Shore Sports Insider Week 3 Boys Basketball Top 10

Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 — Week 3

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It is only Jan. 13 and already the Shore Conference boys basketball season has given us a telling look at how the best teams in the Shore Conference match up with one another. There are still a few anticipated match-ups on the way — Red Bank and Rumson-Fair Haven do battle this week — but each team in this week’s Top 10 outside of No. 1 St. Rose has faced at least two other Top 10 teams. That is a lot of substance with which to evaluate the Shore Conference field and even though there is no longer a Shore Conference Tournament seeding meeting for those results to impact, they still carry weight in the SSI rankings.

1. St. Rose (6-4, 3-0) Last Week: 1

After handling previously-unbeaten Point Boro to start the week and losing to Faith Family Charter of Dallas on Friday, St. Rose faced a crucial game vs. Gill St. Bernard’s at the Boardwalk Classic as it pertains to Shore Conference Tournament and NJSIAA Tournament seeding. Things got shaky in the fourth quarter, but the Purple Roses picked up the 50-48 win to remain the unquestioned No. 1 team in these rankings while keeping alive the possibility that they can climb to No. 1 in the SCT bracket.

2. Manasquan (9-1, 2-1) Last Week: 2

St. Rose remains the only team to beat Manasquan so far this season and it’s not like the Purple Roses are the only quality team the Warriors have played. Manasquan has now beaten four teams ranked in the current Top 10, plus a Point Boro team that entered this past week 7-0 and an exceedingly-talented Rutgers Prep team. The slate does not get much easier this week, with the Warriors getting set to face Brick Memorial (7-3), Howell (4-4) and the current No. 7 team in N.J. in Don Bosco Prep.

3. Central (8-1, 2-0) Last Week: 4

Even before Saturday’s Boardwalk Showcase, Central passed its early high-profile tests – an opening-night win over Lenape and a buzzer-beater loss to No. 2 Manasquan. If those weren’t proof enough Central can compete on the big stage, the Golden Eagles finished strong Saturday to hand Red Bank its first loss of the season. All three of Central’s games this week are against opponents with losing records, although one of those teams is a dangerous Donovan Catholic squad coming off a win over Southern Regional.

4. Christian Brothers Academy (5-3, 2-0) Last Week: 3

The Colts are the second of three straight teams in the rankings whose only Shore Conference loss is to Manasquan, which CBA suffered Saturday at the Boardwalk Classic. Like the other two teams during this stretch of the rankings, CBA only lost by one possession – yet another close loss for what has been an ailing Colts team for most of the season. The upcoming four-game week for CBA includes a ranked Colts Neck team, plus Red Bank Catholic in the Founder’s Cup game.

5. Rumson-Fair Haven (8-1, 2-0) Last Week: 5

Rumson also has a singular loss to Manasquan, which came in overtime before the calendar turned to 2025. The Bulldogs dodged a loss to Freehold Boro on Saturday with a fourth-quarter rally and is closing in on the first of two huge showdowns with Red Bank Regional, which will be Thursday in Rumson. First, however, the Bulldogs will have to deal with Red Bank Catholic on Tuesday.

6. Red Bank (9-1, 2-0) Last Week: 6

The No. 3 ranking was on the line Saturday in the final game at Georgian Court and after Central handed Red Bank its first loss, the Bucs hold strong at No. 6. Red Bank has beaten each of the four teams ranked directly below them and will have an opportunity against Rumson-Fair Haven on Thursday. With a bounceback, three-win week, the Bucs will climb at least one spot, with a chance to move up to No. 4.

7. Freehold Boro (6-5, 1-0) Last Week: 7

A road loss to Southern makes this a questionable ranking for a Freehold Boro team that is now barely above .500, but a loss by Southern to Donovan Catholic, to close the week, a head-to-head win over Ranney, plus a very difficult schedule for Freehold keeps the Colonials in the No. 7 spot for the time being. All five of Freehold’s losses are to top 10 teams and the loss to Southern was a one-point road loss in which the Colonials wiped out a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter before dropping the game.

8. Colts Neck (4-3, 1-0) Last Week: 10

The last four teams of this week’s top 10 remain fairly solid, but the order is a matter of taste. Southern beat Freehold Boro, but lost to Colts Neck. Colts Neck lost to Hightstown, which Ranney beat. Freehold Boro beat Ranney by 17 points. In the case of Colts Neck, the Cougars have two Shore Conference losses to ranked opponents – Red Bank and Central – and a three-point road loss to Hightstown on Saturday does not bounce them.

9. Southern (6-3, 1-1) Last Week: 9

Prior to the loss to Donovan Catholic, the Rams had the No. 7 spot in the rankings in their sights. That loss delays Southern’s climb, but the Rams have made it clear they will be in the top-10 running throughout the year and already have some noteworthy results in the form of wins over Trenton and Freehold Boro. Southern will try to get back on track this week against Toms River North, Toms River South and Atlantic Tech.

10. Ranney (5-2, 1-1) Last Week: 8

Both of Ranney’s losses to date are to Shore-ranked opponents and after letting their game against Freehold Boro get away from them, the Panthers did not go down easily in a 68-64 loss at CBA on Thursday. Ranney will play two capable Class A North teams this week in Manalapan and Marlboro before a match-up vs. Holmdel that could be for a spot in next week’s rankings.

Next 10

Holmdel (4-4, 1-1) – Holmdel’s only losses within the Shore are to CBA and Rumson and the Hornets will have a chance to strengthen their top-10 case with games vs. Red Bank Catholic and Ranney to close out the week.

Red Bank Catholic (6-4, 1-1) – The Caseys are facing a loaded schedule this week: Rumson, Holmdel and CBA. If the Caseys are top 10 worthy, we’ll find out for sure this week.

Wall (8-2, 1-0) – Winners of seven straight, Wall opens the week with a crucial Class B Central clash against Point Beach.

Point Pleasant Boro (7-2, 0-2) – Point Boro’s seven game winning streak came to a halt thanks to back-to-back games vs. St. Rose and Manasquan. The Panthers look to get back on track this week vs. Howell and Jackson Memorial.

Middletown South (6-4, 0-2) – The Eagles are in the mix of teams fighting for ranked consideration and can move to the front of the line by beating Red Bank to open the week.

Middletown North (7-4, 2-0) – The Lions are right behind their crosstown rivals in the pecking order and looking like the favorite in the Class B Coastal division after taking down Keyport and Raritan last week. The week starts with a divisional game vs. Matawan and ends at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

Donovan Catholic (4-6, 2-0) – The Griffins looked ready to push into the rankings following a six-point loss to Manasquan, but that kicked off a four-game losing streak. Donovan Catholic has now won two straight, including a key Class A South win over No. 9 Southern.

Brick Memorial (7-3, 1-1) – The Class A Central games between Brick Memorial, Jackson Memorial, Point Boro and Howell are going to be highly competitive and the Mustangs have split the first two of those, beating Howell and losing a two-point decision to Jackson Memorial.

Marlboro (3-7, 0-2) – Although Marlboro is well below .500, the Mustangs have losses to quality teams and wins over Middletown South, Old Bridge and Barnegat, leaving them a hot streak away from changing their narrative.

Freehold Township (4-4, 1-1) – Back-to-back wins over Howell and Manalapan gave the Patriots the inside track for one of the final Shore Conference Tournament spots, even after a road loss to Ranney to close out last week.