Wild A North boys race still up for grabs
Manalapan, Freehold Township chasing Ocean
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Manalapan boys basketball coach Rick Garretson called the Shore Conference A North Division “nuts” and he has proven to be absolutely correct.

With the second half of the season now under way, three teams are in contention for the public schools championship, and a fourth could still steal it.

Ocean Township made its statement last week, beating Marlboro, 55-49, to finish the first half of the season in first place at 5-2 and improved to 6-2 with its 49-33 win over Howell Friday night.

With the Wednesday night loss in Ocean, the Mustangs, who had been climbing back into the race after getting off to an 0-3 start in the division, slipped to 2-5 and would have to run the table in the second half to have a chance. Certainly, the 2004 Jack Kuhnert Basketball Tournament champions have the potential to do just that. At the very least, they will be the most dangerous team for the front-runners to play.

Defending champion Freehold Township fell to Manalapan, 73-70, in a game with great bearing on the division. It left both teams at 4-3 and looking up at Ocean.

Manalapan beat Middletown South and Freehold Township lost to Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) on Friday night, leaving the Pats at 4-4 and the Braves, 5-3.

That Freehold Township is even in the race is a bonus, according to coach Brian Golub. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the defending champions. They have two sophomores and three juniors in the rotation and the youth has shown. Yet, they are 7-6 overall and very much in the hunt for another division crown.

“We’re up and down,” Golub said. “Certainly, when we’re on our game, we can play with anyone. We have a lot of youth and inexperience. But I’ve seen it starting to come together.”

Not only are the Patriots young, but they are breaking in a new style of play that is new to Freehold Township, and add to that they are deeper than ever before.

“We’re running and pressing,” Golub noted. “We have 10 or 11 guys who can play. I’ve never had that before. I’m still learning, adjusting to the style.”

The depth has given Golub a versatile bench and the ability to press for an entire game.

Sophomore Marcus Roberson, who was a starter as a freshman, is rapidly becoming one of the best forwards in the division. He is averaging 13.3 points a game and is difficult to match up with because of the way he runs the floor.

Point guard Damian Csakai split time at the point last year, but is running the show by himself this year. The junior has adjusted to a Patriot offense that has no one go-to player, and is penetrating the lane and kicking the ball out to the open shooter. He is averaging 4.4 assists a game, and defensively has been the point man on the press, with 3.5 steals a game.

Sophomore T.J. Lafalce has been one of the key additions to the team. He is averaging close to double figures, emerging as a third option. Golub said he has not been surprised at all by Lafalce’s play. He considered moving him up to varsity last year.

Transfer Matt Hardison, a 6-foot-3 forward/center is becoming more of a force in the pain each game as he adjusts to his new teammates and style of play. He is also a junior.

Brett Brach has been the Patriots’ long-range threat (he has 16 three-pointers), and Tom Porricelli, the quarterback on the football team, is a leader.

The Patriots’ sophomores and juniors, Golub pointed out, are accustomed to winning. The school’s last two freshman teams have a combined record of 36-5.

“The kids have high expectations,” Golub said. “They’re not used to losing.”

Seniors Shane Donohue and Gary Timmer have added their experience to the mix and are key players in the rotation.

With CBA now behind them (everyone else in the division has the parochial powerhouse on their schedule), the Patriots a legitimate contenders.

“A North is a reach for us,” Golub said. “But who says we can’t?

“The race is open,” he added. “Ocean is hot and playing well and they’re a good team. Who says we can’t go on a streak like them?”

This will be an important week for Freehold Township. They hosted winless Middletown South last night and travel to Marlboro Friday night in a game in which the loser is all but out of the race. On Tuesday, Freehold Township will host a Howell team that was 3-4 at the break.

Manalapan could be the team to emerge over the second half of the season as the one to beat. The Braves have the best player in Omar Ibraham, who has been nothing but clutch. In last week’s win at Freehold Township, the 6-4 forward torched the Patriots for 18 points in the fourth quarter. He had 32 on the night. He is the second leading scorer in the conference (23.9 per game), has increased his shooting range to include 3-pointers and is comfortable down on the blocks. He has been a big-time fourth-quarter scorer.

Ibraham has gotten plenty of help from Anthony Pisciotti, who is third in the Shore

with 28 three-pointers. He is averaging 4.5 assists a game, seeing to it that everyone gets into the action.

Greg DiLorenzo adds his blend of offense and defense to the mix.

Manalapan, of course, needs to keep pace with the Spartans, who hosted CBA last night. The Braves hosted dangerous Marlboro last night and on Friday will be at Howell (5:30 p.m.)

Marlboro kept its slim hopes alive in A North on Friday night when the ’Stangs beat Middletown North. With five division losses, Marlboro is mathematically still in the hunt, but can’t lose another game. They are 7-6 overall and led by forward Rodney Salomon (15.5 points and 11.7 rebounds a game).

The veteran Mustangs have missed the services of injured point guard Jeff Horowitz, but outside of their win at the Kuhnert Tournament, they just haven’t been clicking. It’s not too late, but time is running out.

What the Spartans have going for them, besides the lead, is wins over Manalapan (57-55) and Freehold Township (68-53) the first time around. They are led by the one-two punch of Phil Beggans (18) and Bill Wishart (13), who have been averaging 31 points a game between them.

To stay in the race, the Braves and Patriots need to win the rematches with the Spartans.

Manalapan is up first, hosting Ocean Tuesday (5:30 p.m.). Freehold Township’s chance comes Feb. 4 at Ocean.