Jersey Mike's Team of the Week Southern Regional

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The Southern boys basketball team finished the regular season on a 10-game winning streak and it took every one of those 10 to earn the prize that the Rams claimed last Friday.

With another undefeated week, Southern earned one of the eight coveted spots in the Shore Conference Pod A Playoffs, giving the Rams a chance to play for the unofficial Shore Conference championship this week. It also gave them the fourth Jersey Mike's Team of the Week award of 2021.

If there was one game that clinched both Pod A spot and the Team of the Week award it was a double-overtime battle at Manchester out of which Southern climbed with a 55-53 victory that demonstrated the team's resilience.

Over the last two years, Southern is 26-14 thanks to a core of seniors Jay Silva and Luke Infurna and junior Nick Devane. Senior Jake Barbierri has emerged as a reliable contributor as a starter and junior Jaden Anthony was a crucial addition after he transferred from Southern. Infurna and Anthony hit huge shots in the win at Manchester and Anthony found Silva for the game-winner in double-overtime.

Southern's reward for making the championship pod of the Shore Conference postseason was a road game at Ranney, against whom Southern was no match. The Rams hung around in a consolation game at Holmdel and will try to salvage the week by beating a Top 10 team in Neptune on Friday.