Girls Basketball – SSN Top 10, March 2

Shore Sports Network Girls Basketball Top 10

1-St. John Vianney (25-1, 14-0) Last week: 1

Hail to the champions. The Lady Lancers ran the gauntlet to hoist their unprecedented 14th Shore Conference Tournament title, outlasting St. Rose, 70-63, in the semifinals before avenging last year's loss in the final with a 57-50 triumph over defending champion Manchester. Sophomore guard Madison St. Rose, who was named MVP, converted 15 of 17 free throws on course to a career-high 36 in the semis, and accounted for 23 points, seven rebounds and five steals in the title game. Junior guard Katie Hill netted 15 in the final.

2-Manchester (23-4, 14-0) Last week: 2

The Hawks didn't give up the SCT throne without a fight. Manchester blitzed Red Bank Catholic, 64-43, in the semifinals and overcame an early nine-point deficit to seize the lead four times in the second half, the last at 48-47 with 2:03 left to play, before bowing to St. John Vianney, 57-50, in the final on Saturday night. Junior forward Destiny Adams averaged 25 points and 14.5 rebounds during the tournament.

3-Red Bank (20-6, 12-2) Last week: 5

The Bucs make a significant jump based on their performance in the SCT. The backcourt quartet of Taylor Crystian, Caitlyn Decker, Amelia Medolla and Chloe Teter combined for 59 points to push Red Bank past No. 10 Long Branch, 62-55 in the Round of 16 and the Bucs gave Manchester their best shot, falling, 64-61, in the quarters despite Medolla sinking five threes and registering 24 points. Red Bank also picked up an impressive 60-57 decision against No. 7 Rumson-Fair Haven.

4-Red Bank Catholic (21-5, 12-2) Last week: 3

The Caseys reached the semifinals of the SCT only to fall to Manchester, 64-43. However, RBC rebounded on Friday, priming for the South Jersey, Non-Public A Tournament with a decisive 56-42 triumph over Middle Twp. that featured 15 points from 6-4 sophomore center Ally Carman and 11 from junior point guard Sophia Sabino.

5-St. Rose (19-7, 12-2) Last week: 4

Despite falling to St. John Vianney, 70-63, in the semifinals, the Purple Roses have turned it on heading into the South Jersey, Non-Public A tournament. Seniors Brynn Farrell (20.6 ppg.) and Makayla Andrews (12.8 ppg.) offer much more than scoring firepower, junior point guard Abby Antognoli sets the pace, and forwards Maria Tedesco and Maureen Stapleton hit the boards tirelessly.

6-Marlboro (20-5, 12-0) Last week: 6

The Mustangs embark on the hunt for their first sectional title since 2015 as the top seed in Central Jersey, Group 4. A year ago, they reached the finals only to bow to Middletown South in an overtime thriller. The backcourt rotation of Sammy Jay, Dani Schlesinger, Sam Nocco and Erica DiSimone teams with Jessice Riepe, Brianna Diaz, Katherine Sanchez, Laura Morehead and Samantha Slofkiss up front to make Marlboro rather formidable.

7-Manasquan (17-10, 9-5) Last week: 9

The Warriors seek a seventh consecutive Central Jersey, Group 2 championship as the second seed behind No. 9 Rumson-Fair Haven, who it split with in the regular season. Manasquan may qualify as young but they are far from inexperienced. Sophomores Dorothy Loffredo, Brooke Hollawell and Georgia Heine all got a taste of the post season as freshman as did classmate Mary Donnelly, who saw minutes as a freshman for St. Rose before transferring.

8-Jackson Memorial (22-3, 14-0) Last week: 8

The Jaguars may be the darkhorse in South Jersey, Group 4. Seeded sixth in the field, Jackson Memorial has enough firepower to go shot for shot with anyone in the section. Senior Kristina Donza (26.2 ppg.) and junior Rachel Capua (17.9 ppg.) form quite the 1-2 scoring punch, as they showed on Thursday, combining for 39 points in a 59-56 overtime win against Rumson-Fair Haven.

9-Rumson-Fair Haven (18-8, 10-4) Last week: 7

A three-game losing streak is not the ideal way to head into the NJSIAA tournament but anticipate the Bulldogs have licked their wounds and sharpened their teeth to make a run. Rumson-Fair Haven is the top seed in Central Jersey, Group 2 and draws its energy from electric senior guard Paige Slaven, active senoir forward Lucy Adams and poised off-guards Cortland McBarron and Sophia Passalaqua.

10-Long Branch (16-5, 8-4) Last week: 10

A breakthrough season for the Green Wave carries in with a fifth-seed in Central Jersey, Group 4. Senior guard Anyssa Fields (18.1 ppg., 13.0 rpg.) is a double-double waiting to happen, senior forward Madison Grayson embraces the physicality of battling under the boards and guards Alanna Lynch and Jada Rogers can strike from the perimeter or off the bounce.

On the bubble: Holmdel (14-11, 7-7); Neptune (15-9, 10-4); Trinity Hal (17-8, 14-0), Toms River East (18-7, 10-4); Donovan Catholic (18-8, 12-2).

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