JSBL Week 5 Notebook: The loss of an icon, Playoff Picture, Overseas Signings, and more
The Jersey Shore Basketball League’s 57th season has one more week remaining in the regular season. As part of Shore Sports Insider’s wire-to-wire coverage here are a variety of our thoughts heading into Week 5’s slate of games.
The loss of an icon
On July 10th, the Jersey Shore basketball community lost one of its most avid supporters in Tony Tamburello who passed away at the age of 86. Tamburello’s love for basketball began in his youth. He played at Belleville High School during his senior season in 1956 before heading off to Fort Knox, Kentucky where he would play service ball alongside seven time NBA champion Frank Ramsey of the Boston Celtics. Tamburello continued to play at the recreational level through the 1980’s in addition to becoming a regular spectator at New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Monmouth University, Shore Conference, and Eastern League games, but he is perhaps most well known as the sponsor of the very popular Allenhurst Barbers teams in the Jersey Shore Basketball League.
After his service in the Army, Tony Tamburello became “Tony the Barber” opening his first barbershop in Newark before expanding to open several more down the Shore. Tony sponsored his first team in the Elizabeth Industrial League before entering Sixth Avenue Barbers of Asbury Park into what was then known as the Shore Summer Basketball League.
“In sponsoring a team I keep involved with players and fans and the exposure is good for business. Besides, basketball is a very important part of my life,” said Tamburello in an interview with the Asbury Park Press in 1976.
Tony Tamburello, longtime sponsor of the Allenhurst Barbers, passed away on July 10th at the age of 86. (Photo provided by friends of the Tamburello family)
Tony’s Sixth Avenue Barbers team included the sharpshooting Tony Rediger (RBC), future Monmouth University assistant coach Ron Krayl (Sioux Falls/Point Beach), and legendary Neptune player and coach Ken O’Donnell who would eventually become the commissioner of the JSBL.
Tamburello’s Sixth Avenue Barbers team quickly morphed into the Allenhurst Barbers in the late 1970’s. His team suited up the likes of Dave Angstadt, Bill Kunze, and Randy Meister of Penn State. Angstadt holds the distinction of being the only player in JSBL history to play in five different decades. Other players included John Morley (Rhode Island), Reed Hofer (Hartwick), Jerry Lattimore (Brookdale/Manasquan), Pee Wee Jackson (Asbury Park), Kirby Foray (Point Boro), and the very entertaining Don “Beada” Ward.
Don Ward starred at Colgate where he averaged over 21 ppg during his final two seasons before making his way down to the Jersey Shore where he quickly became one of the most popular players in the league. Ward made his friendship with Tamburello known publicly.
“The main reason I play for the Barbers is because of (owner) Tony Tamburello. I enjoy playing for Tony and Tony enjoys having me play for him. If I played for anyone else it would be a chore rather than an enjoyment. If the Barbers ever fold then the Beada will vanish from the league,” said Don Ward in a 1977 interview with the Asbury Park Press.
Like many Jersey Shore Basketball League franchises, the Allenhurst Barbers would disappear over time. Tamburello would remain a fan of the league through the 1980’s until the early 1990’s when at the urging of longtime friend Brian Doherty, Tamburello brought the Allenhurst Barbers back into the league this time with an abundance of NBA talent.
The 1990’s iteration of the Allenhurst Barbers, coached by legendary Shore Conference and Stockton Head Coach Gerry Matthews, was built around the NCAA’s all-time assist leader, Bobby Hurley. Hurley was injured in a serious car accident in 1993 which put his NBA career in jeopardy. His return to competitive basketball came in the summer of 1994 when he was greeted by the cheers of fans at St. Rose High School watching him take the court for the Allenhurst Barbers. On nights when Hurley was scheduled to suit up, fans lined up around the corner of 7th Avenue in Belmar hoping to catch a glimpse of the two-time national champion before the gymnasium reached maximum capacity.
