Shore Sports Insider Girls Basketball Week 2 Top 10 Rankings

Doug Brustman contributed to this post

 

The first Shore Sports Insider Girls Basketball Top 10 of the new year have two new teams move off the bubble into the rankings. The Shore Conference is down to five teams that enter 2025 undefeated. As teams get ready to enter Shore Conference and division play next week, we quickly will learn how teams stand up to one and other.

 

Shore Sports Insider Girls Basketball Week 2 Top 10 Rankings

 

1. Red Bank Catholic (4-1) Last Week: 1 – The Caseys started the season winning their first four games by an average of 24 points, but lost their last game in the Viking Invitational to Arrowhead (WI) 68-60. All five of RBCs games have been to teams outside of New Jersey. They begin their Shore Conference schedule on Friday against No. 3 St. Rose. Junior Addy Nyemchek has started the season just like she left off last year, averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds per game.

2. St. John Vianney (6-2) Last Week: 2 – SJV went 2-1 over the holiday break in the Holiday Hoopfest in Paterson. The Lancers lost their opening game against Gill St. Bernard, who is ranked inside the top 10 in New Jersey, according to NJ.com. They rebounded with wins over Bayonne and Montclair Immaculate. On Saturday, the Lancers play Sidwell Friends (DC) in the Garden State New Years Ball at DePaul High School. Next week they will get into their division games in the Shore Conference. 

3. St. Rose (3-2) Last Week: 3 – After falling to St. John Vianney before the holiday break, St. Rose went 2-1 in the Holiday Hoopfest in Paterson. The Roses picked up wins against Franklin and Rutgers Prep. Senior Cassidy Kruesi scored a career-high 21 points to lead St. Rose against Rutgers Prep, which was ranked No. 4 in New Jersey, according to NJ.com. St. Rose will host No. 1 Red Bank Catholic on Friday before they start their division schedule next week.

4. Red Bank Regional (6-0) Last Week: 4 – Red Bank went 3-0 to repeat as champions in the 40th and final WOBM Christmas Classic. The Bucs were the top seed and defeated Manchester in the opening round and beat Brick Township for the second time this season in the semifinal. In the final they defeated Rumson-Fair Haven 58-49. Junior Synai Blychanton won MVP in the Ray Cervino bracket, averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in the tournament. Red Bank will not play until Tuesday, when they travel to crosstown rival Red Bank Catholic.

5. Manasquan (4-1) Last Week: 5 – Manasquan rebounded from their loss before the holiday break by going 2-0 in the Holmdel Holiday Invitational. The Warriors defeated North Plainfield and Mount St. Mary by an average of 20.5 points and shut Mount St. Mary out in the second half. Senior Shea Donnelly has stepped up in a bigger role this season, averaging 12.8 points per game to start the season. Manasquan plays Chatham in a non-conference game on Saturday and will start their Class A Central schedule next week.

6. Howell (5-0) Last Week: 7 – Howell is one of five teams in the Shore Conference to start the new year undefeated. Howell repeated as champions in the Blue Devil Holiday Tournament, defeating St. Joseph Hill (NY) 48-46 in the final. Senior Kiera McKown and sophomore Kylee Beam both posted two double-doubles in the tournament. Beam was named tournament MVP and scored 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the championship game. Howell travels to Freehold Township on Saturday and will start their Class A Central schedule next week. 

7. Trinity Hall (4-2) Last Week: 6 – Trinity Hall went 2-1 in the Score at the Shore, falling in the final to Pingry 64-61 in overtime. The Monarchs started the holiday week by defeating Middletown North in a non-division game. Trailing by two points at halftime, Trinity Hall outscored the Lions 32-14 in the second half. Junior Grace Feeney continues her hot start to the season, averaging 16 points per game. Trinity Hall is scheduled to play Pingry again on Saturday in a non-conference game. 

8. Rumson-Fair Haven (3-4) Last Week: 9  – Rumson went 2-2 during the holiday week, falling to Westfield before playing in the WOBM Christmas Classic. The Bulldogs outscored Central 21-8 in the 2nd quarter and won 55-30 in the opening round. Rumson played a strong second half and created several turnovers late to defeat Point Boro in the semifinal round. After trailing by double-digits in the championship game against Red Bank, Rumson was able to get it to within three points in the second half before falling to the defending champions. Junior Erin Reid is emerging as one of the Shore Conference’s top players, averaging over 16 points a game in the WOBM. Rumson will travel to Ramapo in a non-conference game on Saturday before they begin their Class A Coastal schedule next week. 

9. Point Boro (3-1) Last Week: Not Ranked – The Panthers went 2-1 in the WOBM Christmas Classic, falling to Rumson in the semifinal round in the Ray Cervino bracket. Point Boro had a dominant performance in the opening round, defeating Middletown North 49-22. The Panthers led Rumson at halftime in the semifinal round, but could not hold on to pull off the win. They rebounded with a 48-38 win over Brick Township. Point Boro will travel to Manchester on Friday  and have a rematch with Brick Township on Monday in a non-divisional match-up.

10. Shore Regional (3-2) Last Week: Not Ranked – Shore is the second new team to crack the top 10 to start the new year. The Blue Devils went 2-1 in their own holiday tournament, picking up a 57-54 win over No. 10 Neptune in the quarterfinal round. Shore fell to St. Joseph Hill (N.Y.) in the semifinal round, 55-51 in overtime. Junior Ava Coyle continues her strong start to the season, averaging just under 15 points per game. Shore will travel to Southern on Friday and start their division schedule next week. 

Bubble: Colts Neck, Jackson Memorial, Ranney