There will be no dancing for the Monmouth University basketball team as for the second straight year they have suffered heartache in their conference tournament with this one even tougher to take.

The Hawks saw their nation’s best 17-game winning streak end with a four-point loss to Siena in the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament in Albany, New York and despite a 27-win season Monmouth will have to settle for a second consecutive trip to the NIT instead of the NCAA Tournament.  This one will sting for a long time.

The Shore Conference produced a pair of state champions Sunday at the NJSIAA Wrestling Championships in Atlantic City.  Howell senior 220-pounder Eric Keosseian pinned his opponent to become the third state champion in school history and junior Jake Benner became just the second Ocean state champ when he  rallied to win the 138-pound title on his way to sharing the Most Outstanding Wrestler award.

Gianni Ghione of Brick Memorial finished his career with a third-place finish, the best by an Ocean County wrestler.  For complete details visit shoresportsnetwork.com.

Former Toms River South wrestler Ken Theobold finished fifth in the 149 pound weight class for Rutgers University at this weekend’s Big Ten Championships and is one of six Scarlet Knights to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships in St. Louis later this month.

The girls basketball teams from Toms River North and Manchester will try and win state sectional championships tonight.  The Lady Mariners host Cherokee for the South Jersey Group 4 title in a game that will be played in the old gym at North beginning at 5pm.  That’s because the Pine Belt Arena is hosting tonight’s Chef’s Night Out event which benefits the Ocean County Foundation for Vocational Technical Education.

Meanwhile Manchester takes to the road to face top-seed Middle Township at 6pm with the South Jersey Group 2 title on the line.

The Toms River North boys team will try and win the school’s first-ever sectional title tomorrow night when they host Shawnee.

 

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