that. You have to emphasize digging in on those two. You’ve got to put two guys out there who are concentrating on defense. We face-guarded them both, and it was important to run fresh guys at them
     The Mabrey kid (sophomore point guard Roy Mabrey), if you pressure him enough, you can turn them over. (Senior point guard Dallas) Ouano always stays calm with the ball, and he’s got that ability to backdribble and see the floor. I think he will be a weapon for them.
      Defensively they play a lot of 3-2 zone. They pressure you in a 2-1-2 full-court and then go back into a 3-2 zone. They do a great job of slowing teams down. In the 2-1-2 press, they like to have Kuhn and Neller up front because they’re long and they’ll finish well on the turnovers. It’s typical CBA – they’re going to overplay you and put great pressure on ball. If your guards are savvy enough, you will get backdoor looks, but they’re always in your face. If you screen them, you do annoy them. You need to set a lot of ball screens and away screens, and make contact with them as much as you can.”
      If this player is having a big game, Monmouth is in trouble: Pat Light, Jr., C. “I think he’s one of the most underrated players in the Shore. He can shoot a mid-range shot, he has a good dribble drive, and he attacks the boards hard. If he has a good game, you’re going to be in a lot of trouble.”

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SHORE CHALLENGE SCHEDULE 2008
(Schedule provided by Manasquan coach and Shore Challenge director Art Gordon.)
**The showcase is still looking for a non-Shore Conference team to play against Wall at Wall on May 10th at 7 p.m.  The Shore Challenge is currently up to 55 teams playing at 11 different sites on 8 different dates.
The Challenge also has several games featuring Don Bosco Prep, the preseason No. 1 team in the nation.

FRIDAY APRIL 25TH AT FIRSTENERGY PARK (LAKEWOOD BLUECLAWS)

4 PM    MILLBURN        VS.        WALL
7 PM    CRANFORD        VS.        COLTS NECK

SATURDAY APRIL 26TH AT  FIRSTENERGY PARK

1 PM    WEST MILFORD    VS.     ST JOHN VIANNEY
4 PM    LAKELAND        VS.         FREE. TWP.
7 PM    DON BOSCO PREP     VS.         CBA

SATURDAY APRIL 26TH AT 18TH AVE. FIELD IN WALL

9 AM     WEST MILFORD    VS.        LAKELAND
12 PM    HILLSBOROUGH        VS.        HOLMDEL
 3 PM    PASSAIC TECH    VS.         MANASQUAN

SATURDAY APRIL 26TH AT ST. JOHN VIANNEY

10 AM    OLD BRIDGE        VS        MANCHESTER
 1 PM    ST. JOE’S-MONTVALE   VS.        BRICK
 4 PM    RANDOLPH        VS.         PT. BORO

SUNDAY APRIL 27TH AT FIRSTENERGY PARK

 1 PM     OLD TAPPAN        VS.        RBC
 4 PM    DON BOSCO PREP        VS.        OCEAN TWP
 7 PM    GOV. LIVINGSTON  VS.        ST. ROSE

SUNDAY APRIL 27TH AT SHORE CHRISTIAN CENTER

1 PM     ST. JOE’S-HAMMONTON    VS.    JACKSON LIBERTY
4 PM     ST JOE’S-METUCHEN VS.    BRICK MEMORIAL

SATURDAY MAY 3RD AT TOMS RIVER SOUTH

1 PM     OLD BRIDGE        VS    RBC
4 PM    ST JOE HAMMON    VS     MATER DEI
7PM        SOUTH BRUNSWICK  VS. T.R SOUTH

SATURDAY MAY 3RD AT TOMS RIVER EAST

1 PM     POPE JOHN XXIII    VS.    T.R. EAST
4 PM     CLEARVIEW        VS.    MANASQUAN

SATURDAY MAY 3RD AT SHORE CHRISTIAN CENTER    

1 PM    MALVERN PREP    VS    MARLBORO
4 PM    MALVERN PREP    VS    MANALAPAN

SATURDAY MAY 3RD AT OCEAN TWP

1 PM    DUNELLEN        VS.    OCEAN
3:30 PM    HILLSBOROUGH       VS.     CBA

SUNDAY MAY 4TH AT COLTS NECK

12 PM    HUDSON CATHOLIC    VS    MANALAPAN
3 PM    RAMAPO                VS    COLTS NECK

SUNDAY MAY 4TH AT CBA

12:30PM   KEARNY            VS.    ST JOHN VIANNEY
3:30 PM    ST PETERS PREP    VS     CBA

SUNDAY MAY 4TH AT SHORE CHRISTIAN CENTER

1 PM    ST JOE-METUCHEN  VS  BARNEGAT
4 PM    ST JOE-MONTVALE  VS  JACKSON

FRIDAY MAY 9TH AT THE LAKEWOOD BLUECLAWS

3:15 PM        GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC    VS    RUMSON

