JSBL Final Set After Wins by Stern's and Orthopaedic

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The old cliché that states "when one door closes, another opens up" could apply to Ray Salnave and Shavar Reynolds. Salnave transferred out of Monmouth University to DePaul after a breakthrough season in West Long Branch in 2019-20 and two years later, Reynolds left Seton Hall to play his final year at Monmouth University -- closer to his hometown of Manchester.

Both players have a close link with Monmouth even though they played for the Hawks at different stages of their career. Now, both players are leading their summer teams into the Jersey Shore Basketball League championship game Thursday.

Salnave scored a JSBL semifinal-best 33 points in a 119-89 win for his Orthopaedic Institute squad over the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, the WCT Warriors. In game two, Reynolds put up 16 points and eight assists to back Rob Ukawuba and former Seton Hall teammate Myles Cale as Stern's Trailer rolled to a 129-97 victory over Larson Ford Tuesday at Manasquan High School.

Ray Salnave during his time at Monmouth. (Karlee Sell/Monmouth University Athletics)

Trevis Wyche and former Raritan High School star Mike Aaman each added 18 points to back Salnave in the Orthopaedic victory, with Aaman also pulling in 14 rebounds. Steve Harris also contributed 17 points for the Institute.

Former Christian Brothers Academy standout Chima Ekekeugbor scored a game-high 32 points to lead WCT in defeat.

In the second game of the double-header, Ukawuba led the scoring effort for Stern's by pouring in a game-high 27 points. Cale, meanwhile, poured in 24 points in the semifinal win for Orhopaedic.

As was the case in game one, a player from the losing team led the game. Nate Pierre -Louis finished his summer with a 32-point effort in defense, Jacai Simmons pumped in 31 and Jaheim Tanksley contributed 22 as a starter.

Thursday at Manasquan High School, the two former Monmouth standouts -- one as a throwback to its pre-COVID team and another a leader on Monmouth's latest squad -- will look to finish off a championship run against on another.