Mid Season Thoughts

I think we’re just past mid season so here’s a few thoughts on a slow Tuesday morning.

In an earlier blog I said I thought this was a down year at the Shore. I said that mainly in reference to the fact that we don’t have as much “star” power this year. We don’t have a Grennan going to the Big East or a Reischel going to Rice, etc. That doesn’t mean we don’t have a lot of good players. We do. And it certainly doesn’t mean there aren’t any good teams out there. There are. I’ve heard some bashing lately and I think that’s overdone. I remember the really good Freehold Twp. team of several years ago beating CBA a couple of times and I heard someone reference that team the other day as a measuring stick for one of the great years at the Shore. Yes, that was a really good team, with Fischer, Roberson, LaFalce and company and extremely well coached. But did it have star power with a host of D-1 recruits? No. Was it a really good high school team? I think so. Those kids played really well together, were well coached and they were tough and fun to watch. That team had five good players they could put on the court and anytime you can do that at the high school level you’re in business. I don’t care what conference you’re talking about. So do we have some good teams this year or not? Sure we do. Neptune, Middletown North, Colts Neck, Jackson, Freehold Twp., and yes, Lacey has a good team.

Everybody who reads my blog knows I hate low scoring games. Especially games in the 30′s. Well, and this should make my reader Coach P. happy, I watched the Jackson- MidNorth game and I heard a comment or two about the quality of the two teams and the game being a bore. I felt the exact opposite. I thought it was a great game and I thought the defense by both teams was at an unbelievable level. In an era where AAU is king and defense is almost an afterthought I was very impressed by what I saw that day on the defensive end. Every shot was contested and nothing was easy. I still prefer a faster paced game but I thought that game was a terrific match-up. I said those two teams were evenly matched and I still think so. Both are very, very well coached.

I also still believe that Neptune has the most talented team at the Shore. Nobody’s starting five can match up with them. I’d like to see them get more scoring out of their frontcourt. If they did, I think they’d be untouchable. When they are clicking on all cylinders they are a fun team to watch. Colts Neck is also a good team because they can shoot their way out of trouble if they have to and they’re better defensively than people give them credit for.

Those four teams, Neptune, MN, CN and Jackson are solid and comprise the upper tier in my mind. I say that knowing that Freehold Twp. just beat Mid North and obviously I’m a huge fan of Coach Golub but I still think Mid North is at a little higher level. Before all of the Freehold Twp, fans get too riled up let me say that I think your team is tough as nails and I wouldn’t be surprised by anything those kids accomplish. That was a great win last night and it’s why I like high school basketball. Where else do you see a team get blown out by 35 the first time and then come back and win the next?

 And how about Mater Dei knocking off Asbury Park? What a great, gutsy win by the Seraphs. You have to be ready and pumped every night at this level. MidNorth and Asbury both found out what happens when you’re not. I wasn’t sold on Asbury Park before last night’s  loss to Mater Dei so I’m even less sold on them now. However, Armond Conover is simply explosive and for me is the most fun player in the conference to watch. His brother Amir isn’t far behind.  The team I didn’t take seriously earlier in the season, Lacey, is making a believer out of me. They knocked off Lakewood and, even though Lakewood has a bad loss or two on it’s resume, the Piners are never easy. Lacey is a pretty good basketball team with a good point guard in Tasheen Carrow and some solid senior leadership led by Logan McDonald.

Speaking of point guards, can we stop all the chatter about who the best point guard is? Honestly, there is no best point guard. I think Point Boro Head Coach Kevin Hynes said it best when he called his guy, Shawn Cooke, “arguably” the best point guard at the Shore. Arguably being the key word there. Cooke is really good and Hynes has a right to that argument and so do about 6 or 7 other head coaches. I won’t go down the list, I don’t have to, look at the teams that are winning. Almost all have standout point guards. That’s not a coincidence. I saw a great quote today, ” A player that makes a team great is more valuable than a great player”. Remember that the next time you watch one of these point guards play.

Other notes: CBA looks better lately but I think this will almost turn into a rebuilding year for Coach Billet. CBA’s biggest problem is they are not very athletic and that hurts them defensively and in not being very good in transition. They can shoot the ball and Jimmy Dengler is a kid who I would’ve liked to have seen get more daylight sooner. He can play…John Horrigan of  Freehold Twp. is underrated. He has old time post moves, a lost art….Howell has two freshman guards on their roster, Aaron Trimble and Gino Palummo, who look to be a nice combo in the future…Elijah Dupree of Toms River South is the best player nobody talks about. He is quick and strong and makes big shots….Terrel Cox is an exciting young player for Long Branch….Add Justin Oakley of Brick Memorial and Jeremy Wozniak of Central to the sharpshooter list. For my money the best stroke I’ve seen this year is J. R. Hobbie of Manasquan.

I’m the Shore Scout and I’ll see you at the games.