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.
Matt and Jayden Hodge combined for all by 10 of St. Rose's points and a stifling Purple Roses defense was too much for Red Bank in the Buc Classic final.
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.
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 took three-time defending Non-Public B champion Gill St. Bernard's into penalty kicks in the state final -- a worthy performance to cap a resurgent season for the Purple Roses.
St. Rose will play for its first state championship in 12 years Saturday and the team standing in the way is the most dominant program in Non-Public B.