Freehold trio shines one last time together at the Ken O’Donnell Senior All-Star Game
MIDDLETOWN – The thrilling trio who took Freehold boys basketball on its most magical ride in 50 years enjoyed one last night of wowing the crowd while wearing the same jersey at Tuesday’s Ken O’Donnell Shore Basketball Coaches Senior All-Star Game.
Brian Tassey, Qua’mir Everett and Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk showed off the highlight dunks, lightning speed and slick passing that made the Colonials one of the Shore’s most exciting teams of the past two seasons.
“I wouldn’t want to be on the court with anyone else but these two,” Everett said. “This is my family right here. It was a fun time.”
The three teammates suited up for the Sterns Trailer/RKE Athletic squad at Brookdale Community College’s Collins Arena in a game sponsored by the Jersey Shore Basketball League and Shore Sports Insider. Everett and Woolfolk threw down some dunks and Tassey made his usual highlight passes and shots while they played one last time under their head coach, Ben DiBiase.
Freehold Boro senior Qua’Mir Everett. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspimages.com)
“I loved being around them,” DiBiase said. “It’s hard to say goodbye.”
“It was amazing,” Tassey said. “Playing one last time, I’m definitely not going to take this for granted.”
Tassey was a Shore Sports Insider second-team All-Shore selection this season after averaging 16.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.9 blocks as one of the Shore’s best all-around players. The Colonials’ point guard had four triple-doubles this season and seven total in his last two seasons. He also led the Shore Conference in assists per game.
Hamlin-Woolfolk, a 6-foot-5 forward, averaged 14.6 points, 7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks, while the explosive Everett, one of the Shore’s best dunkers, averaged 12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1 block per game. Freehold registered its second straight 20-win season and reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals by stunning top-seeded Red Bank on the road for the second straight year.
“Coming back to Red Bank, we were doubted again,” Tassey said. “They were the No. 1 seed again, and we were 10 this time, so there was more doubt. Seeing us play as a team and play for one another was really good.”
The Colonials fell to Freehold Regional District rival Colts Neck in the next round, but it took the champs to knock them out. The Cougars went on a run to their first NJSIAA Group 3 title in school history after dethroning Freehold as Central Jersey Group 3 champions.
Freehold Boro’s Brian Tassey during the Shore Conference Senior All-Star Game at Brookdale Community College. (Photo: Steve Meyer)
“They’re not going to admit it’s sad, but they’re going to look back at it and wish a play went differently here and there and that we could’ve done it again,” Tassey joked as Everett and Woolfolk smiled.
As juniors, the trio led the Colonials to the program’s first NJSIAA sectional title since 1972 when they took down Red Bank in the Bucs’ home gym in the championship game. Freehold then reached its first Group 3 final in school history before falling to Ramapo.
“After seeing Colts Neck have their run, I think I took it a little bit for granted while it happened for us last year,” Tassey said. “But looking back on it, that’s something we’ll all remember for the rest of our lives. That was a crazy month span of playing for our community. It was really special and will never be forgotten.”
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“It means the most to the community,” Woolfolk said. “First championship in 50 years. We really did it.”
Tuesday night marked their last time playing together before they head their separate ways. Tassey will be playing a post-grad season at The Lawrenceville School in Mercer County, while Everett and Woolfolk are undecided.
“We’re all going to miss it, for sure,” Tassey said. “We’re all family forever.”
Scott Stump is a freelance reporter, newsletter writer and editor who first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, wrestling, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point.
You can contact him at [email protected]
