VOTE: Thrive Shore Conference Boys Basketball Week 3 Player of the Week
Each week during the remainder of the Shore Conference boys basketball season, Shore Sports Network will present multiple weekly awards for Player of the Week and give the fans the opportunity to vote for the overall player of the week.
Below are the Players of the Week in each of the eight Shore Conference divisions, plus two wild cards. Read about their performances during the stretch of games from Jan. 2 through Jan. 7 and vote for the players who stood out as the Thrive Shore Conference Player of the Week.
Vote once per hour until the poll closes at 10 p.m. on Friday. The winner will be posted on Thursday and will receive a free recovery session courtesy of Thrive Spine and Sports Rehab.
Class A North Player of the Week
Justin Fuerbacher, CBA
CBA’s offense has begun to click since a 1-2 start to the season and Fuerbacher has been a constant for the Colts. The 6-foot-5 junior put up 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 72-46 win over Middletown South on Friday and cam back with a hard-earned 14 and eight in an overtime loss to Manasquan less than 24 hours later.
Class A North Honorable Mention: D.J. Orloff, Howell; Joe Farino, Manalapan; Brave Haugh, Marlboro; Aiden Sosinov, Manalapan; Chris Meehan, Howell
Class B North Player of the Week
Tyler Burnham, Red Bank Catholic
Last week was the most challenging week-long schedule RBC has faced so far, although it is unlikely the remain that way. The Caseys went 2-1 against three quality opponents, with Burnham providing an interior presence during the stretch. The senior center put up 15 points in a loss at East Orange, came back with 15 more in a win over Northern Highlands and took home MVP honors at the Boardwalk Showcase with 20 points and nine rebounds in a win over Red Bank.
Class B North Honorable Mention: Jameson Ackerman, Red Bank; Vova Trotsko, Colts Neck; Jay Quardt, Middletown North; Eddie Lopez, Middletown North; Zayier Dean, Red Bank; David Carr, Rumson-Fair Haven; Nick Rigby, Rumson-Fair Haven
Class A South Player of the Week
Jason McKelvey, Toms River East
The Raiders entered last week on a two-game skid with two quality opponents on the schedule and made it out of the week 1-1. McKelvey showed up for both games, averaging 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists between the two games – one a win over Lacey and the other a loss to Howell.
Class A South Honorable Mention: Devin Jones, Jackson Memorial; Brady Adams, Jackson Memorial; Jake Sliwinski, Southern; Cooper Dempsey, Central
Class B South Player of the Week
Jaycen Santucci, Central
It was another monster week for Santucci, who averaged 27 points, 12.3 rebounds, three assists and two steals in wins over No. 12 Ranney, No. 13 Toms River South and No. 14 Donovan Catholic. In the win over Toms River South, Santucci outscored the entire South team, 30-23.
Class B South Honorable Mention: Jon Stabile, Lacey; Miles Chevalier, Central; Mason Krey, Barnegat; Jamari Smith, Barnegat; Jaymire Watts, Manchester
Class A Coastal Player of the Week
Peter Da Cruz, Long Branch
The Green Wave picked up its first week of the season and Da Cruz was a beast in helping his team earn it. The senior put up 17 points and 23 rebounds in a 45-33 win over Wall, capping a week in which Da Cruz averaged 16.3 points and 13.3 rebounds.
Class A Coastal Honorable Mention: James Vallillo, Holmdel; Brian Tassey, Freehold Boro; Amir Martinez, Matawan; Cameron Gabloff, Raritan; Chauncey Brown, Matawan; Colin Chechel, Matawan; Deon Jackson, St. John Vianney; Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk, Freehold Boro; Christian DiGiso, Freehold Boro; Ben Kipnis, Holmdel; Alex Garguilo, Raritan
Class B Coastal Player of the Week
Jovan Steinmetz, Point Boro
The Panthers cooled off a hot Toms River South team to open up the New Year and Steinmetz had a strong all-around performance in the win. The sophomore scored a team-high 19 points to go with seven rebounds and three steals in the 75-62 Point Boro win over the Indians.
Class B Coastal Honorable Mention: Griffin Linstra, Manasquan; Rey Weinseimer, Manasquan; Matt Hodge, St. Rose; Drew Buck, Ranney
Class A Central Player of the Week
Jacob Edgecomb, Point Beach
Point Beach picked up a pair of wins last week, with Edgecomb delivering a 25-point performance in a double-overtime win over Ocean on the way to averaging 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals in the three games.
Class A Central Honorable Mention: Jack Fitzpatrick, Henry Hudson; Anthony Stevens, Asbury Park; Dominico Dispenza, Keyport; JoJo Newell, Henry Hudson
Class B Central Player of the Week
Rahmel Anderson, Lakewood
Lakewood picked up another Shore Conference win last week by winning a down-to-the-wire game vs. Keansburg. In the victory, Anderson scored 20 points, including the go-ahead basket, and sealed the game with a steal in the final seconds.
Class B Central Honorable Mention: Ryan Jacobs, Donovan Catholic; Andrew English, Monmouth; Aidan Saint Louis, Ocean; Jack Malek, Donovan Catholic; Matt Gerrity, Donovan Catholic
Wild Cards
Brave Haugh, Marlboro
Facing an imposing front line against Rumson, Haugh had his best game of the season. The 6-foot-7 senior scored a game-high 17 points in the 43-42 Mustangs loss to the 9-1 Bulldogs.
Joe Farino, Manalapan
Last week was a breakout week for the freshman, who poured in a career-high 16 points in in a win over Jackson Memorial, then blew that mark out of the water with 26 two nights later in a win over Middletown North.