Spring Snow Brings Winter Winners

Random notes on the first day of spring, which officially arrives at 6:45 tonight with snow in the forecast. I guess it’s only fitting considering the winter we’ve had.

Three weeks ago the girls basketball teams from Manasquan and St. Rose met in the championship game of the Shore Conference Tournament with Squan prevailing rather easily.  Monday night the stakes are even larger as the two rivals will clash at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton to decide the top team in the state.

In the Tournament of Champions semifinals last night at Pine Belt Arena, Manasquan pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Franklin behind Marina Mabrey’s 32 points and a terrific performance by sophomore Victoria Galvan.

The nightcap saw the Purple Roses score the game’s final seven points and turn back St. John Vianney with Jess Louro scoring 17 points and freshman Makayla Markham hitting the go-ahead 3-pointer with 48 seconds left. 

Of the five former Shore Conference wrestlers competing in the NCAA Championships in St. Louis, only Penn State heavyweight Jimmy Lawson is still alive for a title.  The former Manchester Township High School star won both his matches Thursday and today will face the defending national champion in the quarterfinals.

Former Toms River South wrestlers Ken Theobold of Rutgers and B.J. Clagon of Rider are both alive in the wrestlebacks, and if they win this morning would face one another in the 149-pound weight class.  Also in the wrestlebacks are senior Mike Morales of West Virginia (Brick Memorial) and redshirt junior Conor Brennan of Rider (Brick).

Former Southern Regional standout Kristen Sharkey saw her college basketball career end last night as Buffalo fell to West Virginia in the opening round of the WNIT.  Sharkey, a senior captain who started 84 straight games for the Bulls, scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in an 84-61 loss. Earlier this week she was named Mid-American Conference Scholar Athlete of the Week. 

Gateway Toyota will hold their first Fair for Children tomorrow from 10am-3pm at their dealership on Route 37 East in Toms River.  The event is for children 12 and under and will include a coloring contest, K-9 demonstration, bike giveaway and more.