Shore Sports Insider 2025-26 Girls Basketball Most Improved Player of the Year: Shannon Looney
Shore Sports Insider 2025-26 Most Improved Team
Most Improved Player of the Year
Shannon Looney, Sr., Manasquan
Manasquan’s Shannon Looney (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
2025 Stats
150 PTS, 5 PPG, 46 REB, 24 AST, 2 BLK, 12 STL, 30 GP
2026 Stats
312 PTS, 10 PPG, 77 REB, 49 AST, 5 BLK, 37 STL, 31 GP
The majority of the time when kids are selected to the Most Improved Team it is because they take advantage of a larger role given to them by their head coach. The opportunity for a larger role can present itself for a multiple of seasons including older players graduating, injuries, hard work in the off-season, or a combination of factors.
This season was one of the hardest to narrow down the list. There were several players who stepped up this season and improved tremendously from last year. The player believe rose to the occasion and took the biggest advantage of her increased role this season was Shannon Looney from Manasquan.
Manasquan’s Shannon Looney (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Primarily a defender off the bench last season as a junior, Looney not only kept her role of getting the hardest assignments on defense, but she also became an integral part of the Manasquan offense.
“On top of being our primary defender, Shannon helped fill a void on the offensive side with the graduation of our seniors from last season.” Manasquan head coach Lisa Kukoda said. “Her ability to play off the ball, making reads and cuts in the opponents’ defense, provided a perfect compliment to the skill set of Jordyn Hollawell. Her improved consistency from the perimeter also made her difficult to guard. Shannon’s continuous movement on the floor, always giving 100%, made her an impactful player on both ends. I believe Shannon thrived in pressure situations, often reliable and focused in some of our biggest games. Our postseason run would not have been possible without the impact of Shannon on the offensive and defensive side.”
Looney had some of her best games on the biggest stages, not only with the amount of points she would score, but with the timing of those points. On the biggest stage of the season, the Group 2 state championship at Rutgers University, Looney scored a career-high 19 points. Scoring the first four baskets of the game for Manasquan, she finished with 15 first-half points to help Manasquan blow the game open and win their third straight Group 2 title. Her biggest basket of the season, maybe the biggest basket throughout the entire Shore Conference, occurred in the Group 2 semifinal game against Cinnaminson. Tied 31-31 with 1:17 left, Looney made a backdoor cut and received a pass from Jordyn Hollawell to give the Warriors the lead and save their season.
What made her season so special on the offensive side of the floor was the work she did on the defensive side of the floor. Most times in basketball when you have the hardest defensive assignment, you are not one of the primary scorers. Guarding the opposing teams top players in the Shore Conference is no easy task and requires you to be mentally and physically strong. Players can exert a lot of energy on that side of the floor, which could take away from their offensive production. Looney excelled at both.
Manasquan’s Shannon Looney deflects a pass (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
“Shannon had a senior season that we are so proud of,” Kukoda said. “ We knew coming into the season that she was going to step up into our primary defender role. Her energy and work ethic on the defensive end was evident last season, and she relieved Shea Donnelly from the role throughout her junior year when needed. I think she really prided herself this season on being our primary defender, and would ask questions during our scout film and practices that showed how much she understood the importance of this role.”
Looney transferred to Manasquan her sophomore year after being enrolled at rival St. Rose for her freshman season. Transferring into a new environment can be challenging, but transferring into a top tier program like Manasquan could have been really difficult for a lot of kids.
“When Shannon joined our program sophomore year, I believe it was a natural transition for her,” Kukoda said. “She grew up in Brielle and played with our Manasquan girls throughout her younger years. She was apart of this community and knew what being a Manasquan Warrior was all about.”
Playing at a school rich in tradition like Manasquan, you sometimes have to wait to hear your name called to step on the court. Playing as a freshman is very difficult and sometimes it is hard to crack the rotation as a sophomore. When you go to Manasquan you are aware of this and need to be willing to wait your turn. Looney did just that. She learned the system her sophomore year, was a role player off the bench her junior year and became a star her senior year.
“As I talk about with all of our players, you make sacrifices to be a part of this program, and I am so grateful to our players for buying into our team philosophy and culture, often pushing individual goals aside for the overall team goal,” Kukoda said. “Shannon is a prime example of this. She came into our program and learned our system, developed throughout her years, and had a senior year many would dream of. Not many players are willing to wait around for their moment in the spotlight, but Shannon knew that her work ethic and team mentality would help get us to where we wanted to be. I am so happy for her and proud of her for being able to say she ended her career a state champion!”
Most Improved Team
Olivia Batchelor, Jr., Freehold Boro
2025 Stats:
250 PTS, 10 PPG, 64 REB, 69 AST, 25 BLK, 57 STL, 25 GP
2026 Stats:
405 PTS, 15.5 PPG, 109 REB, 80 AST, 4 BLK, 95 STL, 26 GP
Libby Dickman, Jr., Toms River East
Toms River East’s Libby Dickman puts up a shot (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
2025 Stats
216 PTS, 7.7 PPG, 136 REB, 22 AST, 5 BLK, 48 STL, 28 GP
2026 Stats
385 PTS, 13.7 PPG, 163 REB, 34 AST, 20 BLK, 78 STL, 28 GP
Lana Ellington, Jr., Neptune
Neptune’s Lana Ellington (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
2025 Stats
163 PTS, 6 PPG, 69 REB, 22 AST, 4 BLK, 51 STL, 27 GP
2026 Stats
325 PTS, 14.7 PPG, 82 REB, 28 AST, 2 BLK, 76 STL, 22 GP
Allison McAndrew, So., Colts Neck
Allison McAndrew knocked down two 3-pointers to finish with 15 points in the Group 3 semifinal. 3/11/26 Photo by Patrick Olivero
2025 Stats (Trinity Hall)
90 PTS, 3.5 PPG, 70 REB, 9 AST, 5 BLK, 15 STL, 26 GP
2026 Stats
395 PTS, 14.1 PPG, 207 REB, 58 AST, 8 BLK, 39 STL, 28 GP
Sophie Smith, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
Red Bank Catholic senior Sophie Smith. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
2025 Stats
108 PTS, 3.4 PPG, 66 REB, 24 AST, 26 BLK, 18 STL, 32 GP
2026 Stats
196 PTS, 6.1 PPG, 138 REB, 44 AST, 24 BLK, 36 STL, 32 GP
