Boys Basketball – VOTE: Orthopaedic Institute Week 2 Player of the Week

Each week, for the remainder of the season, Shore Sports Network will recognize the top performers in each division of Shore Conference boys basketball and give the readers a chance to weigh in. This installment covers an extended stretch of games, starting with Jan. 2 and running until this past Sunday.

Read about the eight candidates - six divisional players of the week and two wild cards - from last week and pick the one you think has the best case as the overall Player of the Week, with the winner taking home a Surf Taco gift card. Vote once per hour in the poll at the bottom of the post until voting ends on Wednesday at 11 p.m.

Bobby Pirie, Middletown South

Pirie has stepped up in Middletown South’s biggest games so far, including wins over Matawan, CBA and Ranney in an eight-day span. The senior forward put up 14 points and seven rebounds against Matawan, 14 points and nine boards vs. CBA and 18 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Ranney. Pirie was named MVP of the win over Ranney at the Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase.

Class A North Honorable Mention: Mike White, CBA; Jack Seidler, Marlboro; Colin Farrell, CBA; Aleksy Friedman, Marlboro; Alex Ratner, Marlboro; Richie Boyko, Middletown South; Jayce Schapiro, Freehold Twp.; Ryan Knorr, Manalapan; Jiasion Carpenter, Freehold Boro; Ryan Cremen, CBA

Ben Roy, Manasquan

Manasquan’s sophomore point guard led his team in scoring in three of the last five games, including wins over Rumson (20 points), West Side Newark (17) and Monmouth (21). Roy also added 17 points and six assists in a big Class A Central win over Holmdel and scored 12 points in the Boardwalk Showcase thriller vs. Roselle Catholic – including two big baskets in the fourth quarter.

Class A Central Honorable Mention: Alex Baker, Manasquan; A.J. Po, Monmouth; Alex Galvan, Manasquan; Kevin Bauman, Red Bank Catholic; Charlie Gordinier, Red Bank Catholic; Jack Carroll, Rumson-Fair Haven; Tim McEneny, Manasquan; Jack Giamanco, Holmdel; Kevin Tombs, St. Rose; Geoff Schroeder, Rumson-Fair Haven; Jaylen Smith, Raritan; Alex Bauman, Red Bank Catholic

Najae Hallenbeck, Toms River North

Hallenbeck has eclipsed 20 points in seven of Toms River North’s 10 games, including six of the last seven. He put up 24 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Brick, 25 and 12 in a loss to state-ranked Rutgers Prep and poured in 20 in a win over Mainland Saturday at the Metro Classic. Hallenbeck also posted 23 and 11 vs. rival Toms River South and 15 points against Brick Memorial over the last week-and-a-half.

Class A South Honorable Mention: Jake Dombrowski, Brick Memorial; Jay Silva, Southern; Mike Goodall, Toms River East; Matt Mahala, Jackson Memorial; Cody Blocker, Central

Will Surdez, Colts Neck

It was a breakout week for the Cougars freshman, who scored a career-best 18 points in a tight, 40-35 loss to B North co-leader Matawan. Surdez then gave Colts Neck its first division win by converting the game-winning putback with three seconds left in a 47-45 win over Middletown North.

Class B North Honorable Mention: Alex Leiba, St. John Vianney; Malik Fields, Neptune; Ethan Okello, Matawan; Jack Miller, Ocean; Corey Miller, Ocean; Quinn Calabrese, Wall; Saadiq Armstead, Neptune; Brian Stuart, St. John Vianney

Pete Gorman, Mater Dei

Mater Dei has played six games in January and in those games, Gorman is averaging 21.2 points, including five games with 18 points or more. The senior guard was at his best in a 58-53 win over Middle Township, scoring 29 points to go with six steals. Gorman also scored 24 points in a win over Asbury Park and scored 26 in a loss to Hunterdon Central on Sunday.

Class B Central Honorable Mention: Elijah Perkins, Ranney; Brandon Klatsky, Ranney; D.J. Thomson, Keyport; Charles Anyichie, Ranney; Tahaj Parland, Mater Dei; Jake Clark, Point Beach

Ryan Savoy, Lakewood

Lakewood’s New Year began with a tight loss to Point Boro and their most recent week ended with a one-sided loss to a talented TSF Academy squad from Georgia, but in between, the Piners picked up three big wins. Savoy led the way at every step along the way, scoring 17 points vs. Asbury Park, 22 of the team’s 44 vs. Pinelands and 27 points in an overtime win over Donovan Catholic. He also scored 28 of the team’s 45 in the loss to TSF.

Class B South Honorable Mention: Isaiah Gerena, Barnegat; Amari Petty, Donovan Catholic; Jaxon Baker, Barnegat; Carson Howard, Lacey; Alex Drucquer, Point Boro; Ryan Skeie, Pinelands

Wild Cards

Jack Carroll, Rumson-Fair Haven

Despite a heartbreaking loss to Neptune on Saturday, Rumson has proven it will remain competitive following the graduation of Ian O’Connor and Jackson McCarthy from a year ago and will do it with a balanced roster. Carroll was a standout last week, which included a 31-point, 12-rebound performance in a big win over Red Bank Catholic.

Colin Farrell, CBA

Farrell has been a steady force for the Colts since the calendar flipped to 2020. He put up 21 points and seven assists in a convincing win over Long Branch, led a big win over St. Joseph of Metuchen with 18 points, and poured in 22 to help CBA dodge an upset at the hands of Howell. Farrell also scored 15 in a loss to Wildwood Catholic on Saturday.