Case In Point: Red Bank Catholic Dominates Colts Neck, Seizes Class B North Crown

RED BANK – Red Bank Catholic clinched the Class B North title Thursday night in emphatic fashion, never letting its foot off the gas in a dominant wire-to-wire 65-38 win over Colts Neck.

The Caseys set the tone immediately, overwhelming the Cougars with pressure on both ends of the floor, racing out to a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Red Bank Catholic controlled the glass early, turning missed shots into second-chance points while forcing turnovers that prevented Colts Neck from ever settling into its offense. Junior forward Tyler Hager powered the early surge with six points including two thunderous dunks, along with two rebounds and an assist, while junior guard Gavin Biasi added five points, three rebounds and a steal as RBC established complete control.

The second quarter followed a similar script, even if the scoring margin briefly tightened. While the teams played to an even 12-12 quarter, Colts Neck relied heavily on trips to the free-throw line for its offense, as Red Bank Catholic continued to deny clean looks from the floor and refused to let the Cougars generate any sustained momentum. Biasi consistently denied sophomore forward Nate Sloane the ball and prevented quality touches, while Hager provided strong backside help at the rim, altering shots and closing driving lanes. Sloane, who entered the game averaging 17 points per contest, was held to eight points on the night. Senior guard James Hankowski added five points in the quarter, while Hager continued to stuff the stat sheet to give RBC a 26-12 advantage at halftime.

That defensive pressure consistently fueled Red Bank Catholic’s offensive rhythm, as stops turned into ball movement and high-percentage looks on the other end. Red Bank Catholic head coach Tyler Schmelz acknowledged the Caseys’ approach is built around reading what the opposing defense gives them.

“The opposing defense is going to determine who gets the open shot,” Schmelz said. “So we’re trying our best to move the ball, find the open man, and trust them to make the shots that come to them.”

Red Bank Catholic broke the game open coming out of halftime, outscoring the Cougars 17-7 in the third quarter. Biasi caught fire, knocking down a trio of three-pointers as part of a 10-point quarter to extend the Caseys’ lead even further. Through three quarters, Biasi totaled 15 points and eight rebounds, while RBC’s defense continued to dictate the game, limiting Colts Neck to contested looks and one-shot possessions as the Caseys moved into position to secure the division title.

The Caseys closed the game with a composed and efficient fourth quarter, outscoring Colts Neck 22-19 to punctuate the performance. Hankowski knocked down two more three-pointers to stretch the lead, while Hager added six points of his own as Red Bank Catholic remained poised against any late pressure. With just over three minutes remaining, the Cougars emptied their bench as the outcome was firmly decided.

Hager delivered a complete performance, finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and a steal. His ability to facilitate offense from the frontcourt played a central role in RBC’s balance.

“I feel like my vision helps us get points,” Hager said. “I’m always going to find the open teammate, and if they’re not open, I’m going to get to the rack. Every single one of our starting five can score, and on any given night, it can be a different guy. That’s what makes us dangerous.”

Biasi led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Hankowski added 17 points to go along with five three-pointers. Senior forward Ryan Saxton contributed across the board with four points, four rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal as Red Bank Catholic showcased its depth and versatility.

For Colts Neck, Sloane finished with eight points and four rebounds, while senior guard Dillon Younger added eight points, three rebounds and a steal. Senior guard Liam Collura chipped in five points, five rebounds and two assists.

With the Class B North title secured, the Caseys (16-5, 8-2) will attempt to make one final impression on the Shore Conference Tournament seeding committee when they host a strong East Brunswick team on Saturday. The Caseys are currently projected as the No. 3 seed in Matt Manley’s latest projections.

The Cougars (11-8, 6-4), currently projected as the No. 15 seed in the Shore Conference Tournament, will look to make a final impression when they host Monmouth on Saturday. Colts Neck will then be looking to recapture some of last year’s postseason magic that saw them navigate their way to a Group 3 State Championship.