Shore Sports Insider Week 5 Boys Basketball Top 10

Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 — Week 5

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For the first time in 2025, there is real movement in the bottom of the top 10. Two teams that have yet to appear in the rankings are finally in this week and neither of them debuts at No. 10. The 10 teams in the rankings were solid heading into the New Year, but they entered the week in the crosshairs of the two newcomers, who took advantage of their respective opportunities this week.

As for the top of the rankings, the six teams that have distinguished themselves this year remain in the top six spots, although one of them – Rumson-Fair Haven – suffered the first Shore Conference loss of any team in the group outside the top six. It has not cost the Bulldogs much to this point, but it will be something to keep in mind as February approaches.

For the second straight week, the Shore Sports Insider Boys Basketball Top 10 is comprised entirely of teams from the A divisions of the Shore Conference. The sectioning of the Shore Conference’s divisions based on recent success has insulated the top teams by giving them the most chances to beat other good teams, while limiting the opportunities for the teams in the B divisions.

On the other hand, the teams in the B divisions have had the passing opportunities for wins over A opponents and few of those swings have hit the mark. The result is a top 10 that looks exactly the same as it did last week, save for one flip of the teams at Nos. 4 and 5 after CBA beat Red Bank on Saturday.

The “super six” of the Shore – St. Rose, Manasquan, Central, CBA, Red Bank and Rumson – continue to occupy the first six spots, as they have since the calendar turned to 2025. Holmdel, however, is making a case to be included in the conversation and if the Hornets can get an impact win in the next two weeks, it may be more of a super seven.

1. St. Rose (11-5, 7-0) Last Week: 1

The Purple Roses successfully closed out two-point wins over Gill St. Bernard’s and Montgomery earlier in the season but was not as fortunate against Union Catholic on Saturday. After falling behind by 16 points in the first half, St. Rose came all the way back to take the lead by the third quarter, then scrapped to tie the game in the final seconds of both the fourth quarter and overtime before the Vikings won the game on the free-throw line. St. Rose has one more big power-point opportunity, which will come vs. St. Peter’s Prep on Feb. 5.

2. Manasquan (14-2, 5-2) Last Week: 2

Only one team has beaten Manasquan this season and it is the team ranked above the Warriors on this list. After losing to St. Rose on Wednesday, Manasquan authored impressive wins over Jackson Memorial and Lenape, which set the Warriors up for another important week coming up. They completed a season sweeps of Point Boro and will look to do the same vs. Brick Memorial to wrap up the Class A Central public division title, followed by a trip to Red Bank Regional on Saturday in a game that could determine the No. 1 seed in the Shore Conference Tournament.

3. Central (15-1, 6-0) Last Week: 3

There is not currently much of a debate for the No. 2 ranking given Manasquan’s wins over Central, CBA and Rumson-Fair Haven, but there are a pair of candidates for the No. 3 spot. Both Central and CBA have wins over Red Bank and losses to Manasquan and since that Manasquan loss is the only one on Central’s résumé, the Golden Eagles remain in the No. 3 position. Southern and Cinnaminson are the only teams remaining on Southern’s pre-SCT schedule with a chance to be at 10 wins through 16 games, so the Golden Eagles will likely settle into the Nos. 3-through-5 spots in the Shore Conference Tournament.

4. Christian Brothers Academy (12-3, 6-0) Last Week: 5

The only change to this week’s top 10 is a one-spot climb for CBA, which trades places with Red Bank after beating the Bucs in a thriller Saturday in Little Silver. The Colts are finally healthy after being hit by the injury big harder than any of the other teams in the top six of the rankings. With a full arsenal, CBA has shown it is capable of beating quality teams, with a win over Red Bank and a narrow loss to Manasquan as evidence. CBA will finish its regular-season within Class A North, with CBA three wins from clinching the division.

5. Red Bank (14-2, 6-0) Last Week: 4

The Bucs have all but one of the other teams in the SSI Top 10 on its schedule and they have beaten all but two of the ones they have already played. Central and CBA are the only teams in the top 10 to beat Red Bank and the Bucs will have one more crack at a top-five opponents when they host Manasquan on Saturday following a pair of division games vs. St. John Vianney and Middletown South.

