Just a quick look at the Boardwalk and who I think will come out on top.
Lakewood/Colts Neck- Obviously a game of contrasting styles. Lakewood is physical, athletic and likes to push. Colts Neck prefers to run a half court game but isn’t afraid to put shots up. Big mismatch in the backcourt where I think the Lakewood guards ( Tyrice Beverette and Jameer Jones) will be physical and pressure like crazy. Colts Neck’s advantage is in their offensive firepower. I don’t think Lakewood can defend Hunter Wysocki and if Brandon Federici and Sean O’ Reilly get hot watch out. I think Colts Neck will struggle with the defensive pressure of Lakewood but I don’t trust Lakewoods offense enough to pull this out. In the end, CN’s firepower wins out. CN 52 Lakewood 45
MidNorth/Jackson Memorial- There are a lot of similarities between these two teams. Brandon McDonnell and Jason Huelbig are forwards who can both score inside and out. Brian Kenny and Eric Youncofski, while vastly different in size, are very much alike in that they both make their teammates better and are fundamentally solid. Elliot Bell and Cody Thompson are small, tough kids who can hurt you and Tim Frawley and Brandon Holup are big kids who can shoot and Tim Rhatigan and Anthony Skwiat are role players who can surprise you. This should be a great match-up. If these teams play 10 times I think they split 5-5. Tomorrow I give the edge to MidNorth based on their big win over CBA and they might be a little more battle tested than Jackson. MidNorth 50 Jackson 45
CBA/Point Beach- CBA has something to prove now after what can only be described as a lackluster performance against Middletown North. Kieran Hughes is a tough kid who competes and I like the sophomore Gordinier a lot. CBA will need Tom Aldridge and Eric Shaw to score in order to win this game. I really like Beach’s guards in Matt Farrell and P.J. Kineavy and Riley Calzonetti is a lot like Hughes, a banger who can score. Nick Catania is one of the few coaches who is smart enough to not overcoach and his kids aren’t afraid to make mistakes. I’m not sure CBA recovers from a brutal loss in time to win this. Point Beach 60-CBA 50
Neptune/Raritan- On paper this looks like a mismatch. Mike Aaman will be the best player on the floor and has an advantage over either Josh Jenkins or Fuquan McDonald but there is a definite Neptune advantage at the other spots. I think Raritan is well coached and they absolutely have some tough kids but Neptune’s guard tandem of Jaheem Woods and Ikie Calderon should wreak havoc on the floor. Aaman will get his points but I think Neptune just overwhelms Raritan by the second half. Neptune 65 Raritan 43
Long Branch/Manasquan- Long Branch is hosting this event so they get an opportunity to pull off a surprise here. Long Branch has been competitive and in Dwight Clark, Terrell Cox and Hassan Foster they have some really good young talent. Squan has a gunner in J.R. Hobbie, a big guard who can fill it up and probably the most underrated player at the Shore in junior Jimmy Walsh. This is a tough game to call but I think Squan pulls it out. Manasquan 55 Long Branch 48
