Pitching is the name of the game in the preseason Shore 16 and for the second straight year, the non-public teams of the Shore are leading the field to open the season.
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.
St. Rose saved its most dominant performance of 2023-24 for the final game, dismantling Montclair Immaculate for its first NJSIAA Non-Public B title since 1977.
St. Rose buried Bishop Eustace for a second straight year and will now head to Rutgers for the Non-Public B championship game as the favorite to win its first state title since 1977.
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.
Shore Conference boys basketball scores and recaps from the sectional quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA Tournament on Monday, Feb. 26, powered by HiLyte.
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.
Two years ago, Freehold Boro finished an entire season 0-21. On Thursday night, the Colonials won their 20th game and first state tournament game in 13 years.