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Bobby Hurley reflecting on his time with Tony Tamburello’s Allenhurst Barbers after being selected to the JSBL’s 55th Anniversary Team
In addition to Hurley, Tamburello’s Allenhurst Barbers teams featured other NBA talent including twelve year NBA veteran and Colgate all-American center Adonal Foyle, fourteen year NBA veteran and Connecticut star Donyell Marshall, Rick Mahorn of “Bad Boy Pistons” fame, former Atlanta Hawks wing Roshown McLeod, Boston College’s Troy Bowers, and Utah State’s Jermaine Womack.
In the early 2000’s, the Allenhurst Barbers would depart the JSBL for good, but Tamburello’s loving wife Dr. Jean D’Arcy Maculaitis who loved basketball just as much as Tony would sponsor Mac’s Testing for several more seasons. “Dr. Mac” became the first female owner in the history of the league.
Tamburello remained one of the JSBL’s biggest supporters for the rest of his life long after he stopped sponsoring a team. In 2023, when the JSBL honored their 55th Anniversary Team which included several former Allenhurst Barbers players including Hurley and Foyle, Tamburello was seated court side watching every player receive the honor.
Having witnessed the league’s talent firsthand from its inception, Tamburello held a strong opinion that former St. Rose, Duke, and ABA/NBA star Bob Verga was the greatest player to ever take the floor at the Jersey Shore.
“Bob’s jumpshot was amazing. He’d hit from anywhere on court. He was a threat anytime he had the ball,” said Tamburello in a 1998 interview with the Asbury Park Press.
When asked to sum up his thoughts on his time at the JSBL, Tamburello told reporters, “It was magic. It really was.”
Much of that magic can be attributed to the tall, tan gentleman that often wore a stylish suit while sitting court side, the Jersey Shore Basketball League icon, Tony Tamburello.
Playoff Picture
With three nights of regular season action remaining including 2 nights of bumper games, the playoff picture is becoming clear.
Sea View Jeep
Tuesday vs. ACI/Robin’s Nest, 7 p.m.
Thursday vs. Sterns Trailer, 8:30 p.m.
Can clinch the 1 seed with a win over Sterns Trailer in the regular season championship on Thursday
Can clinch the 2 seed with a win over ACI/Robin’s Nest on Tuesday
Will fall to the 3 seed if they lose both games and Intern Helpers wins their final game
Sea View Jeep’s Jesse Jones alongside Head Coach Tyler Schmelz (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
Sterns Trailer
Thursday vs. Sea View Jeep, 8:30 p.m.
Can clinch the 1 seed with a win over Sea View Jeep in the regular season championship on Thursday
Can clinch the 2 seed with an Intern Helpers loss on Thursday
Will fall to the 3 seed if they lose their last game and Intern Helpers wins their last game
Intern Helpers
Thursday vs. RKE Athletic, 7 p.m.
Can clinch the 2 seed with a win over RKE Athletic and either a Sterns Trailer loss or two Sea View Jeep losses
Can clinch the 3 seed with a win over RKE Athletic and one Sea View Jeep loss
Will fall to the 4 seed if they lose their last game
RKE Athletic
Thursday vs. Intern Helpers, 7 p.m.
Can clinch the 3 seed with a win over Intern Helpers
Can clinch the 4 seed with a loss in their last game and an ACI/Robin’s Nest loss
Will fall to the 5 seed if they lose their last game and ACI/Robin’s Nest wins their last 2 games
ACI/Robin’s Nest
Tuesday vs. Sea View Jeep, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, TBD
Can clinch the 4 seed if they win their last 2 games and RKE Athletic loses to Intern Helpers
Can clinch the 5 seed with a win and WCT Warriors loss or 2 WCT Warriors losses
Will fall to the 6 seed in multiple scenarios
WCT Warriors
Tuesday vs. Ortho-NJ, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, TBD
Can clinch the 5 seed by winning their last 2 games
Can clinch the 6 seed with two wins or one win and a Larson Ford loss
Will fall to the 7 seed with 2 losses, a Larson Ford win, and an Ortho-NJ loss
Will fall to the 8 seed with 2 losses, a Larson Ford win, and 2 Ortho-NJ wins
Larson Ford
Wednesday, TBD
Can clinch the 5 seed with a WCT Warriors loss, 2 ACI/Robin’s Nests losses, and a win over ACI/Robin’s Nest
Can clinch the 6 seed with a win, an ACI/Robin’s Nest win over Sea View Jeep, and one WCT Warriors loss
Can clinch the 7 seed if the WCT Warriors defeat Ortho-NJ
Ortho-NJ
Tuesday vs. WCT Warriors, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, TBD
Can clinch the 7 seed with 2 wins and 2 WCT Warriors losses
A loss or WCT Warriors win locks them into the 8 seed
Regular Season Awards Update
At the conclusion of the week, the JSBL staff in collaboration with Shore Sports Insider will vote on a ballot for postseason awards. The MVP race seems to be a two man competition between Jakari Spence (Sterns Trailer) and Justin Robinson (Sea View Jeep). Spence has the better scoring (39.4 ppg to 35.4 ppg) while Robinson has the better overall statistics (9.4 apg and 9 rpg against 3.4 apg and 6.2 rpg) to this point in the season. With Justin Robinson still playing in the TBT, it appears Spence will have a chance to make a strong final impression while Robinson will likely sit on his numbers.