SATURDAY MAY 10TH AT LAKEWOOD BLUECLAWS

1PM     ST JOE-HAMMONTON  VS    HENRY HUDSON
4PM        UNION             VS    SHORE REGIONAL
7PM        LINDEN            VS      ST ROSE

SATURDAY MAY 10TH AT MANALAPAN H. S.

11 AM    ST PETERS PREP      VS    MANALAPAN

SATURDAY MAY 10 AT WALL MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
4 PM     BERGEN CATHOLIC    VS    MATAWAN
7PM      (Looking for opponent)   VS    WALL

SUNDAY MAY 11TH AT LAKEWOOD BLUECLAWS
11 AM    SPOTSWOOD            VS    MONSIGNOR DONOVAN
2  PM    METUCHEN            VS    MATER DEI
5 PM     POPE JOHN XXIII        VS    FREEHOLD TWP

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By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
     From game analysis to players you want to check out to expectations for
every team and everything in between, it’s all here. Just start
clicking away.

      SCT FIELD: THE BASIC FOOD GROUPS

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By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
Note: Girls SCT preview coming Wednesday morning

      From game analysis to players you want to check out to expectations for every team and everything in between, it’s all here. Just start clicking away.

        SCT FIELD: THE BASIC FOOD GROUPS

      INSIDE WEDNESDAY’S FIRST-ROUND GAMES
     
       MY BRACKET

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By Scott Stump – Senior Editor

Just click on each segment to read more.

TOP 10

SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT BRACKET AND SCHEDULE

WHO AM I?
I am the coach of the boys team that is believed to be the first No. 15 seed to ever stun a No. 2 seed in the Shore Conference Tournament, and I also was the coach of the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed. Click here for the answer.

COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT
Tim Andree, So., C, Notre Dame
The former Christian Brothers Academy standout is in his second season as a walk-on for the Fighting Irish. He was a teammate of current University of Florida sophomore Dan Werner at CBA, where they won two straight Shore Conference Tournament titles. He has appeared in five games this season for Notre Dame, and last season made the Big East All-Academic team.

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By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
Click on the highlighted area to check out each section.

TOP 10

SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT BRACKET AND SCHEDULE

WHO AM I?
I was inducted into my university’s Hall of Fame last year and was a three-time All-Big East Conference selection during my playing days. I am a former star at a Monmouth County school, where I have returned and am now coaching the jayvee team. I am my high school’s all-time leading scorer and at my college I finished second all-time with 180 3-pointers. Click here to find out who I am.

COLLEGE SPOTLIGHT
Catherine Cristino, So., F, Montclair State
    The former Colts Neck standout leads the Red Hawks (13-8) in scoring with 13.8 points per game and in blocks (33), while also ranking third in rebounding with 4.5 per game. She had a career-high 27 points against William Paterson last month.

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By Scott Stump – Senior Editor

     Just some quick stuff on the upcoming Shore Conference Tournaments on both sides before my full previews/predictions come out. I’ll have Shore Reports up tomorrow for boys and girls with all of the usual stuff and I am working on a much bigger thing for the SCT for both sides that will come out on Wednesday or maybe earlier if I can get it done in time. I also will have pick ’em contests up for the boys and girls sides and am working on a prize (other than trash-talking rights and the envy of your peers) for the winner.
     I’ll tell you one other thing. This schedule is tough. I really wish they would split the boys and girls into different days so that we could give everyone their due without having to choose because we can’t get to everything. Meanwhile, the wrestling state team tournament is also going on during Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, so it’s all hands on deck all over the place. We’ll do our very best, and if there’s any students, fans or coaches (other than the ones who regularly help us already) out there interested in providing information from your team’s SCT games so that everyone can get some coverage, e-mail me at [email protected]. Even if it’s just photos or a quick recap, our goal is to give everyone their due during this fun time of the season.

