Manasquan remembered its bitter defeat in last year's Shore Conference final and finished off a happier ending Sunday by beating Ranney for its third conference title in three years.
Manasquan and Ranney have grown familiar in recent years and for the second time since 2019, the two Shore Conference powers will play for the conference championship at Monmouth.
The teams lined up to face Ranney in the Shore Conference Tournament knew the Panthers were no ordinary 11th-seed and for the last week-and-a-half, the Panthers have proved them right.
Manasquan and St. Rose are each a win away from setting up the Shore Conference Tournament final that has been expected from the beginning. Ranney and Raritan are hoping to break up those plans Tuesday night.
Isaac Hester tormented Toms River North with a dead-eye shooting performance that resulted in 33 points and a trip to the Shore Conference semifinals for his Ranney squad.
Ranney got standout performances across the board on both ends of the ball Thursday, enough for the Panthers to take out Jackson Memorial to reach the Shore Conference quarterfinals.
Manasquan and St. Rose could be on a Shore Conference Tournament championship collision course, but first, they will headline the loaded Class C North division.
St. Rose has reclaimed the its perch atop Class B Central after a decade-long battle to get back and will now defend its spot against some up-and-coming challengers.
Ranney standout A.J. Gracia capped a memorable five months of baseball by appearing in the Hank Aaron Invitational last Sunday at Atlanta's Truist Park.
A.J. Gracia crushed a leadoff home run, pitched 5 2/3 dominant innings and started the winning rally as Ranney topped Immaculata for its first ever NJSIAA Group Championship.
After a colossal win over Gloucester Catholic to win the sectional title, Ranney looks to finish the journey to a Non-Public B title Wednesday vs. Immaculata.