SSI Girls Basketball Final RYPT Top 10

Shore Sports Insider Girls Basketball Final Top 10 Rankings

Doug Brustman contributed to this post

 

 

Shore Sports Insider Girls Basketball Final Top 10 Rankings

 

1. Red Bank Catholic (27-5) Last Week: 1 – The Caseys’ season ended in the South Jersey Non-Public A finals last week against Paul VI. It was one game sooner than RBC had planned at the start of the season, but it accomplished so much this season. RBC won its first Shore Conference Tournament since 2013, went undefeated in Class A Coastal, won 21 straight games and had three players reach the 1,000-point milestone. With only two starters graduating this year, the Caseys will have the same goals next season as they did this year. Seniors Christina Liggio and Tessa Carman both graduate as 1,000-point scorers, state champions and Shore Conference champions. RBC has a strong core returning led by Player of the Year candidate Addy Nyemchek, who also reached the 1,000-point milestone this season.

2. Manasquan (25-5) Last Week: 3 – Once again, Manasquan was the last team standing in the Shore Conference by being the only team to win a Group title. The Warriors repeated as Group 2 champions after graduating four key pieces to their rotation. This year’s seniors, who only saw limited minutes last year, all rose to the occasion in their new roles. Shea Donnelly, Grace Love, and Shannon Heine moved into the starting lineup and stepped up when needed. Senior Olivia Shaughnessy used last year’s experience to become one of the leaders this season. Transfer Kayden Clark took a couple games to get into the flow, but once she got comfortable she became a reliable player in the rotation. Once again Manasquan will be losing the majority of its rotation, but will be in good hands with Jordyn Hollawell returning to lead the team next year. Similar to this season with players stepping up in bigger roles, players who saw limited minutes this season will need to do the same next year to continue the Warrior run. 

3. St. Rose (22-6) Last Week: 2 –  St. Rose might have had one of the best seasons, but nothing to show for it in the end. The Roses lost in the SCT final in the closing seconds to RBC and lost on a last-second shot in the South Jersey Non-Public A semifinals against RBC. St. Rose had two players reach the 1,000-point milestone in Cassidy Kruesi and Jada Lynch. Kruesi, who is committed to Tampa University next season, will be hard to replace for St. Rose on both sides of the floor. The Roses also graduate Caroline Conforti and Gianna Rodriguez, who both played important roles inside the paint on both ends of the floor. Senior Lizzy Mitchell, who missed last year with an injury, provided leadership off the bench. St. Rose brings back Brooke Missry, Belle Alvarado and Lynch, but will need players who saw limited minutes during the season to step up next year for them to contend for an SCT title. 

4. St. John Vianney (22-7) Last Week: 4 – The Lancers’ five-year run as SCT champions ended this year in the semifinal round against St. Rose. SJV also lost in overtime to Paul VI in the South Jersey Non-Public A semifinal round. The Lancers only graduate two players this season, Brooklyn Taylor and Aleena Dinker. Both players were the primary ballhandlers for SJV this season. SJV will be one of the top teams in the Shore Conference and state next season, with their top four scorers returning and top rebounders. Juniors Madison Kocis, Stella Lockhart and Taylor Sofilkanich are one of the best trios in New Jersey.

5. Ranney (16-9) Last Week: 5 – After starting the season 0-5, Ranney went on to win 15 out of its next 16 games. The Panthers went undefeated in Class A North to win the division title. Unfortunately Ranney was eliminated in the SCT quarterfinals against SJV and in the South Jersey Non-Public B semifinal against sectional champions Gloucester Catholic. Ranney graduates several important players this spring. Haley Poser, who is committed to Lafayette University, finished her career with 1,558 points. Ranney also graduates starters Lola MacRae, Michelle Steele and Claire Doherty. Sophomore Ashley Kreiger, who finished second in scoring the last two seasons, will have new faces with her next year in the starting lineup. 

6. Trinity Hall (20-8) Last Week: 6 – Trinity Hall easily defeated Immaculata in the opening round of South Jersey Non-Public A before losing to St. Rose in the quarterfinals. The Monarchs built an early lead in the first quarter before St. Rose cut it to one point. Throughout the game, both teams went on runs to keep it close, but the Roses pulled out the victory. The Monarchs only graduate two seniors in Lizzy McCarthy and starter Lily Riggi and will get a boost with Teegan Drennan returning from injury. Junior Grace Feeney answered any questions about who could score a big basket when needed after the graduation of Nine Emnace last year. 

7. Neptune (17-11) Last Week: 7 –  Neptune had a dream run to end the season. As the No. 5 seed in Central Jersey Group 3, the Scarlet Fliers defeated the No. 4, No. 1 and No. 2 seeds to win their first sectional title since 2011. Neptune won 11 out of its last 13 games, losing to St. John Vianney in the SCT and Cherry Hill West, which won the Group 3 state title, in the state playoffs. Neptune had a blend of seniors and underclassmen this season. Senior Christa Ramos graduates as a 1,000-point scorer and was a focal point of Neptune’s offense since she transferred as a sophomore. Partnered with Bre Evans, they became one of the Shore Conference’s best backcourts. Neptune is in good hands for next season with four players returning who saw important minutes down the stretch and two others who will have expanded roles. Freshman Tyeera Howard provided a spark for Neptune when she returned from injury, averaging just under 14 points per game. 

8. Red Bank Regional (19-10) Last week: 8 – The second-seeded Bucs were not really tested in their first three rounds of the Central Jersey Group 3 tournament, getting by Brick Memorial 48-21, Middletown North 42-28, and Middletown South 37-24. They ran into a buzzsaw in the finals, getting beat by No. 5 Neptune, 55-50. RBR only graduates one player in senior Caroline Polloway for next season, who has made an impact since her freshman year. Polloway graduates with 937 points and 902 rebounds in her career. RBR has a strong core coming back next season helmed by Synai Blychanton, who led the team in scoring even though she missed several games due to injury going into the SCT. With her returning along with 3-point specialist Zoe Gulley, point guard Riley Wheeler and defensive specialist Riley Joyce, Red Bank will once again be favorites in Central Jersey Group 3.

9.Rumson-Fair Haven (17-12) Last week: 9 – Rumson was not challenged in the first three rounds of the Central Jersey Group 2 tournament, easily defeating Raritan 65-30, Johnson 73-37, and Wall 49-27. Seeking their first sectional title since 2013, the Bulldogs could not overcome top-seeded Manasquan in the final, losing 57-38 to the team that won the Group 2 title. The Bulldogs lose two senior starters in Annabelle Costello and Sylvia Notine and bring back three starters for next season, including leading scorer Erin Reid. Notine, who is committed to the University of North Carolina for field hockey, graduates with 914 career points. 

 

10. Howell (22-7) Last Week: 10 – Howell’s season came to an end in the South Jersey Group 4 semifinal at Cherokee. The Rebels had a hard time getting into their offense with Kylee Beam in early foul trouble on the road. Howell loses two key starters in Ashley Smith and Kiera McKown, but returns two of its three top scorers from this season — Beam and BellaRose Marino. McKown, who is committed to East Stroudsburg for next year,  will graduate with over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Smith, who was one of the best perimeter defenders in the Shore Conference, is committed to Wagner for soccer next year. 

 Bubble: Barnegat, Manchester, Point Boro