JSBL: Tuesday’s Championship Preview

The 57th Jersey Shore Basketball League Championship will be played tonight featuring 3-time defending champion Sterns Trailer who is seeking to become just the 2nd franchise to win 4 straight league championships and ACI/Robin’s Nest who is playing in their first championship game in their 3rd season in the league.

 

Jersey Shore Basketball League Championship

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

at Manasquan High School

7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Free Admission

 

(1) Sterns Trailer (8-2) vs (3) ACI/Robin’s Nest (7-3), 7:30 p.m.

Sterns Trailer Playoff Roster (Most Recent College/High School)

Coach: Christine Hatfield

Bryan Antoine, 6-5, Guard (Radford/Ranney)

Parker Dortch, 6-7, Forward (Anderson/Northern Burlington)

Jalen Gaffney, 6-3, Guard (Florida Atlantic/Westtown PA)

Eddie Hendrix, 6-4, Forward (Monmouth Regional)

Kevin Mateo, 6-1, Guard (Brookdale/Hackensack)

Rasheen Merlin, 6-9, Center (Winston-Salem State/Washington Twp)

Larry Smith, 6-1, Guard (Matawan)

Jakari Spence, 6-2, Guard (Jacksonville/Toms River North)

Evan Weiner, 6-7, Forward (OCC/Manchester)

Derrick Woods, 6-8, Forward (Saint Peter’s/Pennsbury PA)

Sterns Trailer Season Statistics

ACI/Robin’s Nest Playoff Roster (Most Recent College/High School)

Coach: Joe Fagan

Sam Fagan, 6-1, Guard (Monmouth/Neptune)

Sean Grennan, 6-3, Guard (San Francisco/Donovan Catholic)

Marquail Hardiman, 6-8, Center (Morris CC/Newark West Side)

Dwaine Jones, 6-5, Guard (U of Charleston/Neptune)

Micah Kerr, 6-5, Forward (Kean/Neptune)

Jared Kimbrough, 6-8, Forward (Hartford/Neptune)

Samier Kinsler, 6-2, Guard (Glenville State/West Catholic PA)

Ibn Loyal, 6-5, Forward (Missouri Southern State/Patrick School)

Ty Montgomery, 6-2, Guard (William Paterson/Admiral Farragut)

Lucas Orchard, 6-3, Guard (Monmouth/Perkiomen PA)

**Jack Clark, 6-10, Forward (VCU/Cheltenham PA)**

**Myles Powell, 6-2, Guard (Seton Hall/South Kent CT)**

**One of either Clark OR Powell can be activated as the team’s special category playoff exception** (NBA Summer League/Former NBA)

Gio Panzini will not be in uniform for the remainder of the season due to Cornell basketball’s international trip

ACI/Robin’s Nest Season Statistics

 

For the second time this season, ACI/Robin’s Nest and Sterns Trailer will be squaring off, this time with a championship trophy on the line. The game has a bit of a David versus Goliath feel to it as Sterns Trailer who has been in the league since 1989 is seeking their 6th total and 4th consecutive league championship while the young, ACI/Robin’s Nest franchise whose first season was in 2022 is appearing in just their first championship game. The teams met once earlier this season with ACI/Robin’s Nest earning a 125-121 victory in Myles Powell’s lone appearance of the summer in a game in which Powell scored 52 points, Sterns Trailer had just five players in uniform, and Jared Kimbrough did not play for ACI/Robin’s Nest. Needless to say, the results from round one can be thrown out the window in this one.

Starting Lineup Match-ups

1- Jakari Spence vs. Dwaine Jones

Both team’s primary ball handlers have a ton in common. They both grew up in Neptune before Spence ultimately moved to Ocean County where he attended Toms River North. They were both All-Shore selections in 2019. Both guards were unheralded recruits coming out of high school with Spence taking the walk on route at Robert Morris before transferring to Monmouth where he would eventually earn a starting spot and then finishing at Jacksonville. Jones meanwhile opted to take a prep year at Covenant College Prep before heading off to Coppin State then transferring to West Virginia State and finally the University of Charleston where he earned all-league honors. Spence recently signed his first professional contract overseas with Rotterdam City in the Netherlands while Jones is currently exploring professional options.

Spence was the league MVP in the regular season and took home the scoring title. Jones was a 2nd Team All-JSBL selection, but has been the best player in the playoffs through two rounds. Spence has been more of a pure scorer this summer while Jones has been a jack-of-all-trades. It’s hard to imagine that they will both guard each other the entire game since they are each the top offensive option on their respective team, but the player that has the better individual game is more likely to walk off with the championship trophy.

Edge: Sterns Trailer

2- Kevin Mateo vs. Sam Fagan

While both players are labeled as shooting guards, they would be better classified as combo guards since they are both efficient playing on and off the ball. Mateo was the former NJCAA Division 3 Player of the Year that led Brookdale to a national title. Fagan was an All-Shore guard at Neptune who went on to Monmouth where had some bad luck with injuries, but he still has one year of eligibility if he chooses to use it.

Mateo earned 1st Team All-JSBL honors during the regular season while Fagan received votes, but did not get selected to the 3rd Team. These are two of the better outside shooters in the league that are capable of alleviating pressure off of their primary creators with secondary creation and outside shooting.

Edge: Sterns Trailer

3- Bryan Antoine vs. Ibn Loyal

Sterns Trailer’s wing happens to be one of the most decorated players in the history of the Shore Conference as the all-time leading scorer who led Ranney to a Tournament of Champions title. Antoine then went on to Villanova where he suffered some major injuries before bouncing back with a strong final season at Radford which enabled him to sign a professional contract overseas. ACI/Robin’s Nest’s wing was a standout at the Patrick School who made multiple college stops including Clarendon, West Virginia State, and Missouri Southern State.

