Boys Basketball – Orthopaedic Institute Week 9 Player of the Week: Connor Walsh, Manasquan

Orthopaedic Institute of Central Jersey Week 9 Player of the Week

Connor Walsh, Manasquan

As is the case with most championship teams, Manasquan had a lot of heroes during its first SCT title run in 63 years. Ben Roy and Alex Galvan were at the forefront in the final two games and senior Kieran Flanagan made his usual impact throughout the tournament as well. Junior Casey Mulligan was a defensive stalwart who knocked down a big shot here and there. Senior Tim McEneny and junior Jack Collins came up huge in the championship game – McEneny in guarding Najae Hallenbeck and Collins in scoring eight points in the 24-7 first quarter.

Manasquan does not make it to the final, however, without Walsh rising to the occasion in the semifinals. The 6-5 junior scored six of his eight points in the fourth quarter and every shot was huge. His give-and-go layup with Galvan tied the game at 36 after the Warriors had trailed 36-26 and Walsh put the game away by going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final 1:03. He was also a good fit defensively against Holmdel’s quick, athletic, versatile lineup.

With a narrowed-down field of candidates this week, Walsh collected 52 percent of the votes cast to win the Player of the Week prize - a gift card to Surf Taco. Holmdel's Pete Cannizzo checked in at second place with 26 percent of the vote while Red Bank Catholic sophomore Alex Bauman came in third at 19 percent.

Past 2020 Player of the Week Winners

Week 1: Jay Silva, Southern

Week 2: Will Surdez, Colts Neck

Week 3: Matt Lee, Point Boro

Week 4: Troy Buxton, Lacey

Week 5: Jiasion Carpenter, Freehold Boro

Week 6: Quinn Calabrese, Wall

Week 7: Alex Drucquer, Point Boro

Week 8: Alex Baker, Holmdel