Posted by Tim McCollum
follow me on twitter @nep84s
Some quick hits before I get to this week’s top 10.
Congratulations to Neptune’s Jazzmar Claxx and all of the other shore conference players who received all state selections. Well deserved. As with any “All – “ whatever team you have players who are snubbed. Anyone who leaves Jaheem Woods off any team just wasn’t paying attention this year.
I wonder who the all time three point shooting record holder is at Susquenhana. That record is in jeapardy with Eric Shaw on the way. Congratulations and good luck in college.
Looking at the WOBM quarterfinal matchups and three out of four correct ain’t bad. I guess I have to go see Marquis Davis play huh? There’s a kid who knows how to make a first impression. I was’t surprised to see Barnegat claw back into this. I was surprised to see them not pull the game out with all that momentum. Good win for TRS.
OK Lacey you got my attention. Not just beating Pt Boro but beating them handily might be the most noteworthy point of the day.
Did St Rose hire Jeff Van Gundy as an assistant coach, or was that some other basketball lifer? I heard there is a new but familiar face on their sideline. I think this is the start of what will be a very long coaching career. Goo Luck Chris!
Nice bounceback win for the Fliers yesterday against Scotch Plains – Fanwood. I would have taken 1-1 after the first two games because they always schedule a tough non conference game for the tipoff classic. They just got there backwards. I’m going to drop the Fliers in the top 10 but not too far.
The demise of CBA is a little pre-mature. Lost in the close loss to Linden is the fact that CBA was up most of the second half didn’t hold the lead at the end. But notice the score. It’ can’t be easy to hold Linden to 51 points.
Now onto the top 10.
1. Middletown North (1-0) Last Week #3 – Solid 20 point opening night win over a Monmouth team that is never a pushover. I hear Assumption was forced to make the ceilings higher in the gym so Huelbig doesn’t hit his head while dunking. Good move.
2. Colts Neck (1-0) Last week #4 – If this was a top 11 poll it would include TRN. Their opening night win against them will look better as the season goes on and TRN makes noise in A South. I picked TRN to the finals of the WOBM and am sticking with it.
3. Asbury Park (0-0) Last Week #5 – They are following the leaders and moving right up the ranks. Someday I hear they might even play a game.
4. Lakewood (1-0) Last Week NR – You go from unranked to #4 by beating most everyone’s preseason #1 on their home floor. Some are calling Tyrice Beverette the best PG in the shore now. That’s a little too much love but the kid is a special athlete and a very talented basketball player.
5. Neptune (1-1) Last Week #2 – They weren’t sharp in the Lakewood loss. They must have been better to score a win over a Scotch Plains-Fanwood team that will give anyone a tough game. The Fliers have to be dropped, just not too far.
6. Jackson (1-0) Last Week #6 – Made a very stong case for themselves in the WOBM first round. We’ll get a good feel for them against 2-0 Brick Memorial and against Southern after Christmas.
7. CBA (1-0) Last Week #7 – No moral victories in Lincroft but the low scoring game and CBA in the lead for most of the 2nd half tells me they will be tough and sound but may need someone to step up to put away a good team like Linden in a big spot.
8 Manalapan (1-0) Last Week #9 – Shore usually doesn’t lose by 30 points because their defense keeps the games close. To see them give up 60 and get blown out are very good signs for one of my sleeper teams this year. The first salvo in the A North free for all will come Monday when North comes in as a read favorite.
9. St Rose (1-0) Last Week NR – Cruised in the WOBM opening round over TRE. It’s not the offensive showing that put them here, it’s holding TRE to 22 points. That is exactly what they need to do to win. Keep control of the game and get efficient scoring from the guards.
10. Raritan (0-1) Last Week #1 – I’m not dropping them out just yet. Freehold Township is another popular sleeper team this year so this may end up being a referendum on their progress moreso than Raritan’s demise. That being said Raritan doesn’t drop this game last year.
On the bubble
TRN – I really need to find a way to see these kids play. Hopefully they make the WOBM semifinals and I get my chance.
Point Boro – Uneven week with a good win over Manchester (who had a good win yesterday) then a bad loss to Lacey.
Lacey – Bad loss for the Panthers = Good win for the Lions. Do not read that as to say Lacey is bad. Lacey didn’t win with a miracle buzzer beater, they made a statement.
Manasquan – Nice non conference win over Moorestown. Key stat is a big game from Hobbie. A second consistent scorer to go with Walsh will make them a tough night for anyone.
Barnegat – Tough loss to TRS but I think they regroup and show what they got before this season is over.
I like to do my top 10′s on Sundays after church because there is typically no basketball going on and it’s a good way to pass time while watching Fantasy Football Now.
See ya soon on the ShoreLine y’all.
December 19, 2011 at 6:36 pm |
What does TRN have to do to crack the top 10 after showing opening night it can play w the top teams in the shore
December 20, 2011 at 11:56 am |
Still a Raritan believer? As I outlined to you, there’s nothing to support a superb player (Aaman) over there. They’re going to struggle all year. Until someone can step up and take some heat off of him, it’s going to be a long season in Hazlet.
FTteams are always fundamentally sound, well coached, and there’s always kids who can play. Didn’t know where this game was played? Lincroft or FT? Nevertheless a good win. CBA probably lost their legs here as Linden is non stop pressure D.
December 20, 2011 at 3:39 pm |
you have a lot of work to do here; you really went by the seat of your pants rather than observation it seems
December 23, 2011 at 4:48 am |
I was at the St. Rose – Beach game tonight and beach looked very strong, Farrell and Calzonetti play great together, the game was a thriller, and i think it is safe to say that Beach should have won the game, but they fell short. Look out for the Garnet Gulls, they have talent and can do some good things.