TOMS RIVER - Senior forward Peyton Wejnert threw his team on his back Tuesday, scoring 49 points to carry the Southern boys basketball team to a thrilling 71-70 win over Toms River East.

Wejnert's career-high total is the most in the Shore Conference since Manasquan's J.R. Hobbie scored 49 in a Buc Holiday Classic game in December of 2012. Former Toms River South and Monmouth University star Corey Albano was believed to be the last Shore Conference player to score 50 points in a game, which he did in 1993, but according to Southern coach Eric Fierro, Nolan Hall scored 52 against Brick in 2002.

Peyton Wejnert handles the ball during Southern's game against Bergen Catholic. (Photo by Matt Manley)
Peyton Wejnert scored a career-high 49 points in Southern's 71-70 win over Toms River East on Tuesday. (Photo by Matt Manley)
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Wejnert hit the go-ahead free throws in the final minute to cap his night and put Southern (4-4, 2-2) ahead for good against the Raiders (5-2, 3-1), who debuted at No. 10 this week in the Shore Sports Network Top 10. Wejnert shot 21-for-22 from the free-throw line Tuesday and also grabbed 16 rebounds to complement his career scoring night.

Through seven games played this season, Wejnert is averaging a Shore-Conference-leading 31.4 points per game and has scored at least 26 points in every game. Wejnert missed a game in December due to illness.

Phil Lingat led Toms River East with 26 points and Ryan West scored 19 in the loss for the Raiders, whose average margin of victory in their five wins in more than 25 points and their two losses have come by a combined six points to Southern and Manasquan - the No. 3 ranked team in the SSN Top 10.

 

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