Basketball – Reynolds and Stern’s Top Robinson and Sea View in JSBL First-Place Showdown

Jersey Shore Basketball League Results

Monday, July 29, 2019

BELMAR - Shavar Reynolds and Justin Robinson have been the top players on the top two Jersey Shore Basketball League teams throughout the summer and with the No. 1 seed in next week's playoffs on the line when the two teams met Monday night, both stars brought their A-games to St. Rose High School.

Robinson - the former Monmouth University star who now plays in France's Pro A Division - scored a JSBL season-high 61 points while also dishing out 11 assists, but it was not enough to top Reynolds and Stern's, which moved into sole possession of first place with a 151-137 win on Monday night.

Reynolds scored 51 points to go with seven rebounds and 10 assists to lead Stern's, which jumped out to an early 28-15 lead and trailed just twice the rest of the way - by no more than two points in either instance.

Robinson scored scored to give Sea View (6-2) a short-lived 80-79 lead early in the third quarter before Stern's (7-1) took the lead for good. The 5-foot-9 guard drilled a pull-up shot from halfcourt to end the third quarter and pull Sea View within 107-102 heading to the fourth.

"He has been to levels that I'm trying to reach," Reynolds said of Robinson. "Just playing against him and taking things from him helps me so much. That's my guy. I have been rooting for him for a while now.

"He is the smallest guy on the court but he has such a big impact on the game - passing or scoring. That's what I admire about him."

Reynolds did most of his damage in the first half, during which he scored 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting while handing out seven assists. He finished 19-for-30 from the field and again played all 40 minutes while preparing for his upcoming junior season at Seton Hall.

Stern's can secure the No. 1 seed in the JSBL Playoffs by beating beating the bottom two teams in the standings - RKE Athletic and Island Title - in their two remaining games this week. The top two seeds get a bye into the semifinals.

Reynolds's Seton Hall teammate Jared Rhoden is hoping to play in next week's playoffs after sitting out last week with a foot injury. After the semifinal round on Tuesday, the two Pirates players will join their teammates on Seton Hall's team trip to Italy, which will take them away from the championship game on Thursday, Aug. 8, should Stern's make it.

"I'll just try to help my team get as far as we can," Reynolds said. "I have faith they can finish it off if we can get there."

Once in Italy, Reynolds and Rhoden hope to show off the growth and progress they have made over the offseason. Reynolds, in particular, has put a lot of time in during the JSBL, playing in all eight of Stern's Trailers' games, averaging 36.1 points and playing the full 40 minutes in most of them as well.

"I have been doing a lot this summer to get ready," Reynolds said. "I'm stronger, my cardio is better, my body is better. I feel it on the court and that's allowed me to play with a lot more confidence. The coaches at school have helped me a lot and I feel like this has been one of my best summers."

Jerome Hubbard added 28 points for Stern's on Monday night to go with 10 rebounds and six assists. Rob Ukawoba chipped in 25 points and seven rebounds while Sultan Aminu poured in 23 points to go with seven boards in the win.

Roy Mabrey netted 38 points and grabbed eight rebounds to help Robinson carry the scoring load for Sea View. Tim Guers also pitched in 18 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.

RKE Athletic 145, Island Title 134

Keyron Sheard scored 36 points and Tarin Smith chipped in 33 to lead RKE (3-5) past Island Title (0-8).

Elijah Mitchell contributed 27 points and Say Salnave posted 22 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists in the win.

Dwayne Gland led Island Title with 29 points and six assists, Haashim Wallace added 23 and eight, and Junior Saintel put up 21 points and nine rebounds in the loss.