Shore Conference Recap

A banner year for the Shore Conference saw a state champion and a state finalist from its ranks.

Season Recap

Saint Rose rampaged its way through the season to a Shore Conference and Non-Public B Double Dip. The Purple Roses finished 29-2, with their only losses to Patrick School's National Team and #1 in the nation Montverde Academy. Led by 6'8" Villanova commit Matt Hodge, they dominated their opponents all season long. His younger brother Jayden is a promising prospect and will return alongside junior guards Evan Romano and Bryan Ebeling next year. Losing Hodge is a massive blow for Saint Rose and they'll also miss 6'6" guard Gio Panzini, who committed to Cornell. There are pieces who contributed off the bench, namely Tyler Cameron and freshman Avery Lynch, who will be asked to take a major step forward next winter.

Ben DiBiase engineered a season to remember and has to be considered one of the coaches of the year in New Jersey. Freehold Boro entered the state tournament as road-warrior underdogs and managed to grit their way to the final day before losing to Ramapo in the Group III State Championship Game. Boro was powered by senior guard Christian DiGiso running the point and had help from three players who will return next year: Brian Tassey, Qua'Mir Everett, Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk. They finished the season 24-8...after going 8-16 last winter. Quite the turnaround and they've got enough back to contend again next season.

Central Regional had a high water season, finishing 22-5 and advancing to the SCT Quarters and Group IV South Jersey Semis. They had a dynamic duo of Miles Chevalier and Jaycen Santucci to lean on this winter. Santucci may well be the best player in the Shore Conference not currently enrolled at Saint Rose. The 6'4" junior averaged 21ppg and passed 1,000 points this winter. He's got a wide variety of schools showing interest in him at all levels of college basketball. Next winter, he's driving the bus without Cheavlier in the mix. Can Central keep the standard high? With Mike Clemente in charge, the odds are good.

Their record may not have been the most glitzy at 15-13, however no-one can argue against the fact that Red Bank Catholic played one of the toughest schedules in the Shore Conference this winter. Head Coach Tyler Schmelz and his staff left no stone unturned as RBC took on a gauntlent that included Saint Peter's Prep, East Orange, CBA, Saint Rose, Manasquan, Central, Northern Highlands, Newark Collegiate, Seton Hall Prep, RFH, RBR, Howell and others. There was no such thing as an off day for RBC--The lack of depth may have worn them down in the stretch, but there's no questioning the grit of their first six. A gritty senior crop of Luke Iasparro, Pasquale Sabino, Tyler Burnam and Colin Cavanaugh were supported by an All Conference player in junior Ryan Prior.

Player Of The Year

Matt Hodge, Saint Rose.

Hodge was the most dominant big man to grace the Shore Conference since Danny Werner was at CBA nearly twenty years ago. He carried them in every big game, had unconscious shooting nights(ie, Rutgers Prep) and simply played NBA Jam on Easy Mode with the turbo boost and flaming basketball graphic permanently lit.

Shore Conference First Team Sensational Seven

Jayden Hodge, Saint Rose

Gio Panzini, Saint Rose

Jaycen Santucci, Central Regional

Bryan Ebeling, Saint Rose

Brian Tassey, Freehold Boro

Griffin Linstra, Manasquan

Christian DiGiso, Freehold Boro

Shore Conference Second Team Sensational Seven

Zayier Dean, RBR

Evan Romano, Saint Rose

Ryan Prior, Red Bank Catholic

Justin Fuerbacher, CBA

Aiden Sosinov, Manalapan

Vova Trotsko, Colts Neck

Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk, Freehold Boro

Shore Conference Third Team Sensational Seven

Jack Fitzpatrick, Henry Hudson

Ben Kipnis, Holmdel

Micah Ford, Toms River North

DJ Orloff, Howell

Nick Rigby, RFH

Miles Chevalier, Central Regional

Steve Scimone, Marlboro

Final Rankings

1.) Saint Rose(29-2)

2.) Manasquan(23-7)

3.) Freehold Boro(24-8)

4.) RFH(20-7)

5.) CBA(18-7)

6.) Holmdel(21-4)

7.) Central Regional(22-5)

8.) Toms River North(21-8)

9.) Red Bank Catholic(15-13)

10.) RBR(21-5)