Boys Basketball – VOTE: Orthopaedic Institute Week 8 Player of the Week

Each week over the course of the high school basketball season, Shore Sports Network recognizes the top performers in each division of Shore Conference boys basketball and gives the readers a chance to weigh in.

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 10 p.m.

Class A North Player of the Week

Aleksy Friedman, Marlboro

With a good chunk of Marlboro’s team ailing, Friedman – who was dealing with his own nagging injuries – stepped up in a major way in both of Marlboro’s wins during the tournament. The junior put up 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field to go with seven rebounds and seven assists in a come-from-behind win over Point Beach in the SCT opening round. Friedman then scored 19 points in an overtime win over Manalapan in the round of 16, including a go-ahead floater with 1:30 left and two game-tying free throws with 32 ticks left. Friedman capped his week with 15 points in a quarterfinal loss to Toms River North.

A North Honorable Mention: Alex Ratner, Marlboro; Ryan Knorr, Manalapan; James Anderson, Middletown South; Jayden Holmes-Cotter, Freehold Twp.; Blake Henis, Manalapan

Class A Central Player of the Week

Kevin Bauman, Red Bank Catholic

After turning in a career-best performance (31 points, 11 rebounds) in a Founder’s Cup win over CBA on Feb. 15, Bauman carried over his standout play into the Shore Conference Tournament. He scored 19 points in an opening-round win over Manchester, followed by 21 points and nine rebounds in RBC’s round-of-16 win over Lakewood. Bauman capped his week with 17 points and 13 rebounds – including two big offensive rebounds in the final minute and two clinching free throws with three seconds – to lead the Caseys past Mater Dei Prep and into their first SCT semifinal since 1994.

A Central Honorable Mention: Ben Roy, Manasquan; Tim McEneny, Manasquan; Ryan Bradley, Holmdel; John Beattie, St. Rose; Alex Bauman, Red Bank Catholic; Cyril Arvanitis, Red Bank Catholic; Tom Turnbach, St. Rose; Kevin Tombs, St. Rose; Justin Rivera, Raritan

Class A South Player of the Week

Colin Baker, Toms River North

Just about every week, either Jakari Spence or Najae Hallenbeck is the best statistical performer in Class A South for the past week, but it’s about time to pass some recognition along to the Toms River North senior who is routinely the third scoring option and general do-it-all player for the Mariners. Baker dropped 10 points in Toms River North’s tournament opener Thursday vs. Matawan, then jumpstarted the Mariners’ 114-85 win over Marlboro by scoring 11 of his 24 points in the first quarter and handing ot six assist for the game.

A South Honorable Mention: Jakari Spence, Toms River North; Najae Hallenbeck, Toms River North; Mike Vansprang, Toms River North; Jaiden Fraser, Toms River North; Mike Goodall, Toms River East; Jay Silva, Southern; I-Meer Johnson, Central

Class B North Player of the Week

Jack Miller, Ocean

Ocean was one of the first-round darling thanks to a road win over No. 13 Rumson-Fair Haven by the No. 20 Spartans. Miller played a key role in that upset, scoring 20 points and hitting key shots down the stretch of the game – both from the field and from the foul line. He capped the week with 33 points on eight three-pointers as Ocean hung around with No. 4 Holmdel before ultimately falling, 69-62.

B North Honorable Mention: Pat Lacey, Wall; Nate Williams, St. John Vianney; Alex Leiba, St. John Vianney; Corey Miller, Ocean; Ethan Okello, Matawan

Class B Central Player of the Week

Peter Gorman, Mater Dei Prep

Other players in the Shore had bigger numbers last week than Gorman but no one hit a bigger shot. The senior got a driving, left-handed shot to go as time expired Thursday to give the Seraphs a stunning, 57-55 win over No. 2 seed Middletown South at the buzzer in the SCT round of 16. The shot capped an 11-point game for Gorman and he followed it up with 16 points and two clutch threes in a losing cause Sunday against Red Bank Catholic in the SCT quarterfinals. Gorman also opened the week with 12 points in an opening-round rout of Point Boro.

B Central Honorable Mention: Elijah Perkins, Ranney; Andreas Von Fricke, Mater Dei Prep; Chris Venturoso, Point Beach; D.J. Thomson, Keyport; Kyle Rhoden, Ranney; Sean Haupt, Henry Hudson; Davon Jackson, Keansburg

Class B South Player of the Week

Ryan Savoy, Lakewood

Class B South as a whole did not have the greatest of times in the Shore Conference Tournament, but Lakewood got the division a round-one win and Savoy showed up with his best for both of his teams games. The senior scored 22 of his team’s 33 points in a round-one win over Southern, then put up 21 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and three blocks in a loss at No. 6 Red Bank Catholic in the round of 16.

B South Honorable Mention: Isaiah Gerena, Barnegat; D’Maari Brown, Manchester

Wild Cards

Alex Baker, Holmdel

Holmdel is headed to the SCT semifinals for the first time in 21 years and the Hornets have gotten there with a stellar performance by its front court in two SCT wins. Baker scored 17 points in wins over both Ocean and Wall, with classmate Ryan Bradley also doing damage with 32 combined points off the bench in the two Hornets wins. Baker also grabbed 12 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Class B North champion Wall.

Ben Roy, Manasquan

Another week, another great showing by the sophomore guard from the Warriors. Roy scored 20 points and dished out four assists in a win over St. John Vianney on Thursday, then put up 17 points to lead the scoring effort in a SCT quarterfinal win over Ranney