In addition to the Regular Season MVP, we will also be releasing All-JSBL teams, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Most Improved Player of the Year awards.
Justin Robinson looks to receive a pass earlier this season (Photo by Nick Doll)
Overseas Alert
Former Toms River North star Jakari Spence announced on Instagram that he signed his first professional contract overseas with Rotterdam City Basketball in the Netherlands. The team plays in the BNXT League which is the top league in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Sterns’ Trailers Jakari Spence (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
Former Ranney star Bryan Antoine announced on Instagram that he signed with the Den Helder Suns in the Netherlands. Like Spence’s team, Antoine’s team is also apart of the BNXT League.
Sterns Trailer’s Bryan Antoine (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
Former Monmouth University guard George Papas announced on Instagram that he will be joining Panionios Basketball Club in Greece for next season. Panionios is apart of the Greek Basketball League which is the highest tier league in the country.
TBT in full swing
The Basketball Tournament with its one million dollar prize is underway and several JSBL players are participating.
Kyle Cardaci helped lead Shell Shock, a team consisting of mostly Maryland alumni, to the Round of 16. Cardaci’s connection to the team was through Head Coach Juan Dixon who was a former All-American guard at Maryland who wound up coaching Cardaci at Coppin State. Dixon’s addition of Cardaci proved to be critical as the RKE Athletic sharpshooter finished with 12 points on on 3-for-4 from the field including 2-for-3 from the three point line and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line in a narrow 75-74 victory over Love Virginia in the 1st round. Perhaps most impressively, the performance took place in just 17 minutes of action. In the second round, Cardaci finished with 8 points on 2-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line in an 81-78 victory over Red Rose Thunder. Shell Shock will play NXT Era Elite for the opportunity to advance to the Round of 8 on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
RKE Athletic’s Kyle Cardaci (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
Justin Robinson’s team, Elite Nation, had a 1st round bye and then defeated the Court Street Kings 88-85 to advance to the Round of 16. The Sea View Jeep star guard recorded 2 assists in just 9 minutes of action on what is a very loaded team featuring the likes of former Saint Peter’s star guard Desi Washington and former Iona star guard AJ English. Elite Nation will play Best Virginia in the Round of 16 on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
Gene Campbell’s team, We Are D3 defeated Layne’s Hope 75-71 to advance to the Round of 32. Larson Ford’s Campbell played 2 minutes, but did not record any statistics. They will play top-seeded Boeheim’s Army (consisting of Syracuse alumni) on Monday at 8:00 p.m.
Larson Ford’s Gene Campbell (Photo by Nick Doll)
Sideline Cancer’s Josh Cohen, who appeared in one JSBL game with Sea View Jeep this season, received minimal playing time in his team’s first two games, but the team advanced to the Round of 16 with wins over Madd Kats and The Ville, a team of Louisville alumni including national championship winning guards Russ Smith and Peyton Siva.
RKE Athletic’s Nico Galette saw just 7 minutes of action in X Rayted’s opening round loss to War Ready, a team consisting of Auburn alumni.
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