SSN Girls Basketball Top 10 – Feb. 17

Shore Sports Network Girls Basketball Top 10

1-St. John Vianney (21-1, 14-0) Last week: 1

The Lady Lancers will attempt to reach their fourth straight Shore Conference Tournament final and win an unprecedented 14th crown as the top seed. St. John Vianney, which last hoisted the trophy in 2016 features an offense that's scoring at a 66.8 clip behind the contributions of sophomore guard Madison St. Rose (17.3 ppg.)and junior guard Katie Hill (10.4 ppg.). But, it's the blanketing defense (31.1 ppg.) which has been at the root of its success.

2-Manchester (20-3, 14-0) Last week: 2

The defending SCT champion locked up the second seed, clinching its second straight outright B South crown with a 14-0 performance. Junior forward Destiny Adams (17.3 ppg.,10.8 rpg.) is a season veteran and immune to post-season pressure and the Hawks boast a deep, quick and cerebral backcourt conglomerate of seniors Kemari Reynolds, Serenity Anderson and Nakaleigh Hayes-Jones along with underclassmen Myah Hourigan, Angelica Velez, Gabriella Ross and Amyah Bray.

3-Red Bank Catholic (18-4, 12-2) Last week: 3

Coming off a 63-59 loss to surging Holmdel on Thursday, the Caseys will process the setback as a timely reminder of the fragility of this time of the year. Seeded third in the SCT, RBC seeks to regain the form that revolves around the offensive balance supplied by Justine Pissott, Sophia Sabino and Ally Carman and defensive intensity embodied by Fab Eggenschwiler and Toni Panayides.

4-St. Rose (17-6, 12-20) Last week: 4

Beware of the Purple Roses, who appear to be blooming at the ideal time. Senior guard Brynn Farrell pumped in 26 points, senior forward Makayla Andrews collected 20 to go with 10 rebounds and junior playmaker Abby Antognoli scored 16 as St. Rose, seeded fourth in the SCT, primed for a post-season run with a 69-60 road win over defending Tournament of Champions winner Franklin on Saturday.

5-Red Bank (17-4, 12-2) Last week: 5

The B North public school champ, which finished second in the overall race to St. John Vianney, Red Bank drew the seventh seed for the SCT. Of its four losses, two were adminstered by SJV, one came at the hands of Manchester in the WOBM Christmas Classic final and the other was a 58-48 loss to Wildwood Catholic. The Bucs can play quick to utlize their speed in transition or inflict damage in the halfcourt with senior Taylor Crystian, juniors Amelia Medolla, Caitlyn Decker and Chloe Teter as well as junior forward Emma Moriarty all posing threats from long range.

6-Marlboro (18-3, 12-0) Last week: 6

The Mustangs trotted to a second straight A North crown and can stretch a defense to its limits through their pereimeter prominence. Marlboro, seeded eighth in the SCT field, had canned 199 3-pointers to date with junior forward Jessica Riepe (14.1 ppg., 76 3-pointers) leading the band of arc angels. Dani Schlesinger (34 3-pointers), a jack-of-all-trades in the backcourt, Sammy Jay (31), Sam Nocco (19) and Laura Morehead (22) assure opponents can't key on a single shooter.

7-Rumson-Fair Haven (17-5, 10-4) Last week: 7

The Bulldogs pulled down the fifth seed for the SCT and ride into the event on a three-game winning streak. Senior guard Paige Slaven (13.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg.) is on a blistering tear, scoring at a 15.6 clip over the last nine games but she has also facilitated during that stretch (3.7 apg.), working Cortland McBarron, Sophia Passalaqua and Julia Corsentino into the scoing rotation. Few post defenders are as active and denying as senior Lucy Adams and the Bulldogs got a recent and inspiring boost with the return of junior guard Grace Munt, who missed the first 20 games but comes off a promising showing on Saturday in which she had six points, 10 boards, two blocks and a steal in a 74-38 win against Trinity Hall.

8-Jackson Memorial (19-2, 14-0) Last week: 8

The Jaguars haven't lost since Jan. 11, stringing together 14 straight wins on their path to the A South title and the No. 9 seed in the SCT. Whoever runs into this cast must figure out a way to contain the scoring volume of senior guard Kristina Donza (26.9 ppg.) and junior backcourt mate Rachel Capua (19.0 ppg.) and mute the creativity of senior point guard Bianca Giordano. No easy tasks.

9-Manasquan (14-9, 9-5) Last week: 9

The young Warriors had no choice but to come of age during the arduous course of competing in the A Central. The lumps absorbed against the likes of Red Bank Catholic, St. Rose and Rumson-Fair Haven, who they edged in their second meeting, have groomed Manasquan for what lies ahead as the sixth seed in the SCT. Sophomores Brooke Hollawell, Georgia Heine, Dorothy Loffredo and Mary Donnelly won't wilt under the post-season pressure.

10-Long Branch (15-4, 8-4) Last week: 10

Arguably the darkhorse of the SCT field, the 10th-seeded Green Wave has all the tools to make a significant splash. Senior guard Anyssa Fields (18.3 ppg., 13.7 rpg.) shrewdly maneuvers her 6-0 frame, senior forward Madison Grayson competes tirelessly on the interior, senior shooting guard Alanna Lynch is deadly along the arc and junior point Jada Rogers has an exploratory nature piercing a defense. Long Branch has won 10 of its last 11, the lone interrruption a 57-49 loss to Marlboro.

On the bubble: Holmdel (12-10, 7-7); Neptune (14-7, 10-4); Donovan Catholic (16-7, 12-2); Trinity Hal (16-6, 14-0).

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