Mater Dei Prep

St. Rose is once again the dominant force in B Central, but is this the year the Purple Roses - and any other team in the division - break through in the postseason?

Kenny Jones picked up the MVP Award in a losing effort while Mater Dei teammates Yasin Pretlow and Kyle Cardaci got the win in Monday's Senior All-Star Game.

After a convincing fourth win of the season over Mater Dei, Ranney turns its attention toward Trenton Catholic in Tuesday's sectional final - the first step toward a possible T of C appearance.

Ranney turned in a dominant performance on defense and showed off its offensive balance in beating Mater Dei, 52-28, for its first ever Shore Conference title.

Ranney and Mater Dei have been the top two teams at the Shore all season long and on Saturday night, the two rivals will battle for the Shore Conference Tournament championship at Monmouth University.

The two-time Shore Conference Tournament champions played with an edge Thursday night and blitzed Rumson to reach their third straight title game.

Ranney redeemed itself for last year's SCT semifinal slip-up by taking down CBA to reach the program's first ever championship game.

The last four teams standing in this year's boys Shore Conference Tournament take the floor in Toms River Thursday night looking to punch a ticket to Saturday's championship at Monmouth University.

Read up on the top performers in the Shore Conference from last week and vote for the player you think deserves to be the Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey Player of the Week.

Middletown South senior Ryan Purcell became the first Eagles player in eight years to reach 1,000 points Saturday, while Mater Dei senior Kyle Cardaci became the second Seraph in as many years to accomplish the feat.

Bryan Antoine scored two clutch baskets and Savior Akuwovo denied Mater Dei's game-tying attempt to give No. 1 Ranney its second win of the season over its division rival.

Jamir Watkins took over in the first half and Kyle Cardaci helped bring home the win in the second as Mater Dei won the Valerie Fund Challenge finale over Lincoln.