GIRLS
     I didn’t sit in this meeting because I was in the boys SCT seeding meeting thinking there might be more intrigue than there turned out to be, but I am still mystified as to the 5-6-7 seeding. The committee might look like geniuses if it all stands up, but I am still wondering how St. Rose got the No. 5 seed without any wins over any other Top 10 teams, although they did have two good nonconference wins. Meanwhile, Raritan, which beat the Rumson team that just recently knocked off the Purple Roses, is behind Howell, which it beat head-to-head, and St. Rose. That doesn’t seem to make sense to me – Raritan should be No. 5. I can maybe see the Howell seed ahead of Raritan because the Rebels are the only team to defeat No. 2 Colts Neck this season, but I don’t see the logic behind St. Rose at No. 5 other than on sheer opinion.
     I had a feeling Red Bank Catholic’s upset loss to Neptune would help Neptune more than it hurt RBC, and that turned out to be the case as the defending champions stayed at No. 4, which is where they were projected before the loss to the Scarlet Fliers, who jumped up to No. 9 thanks to that win.

BOYS
   This meeting went surprisingly smoothly given all the parity in the Shore this season. After all the talk about the battle for the No. 2 seed after Monsignor Donovan’s double-overtime loss to Central, the Griffins got seeded No. 2 and it wasn’t even close. I agree with that decision, as that is where I would have kept them despite the loss to Central.
    The way the meetings work is that each divisional representative talks about the teams from his division that qualified – what their best wins are, what their good/bad losses are, etc. Then everybody writes down how they would seed the tournament from 1 to 20 (in this season’s case) and those seedings are averaged out and written on a board. Delegates can then challenge certain seeds if they think a team is being lowballed, and then a vote is taken on whether or not to make a change. The only challenge that was brought up was Rumson-FH jumping Freehold for the 14th seed on the basis of a head-to-head win over the Colonials, but the vote was split and it did not change. Had it changed, the Bulldogs would have been playing Red Bank Catholic for the third time this season when they met in Wednesday’s SCT preliminary round. Instead, they will face Keyport.
    The only teams I thought maybe got a little slighted were Keyport at No. 18 and Central at No. 14. The Golden Eagles have two wins over No. 2 Monsignor Donovan, but their losses to non-SCT qualifiers like Lakewood (twice), Barnegat and Manchester came back to haunt them. St. Rose and Keyport split, but the Purple Roses got the No. 11 seed, mainly I would think on the strength of a win over Central because they didn’t have any other major wins.
    Still, I thought the committee did a good job on this and these are just minor quibbles than anyone could argue about for eons. If you don’t like your seed, just win and prove everyone wrong.

   As far as potential juicy match-ups and a bunch of other stuff, that will all be in the prediction/preview section, and I’ll have more and more as we advance through the tournament.

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     While the boys side is filled with teams that have been up and down most of the season and tons of parity, the top of the girls’ rankings has been fairly steady, with teams shuffling among the top five or six as they knock each other off.
     With that said, I’ll take a swipe at some mock SCT seeds with the seeding meeting coming up on Sunday at Rumson-Fair Haven.
     The seeding committee consists of the following coaches: Marlboro’s Brian Nash (Class A North); Rumson’s George Sourlis (Class A
Central); Toms River North’s Vicki Gillen (Class A South); Monmouth’s
Audra Corson (Class B North); St. Rose’s Joe Roman (Class B Central)
and Point Boro’s Sean Henry (Class B South).
      First-round games start on Wednesday, Feb. 13, with games at the higher seed, unless the team that is seeded lower is an outright division champion. The second round follows on Friday, and all four quarterfinals will be held on Sunday, Feb. 17, at the gleaming new facilities at Long Branch. The semifinals will be on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the Ritacco Center and the final will be on Feb. 23 at the Ritacco Center.
     Just to let everyone in a little bit on the process, teams are
pre-seeded based on their best wins, committee opinions, division
titles, etc. Then, if a team is pre-seeded behind a team that it beat
head-to-head, that team’s delegate can challenge to jump the team
pre-seeded ahead of it. The delegates then take a vote as to whether
that team can jump up a seed.
     The real question is whether anyone is going to break up semifinal meetings between the top four seeds. I would say Raritan, Howell and Freehold might have the best shot and St. Rose can’t totally be counted out. Freehold is eager to prove some people wrong, while the only thing I wonder about Raritan is how much gas it has left in the tank after a brutal Class A Central schedule. It’s hard enough getting regular-season wins in that division, let alone coming up with big SCT quarterfinal wins. Lacey is on a quest for respect among the Monmouth County brethren, and with a high-scoring backcourt, the Lions are capable if they get the right match-up.
      OK, here’s my take on how the seeding might shake out heading into this weekend’s action.

