Survive and Separate: Sterns Trailer, Sea View Jeep Pass Major Tests as JSBL Playoff Race Heats Up

MANASQUAN — At this point in the JSBL season, style points are becoming less important.

Surviving is what matters.

With the regular season winding down and the postseason picture beginning to take shape, Wednesday night at Manasquan High School delivered two very different reminders of what it takes to remain in the championship conversation.

Sterns Trailer spent the opening quarter looking nothing like a team sitting near the top of the standings before completely flipping the script and storming past WCT, 129-114. Sea View Jeep, meanwhile, entered the night with arguably the most talented roster in the league to date this year, only to find itself pushed to the brink by an OIB Ortho team whose 1-4 record continues to tell only part of its story.

In the end, the contenders survived.

Sterns moved to 4-1 and remained firmly in the hunt for the top seed, one game behind undefeated County Line Auto Body. Sea View improved to 3-2 and strengthened its playoff positioning behind a dominant performance from former Saint Francis, UMass, and USC big man Josh Cohen and a triple-double from former Monmouth guard Justin Robinson.

Neither victory came easily. That may ultimately be what made both so important.

As Robinson put it afterward, the JSBL season is often less about having the most talent in July and more about finding the right combination of players when the games matter most.

“It’s always about finding the right chemistry at the right time,” Robinson said. “Regular season JSBL matters. But it’s always about that last week or so right before the playoffs when it really counts.”

Wednesday provided an early glimpse of which teams may be figuring that out.

For Sterns, it required digging out of a hole that appeared daunting almost immediately.

WCT came flying out of the gates behind former William Paterson guard Andre Wells, taking advantage of a short-handed Sterns rotation and racing to a 19-point lead after the opening quarter. Wells controlled the tempo before Sterns could settle in, scoring 10 points and handing out four assists in the first quarter while repeatedly attacking a defense still searching for its identity.

Sterns was forced to turn early to James Hankowski, a recent Red Bank Catholic graduate who capped a tremendous high school career by leading the Shore Conference in three-pointers made this past season while ranking among the top 10 in the state. Hankowski, who will continue his career at Brookdale, brings high-level long-range shooting ability that helps space the floor. Still in his first JSBL season, he is also continuing to adjust to the significant jump in physicality and experience that comes with competing against former Division I standouts and professional players.

WCT recognized the mismatch and attacked it.

For about seven minutes, everything worked.

Then Larry Smith checked into the game.

The former Matawan standout arrived late, but his impact was almost immediate.

Suddenly, Wells no longer had the same freedom to operate. Smith picked him up full court, pressured the basketball, jumped passing lanes and brought an entirely different level of defensive intensity to the Sterns backcourt.

The game changed with him.

After surrendering a massive opening quarter, Sterns never lost another one. It won the second quarter by 15 points, 41-26, edged WCT by two in the third, and closed the night with a dominant 38-21 fourth quarter. What initially looked like a potential blowout in WCT’s favor became a 15-point Sterns victory.

The turnaround started defensively, but it quickly opened everything else.

“Definitely switches,” former Winston-Salem State big man Rasheen Merlin said of the defensive adjustment. “At first they were setting screens, good screens. That’s hard to guard, especially if you’re not expecting it, just ball watching. So once we talked it out, we were fine.”

Once Sterns figured out WCT’s screening actions, its size took over.

Merlin became the biggest mismatch on the floor.

At 6-foot-9 and 230 pounds, he punished an undersized WCT interior from nearly every spot inside the arc, finishing with 44 points and 13 rebounds on 18-of-36 shooting. Former Loyola Marymount and Anderson University forward Parker Dortch added 20 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on 9-of-14 shooting, giving Sterns another physical frontcourt presence WCT struggled to contain.

WCT often played small, using former Nichols standout Ryan Savoy as an undersized power forward alongside former Tufts big man Scott Gyimesi. Savoy’s defensive versatility allowed him to battle against larger assignments, while Gyimesi finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds.

But over 40 minutes, Sterns’ combination of size and physicality became increasingly difficult to overcome.

Even more concerning for the rest of the league was that Sterns scored 129 points despite shooting just 5-for-26 from beyond the arc.

The damage came from everywhere else.

Former Stockton standout DJ Campbell filled nearly every column of the box score, finishing with 23 points and nine rebounds while serving as one of the game’s most disruptive defenders, tallying four steals and three blocks as well. Whether he was applying pressure in the backcourt, rotating from the weak side, or attacking passing lanes, Campbell seemed to be involved in everything.

Smith was just as impactful.

He finished one rebound and one assist shy of a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists while adding five steals. His arrival (although slightly late) gave Sterns a defensive edge it lacked during WCT’s fast start and created a relentless two-way backcourt alongside Campbell.

Also arriving late was Savon Myers, who checked into the game with roughly six minutes remaining in the second quarter and immediately gave Sterns another weapon. Despite playing just over two quarters, the former Manchester standout poured in 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds while shooting an efficient 9-15 from the field. His arrival created yet another matchup problem for an undersized WCT team already tasked with containing proven interior scorers such as Dortch and Merlin.

With Smith and Campbell setting the tone defensively and Myers adding another dimension to an already imposing frontcourt, the matchup began to tilt decisively in Sterns’ favor. The shift was particularly noticeable with Andre Wells, who came out red-hot with 10 points and four assists in the opening quarter before finding far less room to operate once Smith entered the game, and Sterns ramped up its defensive pressure. Wells remained productive, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds and nine assists, but was never able to recapture the rhythm that helped WCT build its early lead.

