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Tuesday turned out to be a historic day in the Shore Conference, with Manalapan beating Christian Brothers Academy for the first time in school history and Keansburg beating St. Rose for the first time in 15 years, so here’s a look back at that and everything else that went on.
Click here for the Tuesday scoreboard and details.
Click here for the game story and video highlights from Manalapan’s win over CBA.
Click here for the game story and video highlights from Holmdel’s win over Red Bank.
Player of the Day
Russell Isom, Sr., F, Manalapan
Isom tied for the team high with 12 points, helped hold CBA senior Eric Shaw to two points, and had a strong day on the offensive boards to keep possessions alive as Manalapan went on the road to beat the Colts, 53-43, for the first win over CBA in school history. That’s one to tell the grandkids about. The victory also kept Manalapan tied for first in the loss column in Class A North with Middletown North and Freehold Township, setting up a key showdown at Middletown North on Thursday.
Thoughts/Notes
—The scary part might be that other than a few incredulous CBA alumni who texted, emailed or messaged me on Twitter, Manalapan’s win over the Colts was not really that shocking. Manalapan just seemed like a flat-out better team. CBA has struggled to score all season, and even though senior forward Kieran Hughes had a career-high 27, the rest of the team managed only 16 points combined. I have not seen a CBA team struggle offensively like this really, well, ever, and that’s going back to the 1980s. Plus, CBA’s home floor is not as hostile as it once was. Matt Manley said there was only about 75 fans or so in attendance on Tuesday, so Manalapan was able to do its thing without a roaring crowd to deal with.
—Great job by Manalapan to bounce back after looking a little shaky there for a week or so with a 20-point loss to Freehold Township, a loss to Holmdel and a triple-overtime victory over a two-win Howell team. The key for the Braves has been balanced scoring. Seeing them earlier in the year, it seemed like if star junior guard Anthony Firkser didn’t have a big night, they would have no shot against most teams, but with guys like Evan Pruden, Isom, Andrew Saray and Bryan Adams stepping up, this team can still stay in the game if Firkser is not going for 20-plus. Firkser is also unselfish, as he dished out 7 assists in the win over CBA. He trusts his teammates and will give it up, and they rewarded him with a historic win on Tuesday.
Now comes the real test against Middletown North on Thursday. The Lions will be out for blood, looking to avenge their only loss of the season, and their crowd will be out in full force. I think the expectation is that Manalapan might get overwhelmed in this game, so if the Braves hang right with the Lions until the end, that is a great sign in what has a chance to be one of their best seasons in school history.
—As for CBA, this season somewhat reminds me of the St. John Vianney girls basketball season from five years ago when the Lancers didn’t make the state playoffs for the first time since the 1980s at a program synonymous with championship success. It was like the apocalypse, although the Lancers promptly imported a loaded freshman class that went on to restore the program to glory with a Tournament of Champions title and four straight Non-Public A titles. I don’t see that kind of talent in the pipeline at CBA, so it could be rough going for a few seasons. As for right now, CBA plays No. 5 Freehold Township Thursday and then undefeated St. Anthony, the No. 4 team in the nation, on Saturday, so the Colts could be 6-7 by week’s end, which might be the worst record they have ever had at this juncture of the season. The possibility exists that CBA could be swept in A North by 3 public schools (Middletown North, Freehold Township, Manalapan), which would be mind-boggling and unprecedented.
It also could put CBA on the bubble to qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament, which is unfathomable. Maybe that Mayan calendar is right. Maybe the world will end in 2012. Time to circle the wagons and fight back if you’re the Colts.
—What also has to hurt is that if CBA put together a team of all the transfers that have left the school in the last three years, the Colts could be No. 1 in the Shore. Rumson guards Jack Donnelly and Drew Corsi, Point Beach center Riley Calzonetti, Middletown North guard Tim Frawley and center Tim Rhatigan, and Manasquan 3-point bomber J.R. Hobbie are all CBA transfers and among the top players on their teams. In the old days, it just meant CBA was bursting at the seams with talent and those type of players would not have seen a ton of time anyway, but it is a different story at this time.
—Just underneath the Manalapan headline was Keansburg improving to 9-2 with a 37-31 win over St. Rose for its first win over the Purple Roses since 1997. Head coach Jim McCarthy has resurrected this program and has a nice core with the trio of juniors Danny Markulin and Tyler Walters and senior Brian Woods. Keansburg was looking for that one solid win to validate its excellent start on the heels of a six-win season, and got it last night. It also may have caught St. Rose looking ahead to a showdown with Asbury Park on Thursday.