      1. St. John Vianney: This one is pretty much ironclad, as the Lancers boast two wins over Rumson-Fair Haven and Raritan, a win over Red Bank Catholic, a win over St. Rose and throw in a win over Christ the King (N.Y.) in there as well.

      2. Colts Neck: The Cougars’ best victory is over Rumson-Fair Haven from the WOBM Classic final, which should help cement them as the No. 2 seed. Their only loss is to Howell, which they avenged in their second meeting in Class A North.

      3. Rumson-Fair Haven: The Bulldogs have plenty of quality victories, with two wins over Red Bank Catholic and victories over St. Rose, Freehold, and Raritan as well as a nonconference victory over Christ the King (N.Y.). Beating St. Rose and locking this seed up was big because it allows them to potentially avoid St. John Vianney, which has beaten them twice, until the final, while also avoiding Raritan, which looks like the No. 5 seed. Raritan has played the Bulldogs tough in three straight games, including a 32-30 win in their last meeting. I’m sure Rumson is also itching to get even with Colts Neck after losing to the Cougars over the holidays.

     4. Red Bank Catholic: The Caseys have a win over St. John Vianney, two wins over Raritan and a win over St. Rose as well as some solid nonconference victories. That means a potential semifinal match-up with St. John Vianney. Those two teams never meet in this tournament, do they? RBC has a game against a dangerous Neptune team on Friday night to worry about as well.

     5. Raritan: It’s funny because I think the Rockets might actually want the No. 6 seed more, because it could mean another meeting with a team it has matched up well with, Rumson, in the quarterfinals, rather than a potential date with RBC, which it lost to twice. However, their wins over Rumson and Howell allow them to jump the Rebels and St. Rose, which was unable to get over the hump in any of its three games against St. John Vianney, Rumson and Red Bank Catholic.

     6. Howell: The Class A North co-champs have a win over No. 2 Colts Neck that should help the Rebels lock up this seed. I like to see teams play that haven’t already played in the regular season, so a Rumson-Howell quarterfinal could be intriguing.

     7. St. Rose: Now we’re getting into the land of teams that didn’t necessarily have that big win over a top Shore Conference opponent. St. Rose’s nonconference victories over Marist and St. Peter’s could be enough to land the Class B Central champs this seed.
 
     8. Freehold: I would’ve had Lacey here or maybe at No. 7 before the Lions’ loss to Southern, so we’ll go with the Class B North champs here. I could still see Lacey getting this spot because of Freehold’s losses to Freehold Township and Ocean with a depleted lineup. It will interesting to see how the committee views those games, especially because Freehold routed Ocean with a full lineup in their second meeting. Two wins over Neptune help Freehold’s case.

     9. Lacey: The Class A South champs are still 18-2 despite the loss to Southern, and there isn’t a team below them that necessarily has a win over a team seeded higher, unless those Freehold losses with members out of the lineup come into play.

   10. Middletown South: The Eagles have two wins over Freehold Township and nearly knocked off Colts Neck in a two-point loss, so they might try and make a play for the No. 9 seed.

   11. Freehold Township: The Patriots’ only losses are to teams ahead of them, which could earn them this spot, but they don’t have that signature win to hang on to, either, although they do have that win over Freehold, so we’ll see how that is weighted.

   12. Neptune: Only a loss to non-SCT qualifier Monmouth keeps this team from maybe being a little higher. The young Scarlet Fliers also have one last chance to shake things up with a game against No. 4 Red Bank Catholic on Friday night.

   13. Shore: This team was probably headed for a little bit of a higher seed, but a loss to Keyport stung the Blue Devils. They nearly stunned Rumson-Fair Haven on Wednesday, and all of their other losses are to teams ahead of them.

