Warriors Earn Top Seed in the Christmas Classic
With three starters back and coming off a 29-4 season it is no surprise that Manasquan was the unanimous choice for the top seed among the 16 boys teams participating in the 36th annual WOBM Christmas Classic. The Warriors were picked first by the head coaches during the seeding meeting held at The Villa in Toms River and will face Brick Memorial when the tournament opens on Saturday, December 21 at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena at Toms River North.
Coach Andrew Bilodeau’s squad returns 6’7 Alex Galvan, a strong inside force along with guards Ben Roy and Kieran Flanagan and several others who saw considerable action last year and they should once again be one of the shore’s top teams.
Earning the #2 seed behind Manasquan is Toms River North, who brings back four starters from a team that won the Class A South championship and went 24-5. Among their top returning players are guard Jakari Spence and 6’7 Najae Hallenbeck. The Mariners begin their quest for the WOBM title on December 21 against Point Pleasant Boro.
Rounding out the top four seeds are Wall (plays Toms River South) and Middletown South (plays Lacey) while defending champion Red Bank Catholic grabs the #5 seed in what might be the strongest field in tournament history.
The Caseys face Jackson Memorial in the first round.
The complete bracket is below:
Click image to enlarge
36th Annual WOBM Christmas Classic Schedule
(RWJ-Barnabas Health Arena) (TRN-Toms River North Gym)
Saturday, December 21 (BOYS 1st Round-All Games in RWJBarnabas Arena)
10:00 #6 Marlboro vs. #11 Manchester Loser “A”
11:30 #3 Wall vs. #14 TR South Loser “B”
1:00 #7 Freehold Township vs. #10 Donovan Catholic Loser “C”
2:30 #2 TR North vs. #15 Point Boro Loser “D”
4:00 #5 Red Bank Catholic vs. #12 Jackson Memorial Loser “E”
5:30 #4 Middletown South vs. #13 Lacey Loser “F”
7:00 #1 Manasquan vs. #16 Brick Memorial Loser “G”
8:30 #8 TR East vs. #9 Central Loser “H”
Sunday, December 22 (GIRLS 1st Round-All games in RWJBarnabas Arena)
10:00 #6 TR East vs. #11 Ewing Loser “I”
11:30 #3 Red Bank vs. #14 Point Boro Loser “J”
1:00 #7 Donovan Catholic vs. #10 TR North Loser “K”
2:30 #2 Marlboro vs. #15 Central Loser “L”
4:00 #5 Middletown South vs. #12 TR South Loser “M”
5:30 #4 Manasquan vs. #13 Wall Loser “N”
7:00 #1 Manchester vs. #16 Brick Memorial Loser “O”
8:30 #8 Neptune vs. #9 Colts Neck Loser “P”
Thursday, December 26 (CONSOLATIONS ONLY)
1:00 Boys A vs. B (RWJ) E vs. F (TRN)
2:30 Boys C vs. D (RWJ) G vs. H (TRN)
4:00 Girls I vs. J (RWJ) M vs. N (TRN)
5:30 Girls K vs. L (RWJ) O vs. P (TRN)
Friday, December 27 (Girls/Boys Quarterfinals-RWJBarnabas Arena)
10:00 Girls Winners (TR East/Ewing) vs. (Red Bank/Point Boro) Loser “Q”
11:30 Girls Winners (Donovan/TR North) vs. (Marlboro/Central) Loser “R”
1:00 Girls Winners (Midd South/TR South)vs. (Manasquan/Wall) Loser “S”
2:30 Girls Winners (Neptune/Colts Neck) vs. (Manchester/Brick Mem) Loser “T”
4:15 Boys Winners (Marlboro/Manchester) vs. (Wall/TR South) Loser “U”
5:45 Boys Winners (Freehold T/Donovan) vs. (TR North/Point Boro) Loser “V”
7:15 Boys Winners (RBC/Jackson) vs. (Midd South/Lacey) Loser “W”
9:00 Boys Winners (TR East/Central vs. (Manasquan/Brick Mem) Loser “X”
Saturday, December 28 (BOYS)
11:00 Winners (A-B/C-D) (RWJ) Losers (A-B/C-D) (TRN)
12:30 Winners (E-F/G-H) (RWJ) Losers (E-F/G-H) (TRN)
2:15 U vs. V (RWJ)
4:00 W vs. X (RWJ)
6:15 Boys Semifinal (RWJ)
8:00 Boys Semifinal (RWJ)
Sunday, December 29 (GIRLS)
11:00 Winners (I-J/K-L) (RWJ) Losers (I-J/K-L) (TRN)
12:30 Winners (M-N/O-P) (RWJ) Losers (M-N/O-P) (TRN)
2:15 Q vs. R (RWJ)
4:00 S vs. T (RWJ)
6:15 Girls Semifinal (RWJ)
8:00 Girls Semifinal (RWJ)
Monday, December 30 (All Games in RWJBarnabas Arena)
2:00 Boys 3rd Place Consolation
3:30 Girls 3rd Place Consolation
5:30 Girls Championship Final
7:30 Boys Championship Final
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