Freehold Township dominates Franklin, 83-59, to advance to the Central Jersey Group 4 Quarterfinals

FREEHOLD – Freehold Township did not just win — it dominated.

Behind relentless ball movement, interior toughness and a tone set defensively from the opening tip, the Patriots rolled over Franklin, 83-59, in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 Sectional Tournament, advancing with one of their most complete performances of the season.

Freehold Township assisted on 20 field goals — a rarity at the high school level — and scored 83 points while making just one three-point field goal. The message was clear: attack the rim, share the ball and finish.

“Tonight, we played extremely well on the offensive end because we valued the ball and we took care of it,” Freehold Township coach Todd Smith said. “The game plan was to share it. Don’t overdribble. Pass, cut, face the rim, keep it simple. If you move the ball, good things are going to happen. Trust each other and play as a unit. We certainly did that.”

Freehold Township’s frontcourt seized control early and never let it slip. Junior forwards Jake Schultzel and John O’Neill combined for 15 of the Patriots’ 21 first-quarter points, powering Freehold Township to a 21-11 lead after one. O’Neill scored nine points in the opening period, including the team’s lone three-point field goal of the night, while adding four rebounds. Schultzel chipped in six points as the Patriots controlled the glass and limited second chances.

Franklin leaned heavily on its backcourt, with junior guard Jah’naad Cady and sophomore guard Sean Duncan combining for all 11 first-quarter points. Duncan knocked down two three-point field goals, while Cady attacked off the dribble to keep the Warriors within reach.

The Patriots widened the gap in the second quarter, even as Franklin tried to disrupt the rhythm with a 1-3-1 zone in the half-court. Freehold Township adjusted quickly, moving the ball side-to-side and attacking gaps to avoid settling. The Patriots opened the period on a 14-5 run and carried a 39-25 lead into halftime after winning the quarter 18-14. Schultzel added six more points before the break to reach 12 at halftime, while junior point guard Cole Gerigk scored six of his 14 points and controlled the pace, repeatedly finding cutters and post entries as part of the Patriots’ balanced attack.

Franklin showed flashes late in the half, with Cady adding six more points to reach 11 at the break and sophomore guard Justin Henry connecting on two three-point field goals during a brief push. But Freehold Township’s physicality and discipline kept the Warriors from building sustained momentum.

The third quarter effectively put the game out of reach.

Franklin attempted to speed things up with a full-court press after halftime, but it only fueled Freehold Township’s attack. The Patriots handled the pressure calmly, broke it cleanly and converted in transition, outscoring the Warriors 29-17 in the period. Schultzel scored eight points in the quarter to reach 20 through three, while multiple Patriots capitalized on numbers advantages created by the press.

“We did a good job turning defense into offense and taking what they give us,” Smith said. “Early on against the 1-3-1 we settled for some corner threes, but we got back to what makes us strong — going to the rim and getting the ball inside. The best part was we finished plays. We made our layups, we made our foul shots. It was a mindset of attacking, and it was every guy who stepped on the court.”

While Duncan eventually finished with 17 points, including five three-point field goals, and Cady added 15, many of those opportunities came under heavy pressure. Junior guard Dakota Lasater set the tone defensively for Freehold Township, hounding both guards across the perimeter and forcing them to work for clean looks.

“Dakota Lasater plays great defense every game,” Smith said. “He takes the best assignment and just goes after it. He’s a pest on the ball and off the ball. He can guard anybody. He spent most of the night on Cady but had Duncan at times, too. Those kids are extremely good players, and he made them earn everything.”

Lasater finished with six points, four rebounds, five assists and four steals, numbers that only partially reflected his impact. His energy, along with sharp team rotations behind him, anchored a defensive effort that helped Freehold Township win the rebounding battle by double digits.

Jake Schultzel led all scorers with 20 points, adding five rebounds and five assists. John O’Neill contributed 17 points and nine rebounds, while Cole Gerigk added 14 points, three assists and three steals as the Patriots’ offense flowed from possession to possession.

Sophomore guard Aamari Alexander-Monroe scored 10 points, including six in the fourth quarter, and junior guard Sam Hawksby chipped in eight points to round out the balanced scoring effort.

“We’re young, but we’re experienced,” Smith said. “A lot of these guys have played for two or three years. They’ve been through tough schedules, tough tournaments, tough divisions. The expectation is for them to be veterans at this point.”

Schultzel echoed that confidence.

“We’re a pretty young squad, but we’ve been together for a while,” he said. “This is the time of year when you want to turn it up. We knew we had to be physical inside and stay calm, especially when they pressed. We slowed it down when we needed to, and we got the job done.”

Freehold Township now advances to face top-seeded Hillsborough (20-7) on Saturday in the Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals, with the matchup set to be played on the Raiders’ home floor. Hillsborough owns quality wins over Rutgers Prep, Immaculata and Ewing and dropped a two-point decision to Gill St. Bernard’s, a program ranked third in the entire state. It presents a significant road test for the Patriots, but if Wednesday’s performance is any indication, they will enter with confidence and momentum with their season on the line.