   14. Mater Dei: The Seraphs have put a scare into a bunch of teams this season, but just couldn’t quite get over the hump for a win. All of their losses are to teams ahead of them.

  15. Point Boro: I could see Keyport arguing for this spot because of a win over Shore, although a loss to Point Beach didn’t help the Red Raiders’ case. The Class B South champion Panthers took a hit with a loss to a Brick Memorial team that qualified for its first SCT in school history. This seed is really up for grabs amongst a bunch of teams. Point Boro beat Southern in the WOBM consolations, which keeps it above the Rams.

  16. Southern: The Rams had an up-and-down season, and this one is really tough to call as they have two losses to Brick Memorial, but also just handed No. 9 Lacey its first and only loss in Class A South.

  17. Brick Memorial: In for the first time in school history, the Mustangs have two wins over Southern and a win over Class  B South champion Point Boro, which could help it grab this spot over several teams, including possibly Southern.

  18. Keyport: The Red Raiders’ win over Shore could have them pushing for a higher seed than this, so we’ll see. It’s anyone’s game when you get down this far. You could throw Keyport, Manchester, Point Beach, Ocean and any of the others that clinch have clinched spots or will clinch spots this weekend into a blender to seed these final positions.

QUICK TAKE ON THE STATE PLAYOFF BRACKETS

    The state brackets have been released, which you can check out here if you haven’t seen them yet for your favorite team.
     Here are some quick thoughts:

• St. Rose-Mater Dei is a great first-round game in Non-Public South B because Mater Dei pushed the Purple Roses hard in their two meetings this season. Trenton Catholic is a monster lurking on the bottom half of that side of the bracket, so the winner of St. Rose-Mater Dei is going to have a very tall order to even keep it close in the semis.
• In Non-Public South A, while there are no guarantees, chances are that it will be Red Bank Catholic vs. St. John Vianney in the final. That’s a new one.
• In Central Jersey Group IV, top-seeded Colts Neck could have to play Freehold Township for the third time this season in a second-round game, but, as has been the case for a while now, this bracket is ruled with an iron fist by Trenton, which reached the Tournament of Champions final last season and appears headed in that direction again. Howell will most likely get the first crack at the Tornadoes, who beat the Rebels in the CJ IV final last season, and then Colts Neck will be hoping for its shot in the sectional final.
• In Central Jersey Group III, top-seeded Freehold has a real shot to bring home a title as Willingboro is not the power it usually is, and Freehold would be the favorite in any game against Middletown South, Neptune or Point Boro.
• In Central Jersey Group II, eight-time defending champion Rumson-Fair Haven got what it wanted, which was pesky nemesis Raritan on the other side of the bracket. Raritan could face Shore in the second round and the winner of that game could see the Bulldogs in the final if it can get past top-seeded A.L. Johnson. Rumson has beaten Shore twice this season and split with Raritan.
• A semifinal appearance by Keyport in Central Jersey Group I would be a nice accomplishment, and then the Red Raiders can get greedy and go for more.
• South Jersey Group IV is loaded with tough teams like Cherokee, Eastern and perennial power Absegami, so if Lacey, Southern or Toms River North advance even a few rounds, that’s a good run.
• If a young Manchester team can at least pick up one win in the South Jersey Group II bracket and gain some experience, that’s all you could ask for.
• Point Beach has a tough game right off the bat on the road down at second-seeded Salem in South Jersey Group I.

Finally, some quick extras from this week:

• Congrats to Brick Memorial for reaching its first SCT in school history. Brick Memorial student Dylan Hornblum recently did a video feature on the Mustangs that you can watch here.
• How about Southern sophomore Kristen Sharkey, who has been playing like a great white recently with a career-high 44 points in a loss to Brick Memorial and then 28 in an upset of Lacey. She clearly has stamped herself as one to watch coming into the SCT because the Rams will have upset potential if she is going to put up anything near those numbers.
• Rumson has some of the best guard depth around, as freshman Ellie Wilbur stepped in for injured Candice Green in a key win over St. Rose. The Bulldogs pretty much have to be deep given the difficulty of their schedule.
• Also, congrats to Holmdel senior Kim Fiorentino, who passed the 1,000-point mark on Thursday night with a game-high 26 points against Jackson that brought her to 1,001 for her career. If anyone from Holmdel has a digital photo of Kim being honored for getting 1,000, e-mail it to me and I will post it.

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