Keansburg’s calling card has been defense, as when it keeps teams under 50 points, it has a chance to beat anyone, as it nearly felled Point Beach earlier this season in a one-point loss. However, the Titans have to be on their game every night, as they are not talented enough to just coast through wins. They needed a 3-pointer in the final seconds to beat a one-win Henry Hudson team and went to overtime with a one-win Keyport team, so their m.o. has been to play up against good competition but also to nearly get caught by teams they should beat. Still, it’s fun to see a new team in the mix among the usual Asbury Park-St. Rose-Point Beach triumvirate in Class B Central.
—I finally got a chance to see #8 Holmdel in person and the Hornets looked great in a 22-point win over Red Bank Regional. When they are knocking down threes, they are a tough team to defend because of the improvement of 6-6 senior Dan Baumlin. He has added the strength to score inside and force teams to respect him as a real threat, which opens things up for 3-point snipers like Kyle Nodes and Christian Vikse. Baumlin had a career-high 23 points go to with 18 rebounds in the win over the Bucs.
Vikse has a smooth lefty stroke and will put it up from as deep as about 23 feet, so he is a weapon. Holmdel also shares the ball very well, as no one is really a ball-stopper. It moves around the perimeter and into the post quickly, which is a credit to veteran coach Sean Devaney and his staff.
The Hornets have all the ingredients of a team that can pull an upset or two in the Shore Conference Tournament. They shoot the 3 well, Baumlin does a nice job on the defensive boards along with forward Matt Nasra, and they play hard and as a team. Devaney acknowledged that they have had some lucky wins that they pulled out of the fire in the final seconds of regulation or in overtime this season, and that if they are not on their game, they can get caught, which nearly happened in a two-point win over a one-win St. John Vianney team, but they are dangerous.
—As for Red Bank, senior guards Seph Williams and Asim Jules can get into the lane at will off the dribble, but they just have to finish better with a little more touch around the basket. Also, 6-5 junior center Albert Martin is a specimen but needs to do a better job of going up strong to draw contact and force the issue a little. This team has the potential to steal an early-round tournament game if it can finish better in the paint.
—Congrats to Point Boro senior point guard Shaun Cooke, who registered his 1,000th career point in bittersweet fashion last night. Cooke, who needed six points to get 1,000, got it in the second quarter on his way to a game-high 26 points, but it came in a loss on the road up in Middlesex County to JFK-Iselin. Hopefully Cooke can get a loud ovation from the Panther Pit before the next home game for his accomplishment.
—Congrats to Marlboro, which picked up a 62-56 win over Middletown South for its first victory of the season. Good job by the Mustangs to keep plugging away and getting better under head coach Mark Truhan. It’s so easy to pack it in when you know you aren’t going to be part of the postseason, but with a junior-laden team along with sophomore standout Mike Fasano, the Mustangs can take solace in that they are building for the future.
—Manasquan may have lost to surging Middletown North, which has now won 11 straight last night, but junior forward Jimmy Walsh is having a first-team All-Shore-caliber season. He put up 22 points and 16 boards last night against the Shore’s No. 1 team and has been a double-double machine. He has taken a big leap forward in his third varsity season and is putting up some Mike Aaman-like numbers. He’s definitely worth going to see if you get a chance.
—How boring is Class B North? This used to be one of the most competitive divisions in the Shore by far, and now it’s Neptune, Colts Neck and everybody else. The silver lining is that it has helped a young Long Branch squad compete and gain confidence, as the Green Wave are in third place with a young core of sophomores and juniors as new/old coach Don Covin tries to rejuvenate one of the Shore’s proud programs.
Quick notes
Junior Dylan Burns had a career-high 11 points in Freehold Township’s win over Howell…Senior point guard Eric Youncofski had a career-high 22 points in Middletown North’s win over Manasquan…Mike Aaman’s monster season continued with 30 points and 15 boards in Raritan’s win over Matawan…Lacey is off to a 10-1 start after a win over Toms River East. That may be the Lions’ best start ever. The real test comes Thursday in a nondivisional game against Lakewood…Central is right up there in heart-breakers this season. The Golden Eagles lost on a buzzer-beater lay-up by Southern’s Mike Gesicki last night and earlier this season lost a WOBM Classic consolation game to Toms River East on a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Alumnus of the Day
Freshman guard Roy Mabrey (CBA) leads Division II St. Anselm’s in scoring at 15.7 points per game in his first season. He had 15 in a loss to Southern Connecticut State last night.
