Shore Sports Insider Week 2 Boys Basketball Top 10
Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 — Week 2
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As the 2025 portion of the 2024-25 season begins, only three Shore Conference teams remain unbeaten and only one of them has been ranked in the Shore Sports Insider Top 10 during the first two weeks of the season. The final rankings still only include one of the undefeated teams, but the other two teams do make their first appearance in the next 10.
As for the top 10 itself, eight teams remain in the rankings for the third straight week while two new teams enter – one of which opened the season in the rankings and another that is making its first appearance in the rankings this season. The order of the top 10 also remains fairly static, although there is a new No. 2 team in the conference and two teams in the back-end each moved up one spot.
The next set of rankings will drop on Jan. 13, which is two days after what could be a pivotal Saturday for the rankings. In addition to Central vs. Red Bank and Manasquan vs. Christian Brothers Academy at the Boardwalk Classic at Georgian Court, Rumson-Fair Haven is hosting Freehold Boro earlier in the day. That’s three games between the teams ranked Nos. 2 through 7 in the rankings, which is effectively three Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinal-level match-ups. There are, however, nine days of games before that, so plenty can happen to shake up the top 10 before that loaded Saturday.
1. St. Rose (4-2, 2-0) Last Week: 1
For the second straight year, the Purple Roses crossed into New York and beat Archbishop Stepinac, this time rallying from a 15-point third-quarter deficit to nail down a 57-54 win. There is a crowd developing for the No. 2 spot in the rankings but as we enter 2025, St. Rose remains the clear No. 1 at the Shore.
2. Manasquan (5-1, 0-1) Last Week: 3
With wins over Central, Rumson-Fair Haven, Rutgers Prep, Donovan Catholic and St. John Vianney and a five-point loss to St. Rose, the Warriors have the best December body of work of any team in the Shore Conference outside of St. Rose and if not for the head-to-head loss to the Purple Roses, the Warriors might have them beat too.
Manasquan sophomore Rey Weinseimer guarded by Central senior Royalty Riley. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspimages.com)
3. Christian Brothers Academy (3-2, 0-0) Last Week: 2
Ankle injuries to starters Justin Fuerbacher and Charlie Marcoullier halted CBA’s early push for the No. 1 spot and could jeopardize the Colts’ postseason positioning if the injuries persist. A showdown with Manasquan is looming on Jan. 11, so the Colts will have a chance to reclaim the No. 2 spot.
4. Central (4-1, 0-0) Last Week: 4
A loss to Manasquan in the WOBM Christmas Classic final was both frustrating and encouraging for the Golden Eagles, who had a nightmare first half and still had a chance to beat the No. 2 team at the Shore. Central will have a chance to assert its top-five positioning over the next 10 days with matchups vs. Toms River North and Red Bank.
5. Rumson-Fair Haven (3-1, 0-0) Last Week: 5
The Bulldogs bounced back from an overtime loss to Manasquan by beating Woodbridge and Immaculata to win the Butch Kowal Holiday Tournament at Rahway. It is not a 7-0 start like the team ranked right behind them, but it is a solid one for a team that boasts plenty of size, shooting, speed and senior leadership.
6. Red Bank (7-0, 0-0) Last Week: 6
The teams ahead of Red Bank have not done enough to deserve being dropped but the Bucs are doing their best to show that they are as deserving of top-five consideration as any of the teams ahead of them. Red Bank has yet to play a top-five opponent – that will change in the next two weeks with games vs. Central and Rumson – but the Bucs have wins over three of the four remaining teams in this week’s top 10 and won a Buc Holiday Classic field that included the fourth.
Red Bank senior Ryan Fisher goes up for a score as Freehold Boro senior Qua’Mir Everett contests the shot. (Photo by Patrick Oliveira)
7. Freehold Boro (5-2, 0-0) Last Week: 8
The big rematch vs. Red Bank got away from Freehold Boro in the third quarter, which was the inverse of what happened in the Central Jersey Group III championship game last February. Before dropping the Buc Classic championship game, Freehold won five in a row, including back-to-back wins over Marlboro and Ranney. The schedule stays tough this weekend, with back-to-back games vs. Manasquan and Southern on Friday and Saturday.
8. Ranney (3-1, 0-0) Last Week: 9
The Panthers picked up a pair of double-digit wins at the Buc Classic against Old Bridge and Hightstown, with a loss to Freehold Boro sandwiched between them. Those results keep Ranney solidly in the top 10 and the Panthers will look to add some impact to their résumé over the next week-plus against CBA, Jackson Memorial, Freehold Township and Point Pleasant Beach.
9. Southern (3-2, 0-0) Last Week: Not ranked
With losses to unbeaten Red Bank and reigning Group IV runner-up Lenape, Southern has held serve thus far as a back-end top 10 team. After beating Trenton and finishing runner-up in the Score at the Shore Tournament, the Rams will have a chance to move up the ranks Saturday, when they host No. 7 Freehold Boro.
10. Colts Neck (3-2, 0-0) Last Week: Not ranked
Colts Neck’s only losses in December are to No. 6 Red Bank and No. 4 Central and the Cougars beat Red Bank Catholic and Donovan Catholic at the WOBM Christmas Classic – teams that would have otherwise been in the running for a spot in the top 10. Colts Neck’s December starts with a trip to Manalapan – the team that occupied the No. 10 spot in the prior rankings.
Dropped Out
Toms River North (3-2, 0-0) Last Week: 7 – The Mariners bounced back from a loss to Donovan Catholic by pulling out hard-fought wins over St. John Vianney and Red Bank Catholic in the WOBM Consolation rounds.
Manalapan (3-1, 0-0) Last Week: 10 – After three straight wins with three straight 30-plus-point games from Aiden Sosinov, Manalapan came up four points short at Middletown South.
The Next 10
Point Pleasant Boro (5-0, 0-0) – The Panthers are one of three unbeaten teams left at the Shore and their perfect start includes a road win over Donovan Catholic.
Red Bank Catholic (4-2, 0-0) – The Caseys also have a win over Donovan Catholic as part of a 4-2 start, during which the Caseys have scored at least 68 points in their three wins and under 50 in the two losses.
Holmdel (2-3, 0-0) – Holmdel’s December losses are to CBA and two teams (Lenape and Trenton) that have won Group IV sectional championships in the past two seasons.
Donovan Catholic (2-4, 0-0) – Close losses to RBC, Point Boro, Manasquan and Colts Neck are misses opportunities to inch into the top 10, but the Griffins have flashed potential to be dangerous down the road.
Wall (4-2, 0-0) – With losses to Holmdel and Central and a WOBM Gepp Bracket championship, it was an encouraging December for a resurgent Crimson Knights squad.
St. John Vianney (4-3, 0-0) – After losses to Manasquan and Toms River North, the Lancers closed out the WOBM Classic with a victory over Point Beach.
Marlboro (2-5, 0-0) – A challenging schedule has not been kind to Marlboro’s young roster, but the Mustangs still have wins over Middletown South and Old Bridge.
Middletown South (4-2, 0-0) – A win over Manalapan to win the Pat Houston Memorial Tournament was a big step for a Eagles team that has quickly rounded into form despite a late coaching change and just one returning starter in Brady Hahn.
Brick Memorial (5-1, 0-0) – A close loss to Wall is the only blemish for a junior-heavy Brick Memorial team that will have plenty of chances to make a strong impression while playing in a competitive Class A Central division.
Shore (5-0, 0-0) – The third of the Shore unbeatens in December, the Blue Devils have won their five games by an average margin of 26.6 points.
