Dynasty Back On: Manasquan Girls Go Back-to-Back in Central Group 2

MANASQUAN — As the daughter of one of the best boys players in Shore Conference history, Shea Donnelly has Shore Conference basketball greatness in her genes. Her father, Mark, is the all-time leading scorer at Red Bank Regional, won a Group III title with a 28-2 Bucs team in 1993 and went on to score more than 1,000 points at Davidson.

As much as her family history has influenced her basketball life, nothing inspired her and her contemporaries — including older sister and 2022 graduate Mary Donnelly — more than sitting in the stands as grade-schoolers watching their hometown team from Manasquan High School win championship after championship while establishing itself as, arguably, the best public school program in the state.

On Saturday afternoon, in the final home game of her four-year varsity career, Donnelly and her teammates added to a crowded trophy case for the Manasquan girls basketball program by beating Rumson-Fair Haven, 58-37, in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II championship game to win its second straight championship and 10th in the last 11 seasons that the state tournament has been played.

“It means so much,” Donnelly said. “I grew up watching in a crowded gym, watching Dara (Mabrey) and those teams and so to be in this moment is something really special. I watched them play Rumson when I was younger, so to be in this moment is really special for me. And I did it with the best people and the best coach (Lisa Kukoda).

“We all grew up in this town, we all grew up watching the past teams, so we know what to bring to the floor and what mentality Manasquan Girls Basketball is. Coach Lisa emphasizes it and she is the best. She brings out the best out of all of us. We showed it today, she brought us together and we really thrive off each other’s success.”

Donnelly finished with a team-high 14 points and jumpstarted a shooting exhibition in the first half that blew the game wide open for the Warriors. After Manasquan got off to a slow start shooting the ball and trailed Rumson, 2-1, approaching the four-minute mark of the first quarter, Donnelly stuck a three-pointer that started off a run of six consecutive made three-point attempts by the home team. Donnelly and fellow senior Kayden Clark each hit two threes during the streak, while classmates Grace Love and Shannon Heine each knocked one down as well.

“It’s always next play for us,” Donnelly said. “If don’t make any shots, we’re going to get it back on defense. That’s kind of our mentality — just keep playing and if you are going to make a mistake, do it at 100 percent.”

Olivia Shaughnessy — another of Manasquan’s four senior starters, along with Donnelly, Love and Heine — was also instrumental in sparking Manasquan to a commanding first-half lead with her energy on both ends, particularly on the glass. Shaughnessy scored all eight of her points in the first half and six of them came on three-point plays in which she grabbed an offensive rebound and converted the putback as she was fouled.

Another follow-plus-foul for Olivia Shaughnessy to close out the 1st half scoring. All Manasquan at half 41-13. pic.twitter.com/vUmqkrrIZW

— Matt Manley (@Matt_Manley) March 8, 2025

Shaughnessy’s other first-half bucket came off a steal and nifty bounce pass from Donnelly on the break, which Shaughnessy caught and finished in stride. When the dust settled on Manasquan’s high-energy first half, the Warriors owned a 41-13 lead over the overmatched No. 2 seed.

“Our biggest emphasis is five on the floor,” Donnelly said. “We all bring something different to the floor. It’s a different person each game and think that’s a key factor in our team and why we have won a lot of games, because you don’t really know who to guard.”

The second half was a mere formality, with Rumson chopping the deficit below 20 but never getting close enough to make Manasquan uneasy. Bulldogs junior Erin Reid scored 11 of her game-high 17 points in the second half — a positive note for a Rumson team that graduates two senior starters from this year’s team in Sylvie Notine and Annabelle Costello while potentially returning the rest of the rotation next season as it tries to close the gap on a Manasquan team that graduates four starters plus Clark.

Steal and a great feed by Shea Donnelly for the finish by Olivia Shaughnessy. Manasquan up 22-7 on Rumson with 5:53 left in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/7OkY60H03a

— Matt Manley (@Matt_Manley) March 8, 2025

For now, however, Manasquan reigns supreme in Central Jersey Group II, just as it has in 10 of the last 12 seasons. The only things to stop the Warriors from winning 12 sectional titles in 12 years was the COVID pandemic, which prompted the state to play the 2021 season without a state tournament, and a loss at New Providence in the 2023 Central Group II championship game.

The current seniors were sophomores when the 28-3 New Providence squad ended Manasquan’s streak of eight straight sectional championships on the way to winning the Group II championship. After gaining an appreciation for how hard it is to beat a team of that caliber in a championship game, the last two senior classes went to work in building themselves back into that team that dominates the section and competes for state championships.

Now that Manasquan has started a new streak of sectional championships and a 16th sectional title to add to its program résumé, the Warriors will set out to finish off a second straight overall Group II championship and tie Malcolm X Shabazz of Newark for the most overall state titles among public schools with 11. Seven of Manasquan’s 11 state titles have come during current coach Lisa Kukoda’s 13-year tenure and if the Warriors can beat Middle Township Wednesday at Monroe High School, then the Madison-Glen Rock winner at Rutgers, that would make eight state titles in 13 seasons for Kukoda’s Warriors.

“I don’t think that we’re done yet,” Donnelly said. “We want to get to Rutgers and we want to end on a high note. It’s hard because it’s almost the end and that is the moment that has been coming that you didn’t want to come, but I’m doing it with the best group. Hopefully we end up at Rutgers and get to end with a win.”