6. Rumson-Fair Haven (10-3, 4-2) Last Week: 6

Since dropping a heartbreaker to Red Bank, Rumson has found its footing with four straight wins. More importantly, the Bulldogs may have found their collective shooting touch after draining 21 three-pointers and scoring 90 points in a Saturday win over Toms River North. Rumson has looked like the most vulnerable of the super six teams in the Shore Conference and could lose a spot in the top six with a loss to Holmdel or Red Bank Catholic this week. On the other hand, if that shooting continues, the Bulldogs have all the ingredients to make a serios run at the Shore Conference Tournament and Central Jersey Group II titles.

7. Holmdel (9-5, 4-2) Last Week: 7

Heading into this week, Holmdel as the No. 7 team in the Shore Conference might be the most clear-cut ranking of any team at the Shore. Not only is Holmdel the No. 7 team the qualitative No. 7, but it is also the No. 7 team in the power-point rankings as well. The Hornets can change that by beating Rumson this week, which would bump Holmdel into second place in the Class A Coastal division and the No. 6 spot in the SSI rankings.

8. Colts Neck (7-5, 3-2) Last Week: 8

Despite losing at Manalapan this week, Colts Neck holds onto the No. 8 spot in the rankings on the strength of a head-to-head win over Red Bank Catholic, but the Cougars’ advantages over the rest of the teams vying for No. 8 are fading. RBC, Southern and Wall all have losses similar to that Manalapan loss by Colts Neck, so the Cougars’ win over RBC, plus a win over a Donovan Catholic team that beat Southern keeps Colts Neck secure for now. The Cougars will have a pair of tough division games this week at Marlboro and CBA.

9. Red Bank Catholic (9-7, 3-3) Last Week: 9

The Caseys validated their standing as a top 10 team last week by handling St. John Vianney and Ranney while falling to Red Bank in another competitive game vs. their crosstown rival. Losses to Colts Neck and Toms River North would seem to put RBC’s ceiling at No. 8, but the Caseys will get one more opportunity each against Rumson and Holmdel, with the Caseys going for a season sweep of RFH on Thursday.

10. Southern (10-4, 4-2) Last Week: 10

A loss to Donovan Catholic is starting to look better for Southern with the Griffins playing their way to 8-8, but the Rams would have taken a serious dive in the rankings if senior Jake Sliwinski did not hit his acrobatic shot at the buzzer to beat 2-13 Manchester, 47-46, at home. Southern still has hope to grab a piece of the Class A South title and even if the Rams don’t get the necessary help from Central’s opponents, good showings vs. Donovan Catholic this week and the No. 3 Golden Eagles next week go a long way in solidifying their spot in the rankings.

 

The Next 10

Freehold Boro (11-6, 4-0) – If not for a bad third quarter at Southern that wound up costing them the game, the Colonials would probably be the No. 8 team in the conference. If they can rack up some more wins this week, a re-appearance next week is not out of the question.

Wall (13-3, 6-0) – Two of Wall’s three losses are to No. 3 Central and No. 7 Holmdel, so the only things keeping the Crimson Knights out of the top 10 at the moment is a loss to Howell and the absence of a win over a top 10 team.

Middletown North (12-6, 5-1) – The Lions look poised to win the Class B Coastal division after shredding Henry Hudson on Monday, which will give them a chance to make a top 10 statement during the Shore Conference Tournament.

Ranney (7-6, 3-3) – The Panthers have fallen on hard times following an injury to sophomore Brody Mauro and the road does not get easier with CBA paying the Panthers a visit to start this week.

Donovan Catholic (8-8, 5-1) – The Griffins are back to .500 and remain alone in second place in the Class A South standings, a position they can solidify by beating Southern for a second time on Tuesday.

Marlboro (6-9, 2-4) – The Mustangs haven’t quite found themselves yet, but they continue to grind against a tough schedule and will try to break through this week against Colts Neck, Middletown South and Freehold Township.

Freehold Township (6-7, 2-4) – Although they still sport a losing record, the Patriots are playing their best basketball after beating Ranney and Middletown South last week and giving CBA a scare for the first three quarters at the Academy early last week.

Jackson Memorial (6-10, 3-3) – With junior transfer George Boley settled in, the Jaguars have staked their claim to the No. 3 spot in the Class A Central division behind St. Rose and Manasquan.

Point Pleasant Boro (10-6, 2-5) – It was not a win, but Point Boro’s 59-45 loss Monday vs. Manasquan was the spirited effort the Panthers needed after they scored under 20 at Manasquan earlier in the year.

Middletown South (7-8, 1-5) – There are a few teams in the mix for the last mention and it is the Eagles that cling to it for the time being, with a chance to make a move up the list this week vs. Red Bank Catholic, Marlboro and Red Bank.