Antoine was a mid-season addition to Sterns Trailer who has fit in seamlessly as an off-ball guard with outside shooting and slashing ability as well as elite athleticism which makes him a major factor on defense. Loyal is more of a physical, bruiser with a gritty style of play doing all of the little things to help his team win.

Edge: Sterns Trailer

4- Parker Dortch vs. Micah Kerr

The 6’7″ Dortch began his college career at Kaskaskia College in Illinois before making his way to Loyola Marymount and finishing his career at Anderson University at South Carolina. The 6’5″ Kerr was a local standout at Neptune High School who went off to Kean where he had an extremely productive four-year career.

Dortch is the heart of Sterns Trailer as the team’s best defender, rebounder, and well-rounded offensive weapon. Kerr is another one of ACI/Robin’s Nest’s physical, bruisers that does not back down from anyone, but he also has a deft shooting touch from the outside to spread the floor.

Edge: Sterns Trailer

5- Rasheen Merlin vs. Jared Kimbrough

The 6-9 Merlin went from Washington Township High School to Rowan College before finishing his career at Winston-Salem State. The 6-8 Jared Kimbrough was one of the best players in recent Neptune history as a 1st Team-Shore selection who went on to play a total of five years between LaSalle and Hartford before heading overseas.

Kimbrough earned the Defensive Player of the Year award this summer as well as 1st-Team All-JSBL honors as the lone big man selected. Kimbrough is one of the most athletic players in the league with strong finishing ability off the dribble in addition to his defensive prowess. Merlin has been a quality addition for Sterns Trailer as a willing rebounder with a soft touch on offense.

Edge: ACI/Robin’s Nest

ST Bench: Eddie Hendrix, Larry Smith (Inj.), Evan Weiner, Derrick Woods

ACI Bench: Sean Grennan, Marquail Hardiman, Samier Kinsler, Tyreek Montgomery

Sterns Trailer had just two players on the bench in the semifinal in Hendrix and Woods since Smith is currently out with a hand injury and Weiner has not been to the last few games. ACI/Robin’s Nest had all four players on the bench in the semifinals and received strong contributions from all of them.

Edge: ACI/Robin’s Nest

Sterns Trailer keys to the game:

1. Enforce their will

Sterns Trailer is the older, more experienced team with a significant size advantage both in terms of height and width in the front court. A significant aspect of their offense in the semifinals was to pound the ball into the post to Dortch, Merlin, and Woods resulting in strong finishes inside or open looks from the outside off the kick out. While they have to be aware of Kimbrough’s shot blocking presence inside, they will have the ability to post many of the other players on ACI/Robin’s Nest.

2. Seal Kimbrough when the guards drive

Sterns Trailer has the most athletic, penetrating guards in the league in Spence, Mateo, and Antoine. They can finish over and through most players in the league, but Jared Kimbrough creates a 6’8″, long, vertical obstacle in the lane. If the Sterns Trailer front court players can seal Kimbrough, ACI/Robin’s Nest does not have another elite shot blocker to stop the ball from getting to the rim.

3. Force the ball out of Jones’ hands

Dwaine Jones is the best creator on ACI/Robin’s Nest so it is important for Sterns Trailer to make someone else make plays even if that means face-guarding Jones away from the ball and denying him the in-bounds. At the very least, they can make him work to get the ball which could wear him down over four quarters.

4. Stick to what has gotten them to this point

As the heavy favorite, Sterns Trailer just needs to do what they have done for the past four years and if they put together a “B” effort that should be enough to get the win. They do not need players to force bad shots or play hero ball just because it is the championship game. If everyone plays their role, they will walk away with a fourth straight title.

ACI/Robin’s Nest keys to the game:

1. The crowd must be a factor once again

ACI/Robin’s Nest was the only team this season to have what could be considered a home court advantage in terms of the crowd having a factor in the game. During the semifinals, a large contingent of Neptune fans who were present in support of a few of their former players brought the energy and noise which not only helped their team play with intensity, but also flustered their opponent, Intern Helpers. Intern Helpers became so focused on the crowd that it detracted from their play on the court. If ACI/Robin’s Nest can bring an even larger group of fans in the championship, the building will be against the 3-time defending champions which can really effect the game in the second half.

2. Players other than Jones need to hit from beyond the arc

Dwaine Jones was spectacular in the semifinal especially from the outside where he finished 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. The rest of ACI/Robin’s Nest finished a combined 4-for-23 from three. In order to knock off a team on the level of Sterns Trailer, ACI/Robin’s Nest will need to have a strong all-around shooting game from the outside.

3. Marquail Hardiman, Micah Kerr, and Ibn Loyal need to match or surpass Sterns Trailer’s physicality

The trio was able to succeed on the same bullet point in the semifinals as they battled Intern Helpers from beginning to end. They will need to be able win the physical battle for another four quarters if they wish to pull off the upset.

4. Make their free throws

ACI/Robin’s Nest finished 26-for-39 on the free throw line in the semifinal. Missing out on thirteen points did not cost them against Intern Helpers, but it absolutely will against the league’s top team. It will take an A+ effort to get the job done and the free throw line is a major aspect.

The Pick:

Sterns Trailer 118, ACI/Robin’s Nest 92

Sterns Trailer will earn their fourth straight Paul Larson Memorial Trophy which will put them just one title behind the legendary Bob Verga-led Jerry Lynch’s teams (1969-1973) for the longest championship streak in Jersey Shore Basketball League history.