We've memorialized "Parochial B" for what glory it was the entire season. The memories remain but a new memory was added this winter...and what a memory it was. One for the history books...
The Runnin' Roses
Saint Rose of Belmar has a long basketball tradition going back to the days of Bob Verga hitting a 25 footer to down legendary coach John Melhelm's Phillipsburg Catholic in Atlantic City to win the state title in front of nearly 10,000 people in 1963. Bonus history lesson points if you know the final score and how many Verga finished with...No cheating!
There was another run in the 1970s. Under Dennis Devaney, winning B-Central was not just on the table...It was expected. Not most years...Every year. A perennial quarterfinalist in the Shore Conference Tournament, oftentimes making deep runs in the state tournament as well...it seemed that over the last 40 years, however, Saint Rose was always destined to be the bridesmaid and never the bride..Even last year, when they came close to climbing the mountain.
The 2023-2024 Saint Rose squad will go down as one of the elite Parochial B squads in history after a dominating 29-2 season, capped with a Shore Conference and State Title double-dip. Their last performance may have been the best of the entire year, as they picked apart Immaculate Conception to the tune of a 73-29 victory. Losses to Patrick School National Team and #1 in the nation Montverde don't dim the party. They played TPS to the wire in their opener and made Montverde work for three quarters before running out of steam against a team that could run 15 high major players at their opponents.
Led by 6'8" Villanova commit Matt Hodge, their unquestioned do-it-all leader, the Roses smashed through competition down the shore, scored several marquee in state victories and took their shot at two national level programs. Hodge made it look easy all year, dropping "NBA Jam" performances night after night. Inside, outside, off the dribble, on defense..Name the term, he did it this year. He had the turbo boost star filled all season(Yes, 80s babies and 90s kids, you know what I'm talking about!). Player Of The Year Candidate.
Hodge wasn't alone. His younger brother, 6'5" sophomore Jayden, showed that he's the future of the program the next two seasons with his elite level play and as such, mid and high major D1s are already showing interest. 6'6" senior guard Gio Panzini filled a role that he was willing to fit as the third option offensively and has been rewarded for his play but more importantly for his work in the classroom with an offer and commitment to prestigious Cornell University.
Jayden, plus returnees Evan Romano, Bryan Ebeling, who both started this year; along with Avery Lynch and Tyler Cameron, make Saint Rose the team to beat in the Shore and Parochial B once again. They'll miss Matt Hodge and Panzini, but boy, could this team run and gun next year...Maybe even faster than they did this year...If that's possible?
THE YOUNG LIONS
It was a year of flux for the power program at Roselle Catholic. Coach Dave Boff, who engineered their mastery of Garden State Hoops for the last decade, departed to College Achieve in Asbury Park. On top of graduation losses, all the top returning upperclassmen left for other schools, many of them going out of state. Todd Decker inherited a team of young returnees and equally young newcomers. Whlie it took some time for them to come together, they were able to make a run to the Union County final and the B North semis before falling to Morris Catholic.
They'll be back with an experienced core that transitions upward. Only Jaden Kelly departs, meaning expectations will rise for the Lions next year. Jalen Grant and Ethan Mgbako both had solid sophomore campaigns while Eric Hillsman was a welcome addition to the roster. Toss in Tyrease Hunter, Jalen Maldonado and others coming back....This RC squad could be a team to watch the next two seasons.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
Saint Rose
Top 2 in the ReportIt rankings from wire to wire. Dominated the opposition. High level team. Easy choice.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Todd Decker, Roselle Catholic
Decker stepped up into what became a messy situation at Roselle Catholic this season. As we mentioned previously, RC lost its coach and top returnees. Decker took a very, very young team and guided them to a good post-season run, laying groundwork for the future. Decker was able to get the young squad to come together quickly and battle well above their experience level to a 14-12 season against brutal competition, including Don Bosco Prep, Elizabeth, Union Catholic, Roman Catholic(PA) and numerous others.
RC will come back battle tested next year because of the route Decker took them down this winter.
Non Public-B All State Teams
Player Of The Year: Matt Hodge, Saint Rose
First Team Non Public B Sensational Seven
Jayden Hodge, Saint Rose
Gio Panzini, Saint Rose
Michelangelo Oberti, Morris Catholic
Kole Grandison, Montclair Immaculate
Jalen Grant, Roselle Catholic
Victor Torres, Saint Mary's Rutherford
Ethan Mgbako, Roselle Catholic
Second Team Non Public B Sensational Seven
Christian Nicholson, Morris Catholic
Austin Workman, Morris Catholic
Luke Gaccione, Saint Mary's Rutherford
Bryan Ebeling, Saint Rose
Myles Blackley, Montclair Immaculate
Eric Hillsman, Roselle Catholic
Rinelson Dilone, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Third Team Non Public B Sensational Seven
Evan Romano, Saint Rose
Mattia Bacchelli, Morris Catholic
Kyle Dixon, Morris Catholic
Jaren Barnett, Montclair Immaculate
Aiden Ur, Saint Thomas Aquinas
Myles Dickerson, Timothy Christian
Jalen Fleming, Timothy Christian
