Braves still with chance to make state playoffs
Freehold Twp., Colts Neck boys are in
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

The pulse may be a little weak, but at least the Manalapan High School boys basketball team has a pulse.

With Saturday being the deadline for teams to be .500 or better in order to qualifying for the state playoffs, the Braves must win three of their four games this week in order to climb to .500. They are 7-9.

"We're hanging in there," said coach Rick Garretson. "We knew that nothing would come easy. To their credit, they continue to work hard. We still have a chance."

The good news for Garretson and the Braves is that with the deadline rapidly approaching, the team is starting to peak.

"We are playing much better," said Garretson. "Our problem is that in one quarter of the game we shoot ourselves in the foot."\

Recently, that hasn't been the case, and it starts on the defensive end, where the Braves have really picked it up.

"We've had a problem stopping people," Garretson pointed out. "They know that it's for real [playoff deadline] now and they are playing much better team defense.

"We're not good enough to trade baskets with teams," he added. "The kids have started to rally together."

A recent win over Marlboro was important for Manalapan not only because they obviously needed it to stay in the playoff hunt, but because they were able to win without Dan Ciprut, their big inside presence. His absence forced other Braves to step up, and led by Chris Presby and Adam Rice, they did. That has lengthened the Braves' bench and made them a deeper team heading into this critical week.

Ciprut, a senior, has provided the team with solid night-in and night-out post play, which has opened the court for the Braves' three-point shooting.

Chris Saray (44), Bryan Lapkin (28) and Jason Goldheimer (16) extend defenses with their long-range shooting. The trio ranks among the top long-range shooters in the Shore, with Saray leading the way.

"We have a nice inside-outside mix," noted Garretson.

While the three-pointer remains a big part of Manalapan's arsenal, Garretson has his club looking to be more aggressive.

"I've stressed to all the kids to take it to the basket," he said.

The result has led to more free throw attempts by his club, and overall, the Braves are very good from the charity stripe.

In a 63-53 win over Middletown South, the Braves won it by going to the free throw line 33 times and making 25 of them. Ciprut was 15-for-20 on his way to a 25-point night. Saray (4-4) and Goldheimer (4-5) were 8-9.

No matter what happens to the Braves' fortunes this week, Garretson knows that his kids will have given it their all.

"This group is a great group of kids to coach," he said. "Their practices are as intense and hard-fought after a loss as they are after a win. The kids have not stopped."

While Manalapan has its work cut out for it to make the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, Freehold Township (15-0) and Colts Neck (12-3) are already in.

Brian Golub's undefeated Patriots, who are well on their way to a fourth straight Shore Conference A North Division championship, are looking to hold on to a top seed, which they should secure if they remain perfect.

Lou Piccola's Cougars will be trying to position themselves for a high seed and early-round home games this week. The Cougars will be a dangerous team come playoff time.

For the area girls, Freehold Borough (11-2) and Colts Neck (11-4) are in, while Howell (8-6) is one win away and Marlboro (7-9) controls its destiny.

Howell's 62-44 win at Manalapan Thursday put them in a position where if they win one of their three scheduled games, they are in.

Marlboro won a squeaker at home over Freehold Township, 35-33, on Thursday to improve to 7-9 overall. Like the Manalapan boys, the Mustangs must win out this week to qualifying for the state sectionals.

Freehold Township is 6-9 and could get in with a 3-0 week.

Teams have an extra two weeks to get into the Shore Conference Tournament. The deadline to be .500 or better is Feb. 10.