VOTE: Thrive Shore Conference Boys Basketball Week 5 Player of the Week

Each week during the remainder of the Shore Conference boys basketball season, Shore Sports Network will present multiple weekly awards for Player of the Week and give the fans the opportunity to vote for the overall player of the week.

Below are the Players of the Week in each of the eight Shore Conference divisions, plus two wild cards. Read about their performances during the stretch of games from Jan. 15 through Jan. 21 and vote for the players who stood out as the Thrive Shore Conference Player of the Week.

Vote once per hour until the poll closes at 10 p.m. on Thursday. The winner will be posted on Friday and will receive a free recovery session courtesy of Thrive Spine and Sports Rehab.

Class A North Player of the Week

Kevin Pikiell, CBA

CBA went 4-0 last week thanks to contributions from across its starting five and beyond. The Player of the Week honor could go to one of several Colts and this week, it is Pikiell who snags the award. The junior guard averaged 15 points while scoring double-figures in every game while also proving value on the defensive end. His top scoring game of the week was CBA’s Saturday win over Red Bank Catholic in the Founder’s Cup game, in which Pikiell posted 19 points.

Class A North Honorable Mention: Justin Fuerbacher, CBA; Phil Pearlman, Manalapan; Peter Noble, CBA; Bradon Norero, Freehold Twp.; Steve Scimone, Marlboro; Dan Elmasri, Marlboro; D.J. Orloff, Howell; Chris Meehan, Howell

Class B North Player of the Week

Vova Trotsko, Colts Neck

Trotsko did damage during the second half of Colts Neck’s game vs. No. 11 Manalapan and finished with 17 points, but the Cougars’ comeback fell short in a 68-65 loss. Colts Neck bounced back with a rout of Old Bridge on Saturday, with Trotsko and junior teammate Lucas Sloane each scoring 24 points.

Class B North Honorable Mention: David Carr, Rumson-Fair Haven; Pasquale Sabino, Red Bank Catholic; Tyler Burnham, Red Bank Catholic; Will Nugent, Middletown South; Lucas Sloane, Colts Neck; Jason Quardt, Middletown North

Class A South Player of the Week

Jake Sliwinski, Southern

Sliwinski has been as impactful as any newcomer in the Shore Conference this season and his breakout campaigned rolled on last week. The sophomore transfer from East Brunswick put up 15 points and 11 assists in a win over Lacey, then went for 18 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals in a win over Brick.

Class A South Honorable Mention: Owen Baker, Toms River North; Jason McKelvey, Toms River East; Kai Barckley, Toms River South; Shaun Hubbard, Jackson Memorial; Noah Perna, Southern; Tareq Council, Toms River North; Rob Peirson, Toms River South; Sean Collins, Brick Memorial

Class B South Player of the Week

Jamari Smith, Barnegat

Barnegat went into Tuesday night’s home showdown with Toms River North as one of Ocean County’s hottest teams, having won consecutive games against Southern, Toms River South and Jackson Memorial. Smith shined in last week’s slate, scoring 14 points and eight rebounds in a one-point win over Toms River South, followed by 19 points in a come-from-behind win at Jackson Memorial.

Class B South Honorable Mention: M.J. Goins, Manchester; Ty Kline, Pinelands; Miles Chevalier, Central; Jaycen Santucci, Central; Mason Krey, Barnegat; Tre Ross, Manchester; Josh Borongo, Pinelands

Class A Coastal Player of the Week

Chauncey Brown, Matawan

Matawan welcomed 6-foot-7 center Jayden Elijah back to the lineup earlier this month and while it wasn’t an immediate transformation upon his return, Matawan now looks like the team that started the season ranked in the Shore 16. That includes Brown, who dropped 18 points in a loss to No. 1 St. Rose, then fired in 29 in a Saturday upset of Toms River North, which included the 1,000th point of Brown’s career.

Class A Coastal Honorable Mention: Peter Da Cruz, Long Branch; Emanuel Domingo, St. John Vianney; Nick Seeloch, Holmdel; Alex Garguilo, Raritan; Ian Mullan, Raritan

Class B Coastal Player of the Week

Gio Panzini, St. Rose

St. Rose has a star at every spot on the court and last week, it was Panzini’s turn to shine. He chipped in 10 points in a lopsided win over Matawan during the middle of the week and on Saturday, the 6-foot-5 senior caught fire when his team needed it. Panzini drained four three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help St. Rose turn a 32-30 lead into a runaway, 56-38 win over reigning Group III champion Ramapo.

Class B Coastal Honorable Mention: Matt Hodge, St. Rose; Rey Weinseimer, Manasquan; Griffin Linstra, Manasquan; MeSean Williams, Ranney; Drew Buck, Ranney; Evan Romano, St. Rose; Jayden Hodge, St. Rose

Class A Central Player of the Week

JoJo Newell, Henry Hudson

While junior teammate Jack Fitzpatrick has earned the headlines as the top scorer on a one-loss Admirals team, Newell has been an integral part to Henry Hudson’s early success. The freshman is averaging a double-double on the season and last week, he nearly came up with two of them. Newell posted 18 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a win over Asbury Park, then went for nine points and 12 boards in a must-have, 52-46 win at Jackson Liberty.

Class A Central Honorable Mention: Shy’heim Barnes, Asbury Park; Andrei Matthews; Mike Nichols, Keyport; Jack Fitzpatrick, Henry Hudson

Class B Central Player of the Week

Ahmir Wiggins, Monmouth

Monmouth got back on the winning track last week and it was Wiggins who elevated his game to help the Falcons do so. The sophomore scored 17 points in a 46-44 win over Keyport, including the final eight of the game, then went for 19 in a 13-point win over division rival Ocean.

Class B Central Honorable Mention: Ryan Jacobs, Donovan Catholic; Gianni Fiumefreddo, Shore; Aidan Saint Louis, Ocean; Keith Allen, Ocean; Alex George, Shore; Lukas Latvys, Jackson Liberty; Bryce Crowe, Shore

Wild Cards

Peter Da Cruz, Long Branch

Despite a 2-12 record, Long Brach has been competitively lately, including in two games last week. The Green Wave lost a heartbreaker to Point Boro, then knocked off Point Beach the following day. Da Cruz did major damage in both games, posting 23 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the loss, then scoring 17 in the win at Point Beach – including two baskets and a block in the final 45 seconds.

Emanuel Domingo, St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney played a four-game week last week and went 3-1 thanks to a stellar stretch of play from its 6-foot-6 forward. Domingo averaged 12.7 points while cracking double-figures in each game and also posted better than six blocks per game in the stretch. His best outing with 15 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocks in a home win over Ranney.