Shore Conference Recap

The Shore Conference had several power players this season at the statewide level and also produced an unsung hero state champion that nobody saw coming, except those who knew the potential that was there.

Let's start with that unsung hero team. Steve Jannarone's Colts Neck team had potential. A handful of D3 prospects in the backcourt stepped into the starting lineup: Lucas Sloane, Bryce Belcher, Dillon Younger and Dan Buoncore. Sloane's brother Nate, a freshman, was asked to step into an advanced role. The guardplay was there, but the question for the Cougars was who would play in the post, especially with the hole left by graduated 6'7" forward Vova Trotsko. The answer was "Everybody." With Belcher being the "Big Man" at 6'3" and about 160 lb, Colts Neck lived on guts and grit to get through big games. They got perfect matchups, a little luck and survived nailbiters in the playoffs...When it mattered most, it was Lucas Sloane who emerged as a senior leader on offense and carried the Cougars through the playoffs and all the way to the state title, concluding the season with a statement win over Ramapo. It puts Jannarone in serious contention for our GSBR Coach Of The Year Award.

Just down Route 18, Manasquan had another season of Manasquan Standards. Andrew Bilodeau and the Warriors finished 25-4 and won the Group II Championship, extracting revenge out of Camden High after their highly, highly, highly(Get it?) controversial loss last winter. Fittingly, the game was won by Griffin Linstra, the same player who had his game-winning basket stolen from him by administrators and officials a winter ago in the South Jersey Group II Final in one of the most controversial finishes in Jersey Basketball history. Linstra finished an All Shore, All State career with over 1,000 points and rebounds. The Warriors also received a big season from sophomore guard Rey Winseimer, slated to be one of the top guards at the Shore the next two years. He led the team in scoring at 17.3ppg.

Brian Lynch led Saint Rose to the Shore Conference championship and a state non-public B finals appearance. The Roses, led by electric guard Jayden Hodge, finished 23-8 against a national schedule. Senior guard Evan Romano and sophomore prospect Avery Lynch also were key contributors for the Roses during their banner year.

Shout out to veteran coach Bob Klatt and his staff at Wall on a divisional championship. Klatt's team didn't have a star, no all-conference player, but they had a balanced scoring load among their core that kept them competitive every night on their way to a 21-6 season. They claimed two wins in states prior to falling to eventual Group II Champ Manasquan.

Shore Conference Player Of The Year

Jayden Hodge, Saint Rose

It's a no brainer here. Saint Rose is good without Hodge, but he was the one who allowed them to compete against the best teams in the state and also hold serve at the national level. Night in, night out, Hodge filled up the score sheet and when needed, hit the boards hard too, proof: In the state final loss to RC, he had 23&12; He added 30&11 in the early season win over Rutgers Prep.

Shore Conference First Team Sensational Seven

Lucas Sloane, Colts Neck

Griffin Linstra, Manasquan

Rey Weinseimer, Manasquan

Luke Cruz, Rumson Fair Haven

Jaycen Santucci, Central Regional

Brian Tassey, Freehold Boro

Evan Romano, Saint Rose

Shore Conference Second Team Sensational Seven

Avery Lynch, Saint Rose

Ryan Prior, RBC

David Carr, RFH

Aidan Hamlin Woolfolk, Freehold Boro

Zayier Dean, RBR

Kevin Pikiell, CBA

Aiden Sosinov, Manalapan

Shore Conference Third Team Sensational Seven

Colin Byrne, Middletown North

Shaan Nayar, Ranney

Ryan Fisher, RBR

Noah Perna, Southern Regional

Jake Sliwinski, Southern Regional

Justin Fuerbacher, CBA

Bryan Ebeling, Saint Rose

Shore Conference Final Rankings

1. Saint Rose(23-8)

2. Manasquan(25-4)

3. Colts Neck(20-9)

4. CBA(21-5)

5. Central Regional(24-4)

6. RFH(20-7)

7. Freehold Boro(20-8)

8. RBR(22-5)

9. Wall(21-6)

10. Southern(18-9)