Former Monmouth wing Jack Collins also had an unusual night. He started hot from deep before cooling considerably, finishing with 12 points and seven assists while shooting 4-for-13 from three. Like he often did at Monmouth, however, Collins found ways to contribute beyond his shot, defending multiple positions, and using his vision to create opportunities for teammates.

Still, WCT could never completely solve the size disparity.

Merlin knew it.

“I’m 6-9, 230 pounds, so it’s hard to guard me,” Merlin said. “I got height and strength, so our team just did the best it could, trying to mismatch.”

Sterns has now found several different ways to win this season. It has survived overtime games, rallied from deficits and, on Wednesday, erased a nearly 20-point hole before responding with three straight winning quarters.

That ability matters now more than ever.

With just a handful of regular-season games remaining, Sterns sits at 4-1 and has kept pressure on first-place County Line. A team that has spent much of the season grinding through short rotations and uneven availability continues to find solutions.

Merlin believes the reason is simple.

“It’s just dogs,” he said. “We probably play with seven people max, most of the time five, because some people don’t play much. But it’s just about being a dog. When you’re tired, you push through.”

Then he smiled and added one request.

“Overtime, that’s got to stop, because I’m tired, man.”

Sterns avoided overtime Wednesday.

Sea View Jeep nearly needed it.

On paper, the second game appeared to present a completely different challenge.

Sea View entered with one of its most complete rosters of the season and enough high-level experience to overwhelm nearly anyone in the league. OIB Ortho entered at 1-4, built largely around younger Division II and Division III talent.

The standings suggested a mismatch.

The game never did.

Sea View escaped with a 118-112 victory, but not before OIB once again showed why nobody should be eager to see it in a postseason matchup.

The opening quarter appeared to be heading toward the expected script.

Former Monmouth standout George Papas knocked down a pair of early three-pointers, while Cohen went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field as Sea View’s offense looked nearly unstoppable.

Cohen never really slowed down.

In one of the most dominant individual performances of the season, the former CBA standout finished with 42 points, 20 rebounds, and four assists on 18-of-29 shooting. Ten of his 20 rebounds came on the offensive glass, repeatedly extending possessions and punishing an OIB team without the size to consistently keep him away from the rim.

He scored through contact, created his own opportunities, and cleaned up misses.

At times, the only answer OIB had was to foul him.

“Having a good big man in this league makes all the difference,” Robinson said. “And Josh is as good as they come. He’s super reliable. He’s got an incredible motor. He never stops playing.”

Cohen’s performance was even more significant considering he is still working his way back into full game shape.

But OIB refused to let Cohen’s dominance decide the game early.

Millersville guard Dante Weise was sensational, recording a 36-point, 13-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. His combination of size, pace, body control, and vision repeatedly created problems for a Sea View defense filled with experienced players.

Then there was Josh Michigan.

The former Iona guard and current St. Thomas Aquinas guard delivered the best performance of his young JSBL career, scoring 34 points on 14-of-28 shooting while adding six rebounds. Even with Cohen protecting the interior and Robinson and Papas providing experienced perimeter defense, Michigan consistently found ways to create quality looks.

Robinson has watched that development for years.

“I’ve known Josh Michigan for a long time,” Robinson said. “It’s crazy seeing his growth. He used to live around the corner from me before I moved houses. Just watching him play in high school and watching his college career and seeing him prosper into the young, strong hooper and young man that he is now, it’s incredible to see.”

Former Central Regional standout and Georgian Court forward Justin Soranno gave OIB another 21 points and seven rebounds despite battling foul trouble while drawing perhaps the most difficult assignment in the league in Cohen.

The trio kept coming.

Every time Sea View appeared ready to create separation, OIB responded. Every time the more experienced team threatened to take control, the younger group found another shot.

The problem for OIB was that eventually, talent and experience began to matter.

Robinson delivered when Sea View needed him most, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists. Papas added 20 points, six rebounds and four steals despite an inefficient shooting night, while former Catholic standout CJ Ruoff continued his steady season with 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting.

Late in the game, Sea View’s veterans understood where to go and what to do.

OIB made them work for every bit of it.

“Just experience,” Robinson said of the difference down the stretch. “We’ve got guys that have been around the block a few times and know that down the stretch is when it really matters.”

That may be the most important takeaway from Wednesday night.

The JSBL championship will not necessarily be won by the team with the prettiest regular-season record or the most recognizable names.

It may be won by the team that understands how to survive.

County Line has already established itself at the top. Sterns continues to stay within striking distance, finding ways to win regardless of the circumstances. Sea View may possess the league’s highest ceiling when its entire roster is available, but Robinson knows the challenge is getting that group together long enough to develop the chemistry necessary for a playoff run.

And then there are teams such as OIB Ortho, whose record may make them appear harmless until the ball goes up.

“They don’t let up,” Robinson said. “They’re young kids with young, fresh energy.”

At 1-4, OIB Ortho still needs more consistent secondary production to turn close losses into wins. Weise, Michigan, and Sorrano have carried much of the offensive responsibility, and the postseason margin for error will only shrink.

But the warning has been delivered.

OIB can play with anyone.

Sterns can come back from almost anything.

Sea View can lean on stars who have spent years playing in high-pressure situations.

And as the 58th season of the Jersey Shore Basketball League enters its final regular-season stretch, the championship race is no longer about what each roster looks like on paper.

It is about who is still standing when everything goes wrong.

Wednesday night, Sterns Trailer and Sea View Jeep both were.

That is why, with the playoffs approaching, both remain exactly where they want to be:

Right in the middle of the championship chase.