St. Rose has been steamrolling toward a 2024 Non-Public B championship since it lost in the 2023 final. Can Bishop Eustace cook up a legitimate challenge to the Purple Roses?
St. Rose got within closing distance of its first NJSIAA sectional title since 2004 and turned to 6-foot-8 star Matt Hodge to finish off Bishop Eustace.
Saint John Vianney's Anthony Knox, Rumson-Fair Haven's Sonny Amato, Southern's Matt Henrich, and Brick Memorial's Harvey Ludington won boys state titles while Howell's Kylie Gudewitz, Middletown South's Thea Rowland, and Central's Liliana Alicea won NJSIAA state titles on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
The Shore Conference has eight NJSIAA state finalists after Southern's Anthony Mason, Saint John Vianney's Anthony Knox, Donovan Catholic's Kurt Wehner, CBA's Alex Nini, Rumson's Sonny Amato, Southern's Matt Henrich, Brick Memorial's Harvey Ludington, and Hudson Skove won their semifinal matches on Friday night at Boardwalk Hall.
Red Bank junior Kevin Ruland advanced to the quarterfinals as the No. 24 seed and Howell freshman Tanner Hodgins showcased his skills and smarts to upset the No. 6 seed and reach the quarterfinals on Thursday at Boardwalk Hall.
Christian Brothers Academy senior Alex Nini, Southern Regional senior Matt Henrich, and Saint John Vianney junior Anthony Knox each won their third region title as the Shore Conference had 10 champions and 31 state qualifiers out of the NJSIAA Region 7 Tournament.
It has been 43 years since the Shore Conference produced a Group IV champion and while it is likely that drought continues, there are a few Shore squads to keep an eye on.
Jayden Hodge starred on both ends of the floor and St. Rose's defense locked down Manasquan over the final three quarters to capture its first ever Shore Conference Tournament title.