After a year to adjust to life in the U.S., Matt Hodge came back for his senior year on a mission and carried St. Rose to one of the great seasons in Shore Conference history.
The Shore's top team hung with Montverde for most of the first half, but a late-second-quarter run and a huge second half by the nation's top player buried No. 1 St. Rose.
With St. Rose taking on Montverde, Darius Adams returning to play in the same showcase as his former team, and tournament seeding in play, the 2024 Metro Classic is a big one for the Shore.
St. Rose headlines this year's Boardwalk Showcase at Brookdale, which will also host two rivalry games and a look at the state's most intriguing first-year program.
In front of a packed home gym, St. Rose sent shockwaves through the Shore by knocking off No. 1 Manasquan and setting itself up for a long-awaited jump to No. 1 at the Shore.
Matthew Hodge is the headline player among St. Rose's six transfers, but it was younger brother Jayden who came up big Thursday for the Purple Roses vs. RBC on opening night.