Chasing history: Red Bank basketball seeks first NJSIAA section title in 31 years
LITTLE SILVER – Hanging over the baseline inside the Red Bank Regional Field House is the banner detailing the program’s 1,000-point scorers. And in the middle of the chronological list are all-time leading scorer Mark Donnelly (1,560 points) and Mustafa Barksdale (1,198), a pair of 1993 graduates who led the Bucs to their last NJSIAA sectional championship as seniors.
So with the greatest names from a glorious past looking on Tuesday, the current edition of the Bucs took the court as the top seed in a Central Group 3 quarterfinal against Robbinsville, looking to end a 31-year drought for a program that’s produced some of the Shore’s greatest teams, and players, over the years.
And it was this year’s star, junior guard Zayier Dean, scoring 17 points as Red Bank took control in the third quarter, emerging with a 59-48 victory, after leading by 20 points in the fourth quarter. Braydon Kirkpatrick finished with 13 points and Ryan Fisher added 11 for the Bucs, who went on a 23-7 run in the third quarter.
“We can’t worry about the history, we can only worry about making history right now,” said Red Bank coach George Sourlis, in his second season with the Bucs after winning 14 section sectional titles on the girls’ side in 30 seasons at Rumson-Fair Haven, to go with five overall group titles.
The Bucs improved to 20-4, winning for the 12th time in their last 13 games, advancing to host fourth-seeded Hopewell Valley, a 49-40 winner over Colts Neck, in Thursday’s semifinals. On the other side of the bracket, seventh-seeded Freehold Borough knocked off second-seed Nottingham, 58-56, to reach the other semifinal.
“A lot of times after practice we just look up at the banner and the last one says 1993, so we’re trying to change that and get 2024 on there,” said Dean. “That’s really the main goal.”
It’s a section that hasn’t been kind to Shore teams of late. Neptune was the last Shore team to win Central Group 3, and that was in 2012, with the Scarlet Fliers eventually falling in the Group 3 final to Plainfield. Even Red Bank’s 1999 Shore Conference Tournament winning team, led by Tahj Holden and Sean Axani, couldn’t secure a section crown, getting knocked off in the semifinals by Colonia.
Now the Bucs have a 20-win season, a B North title and they’re looking for more.
“Very proud. But not satisfied,” Sourlis said. “Twenty (wins) is a nice number. But our mission has been since we got here about winning championships and we’re halfway there. We’ve got to keep playing. It’s only going to get harder.”
Red Bank opened the third quarter with an 18-5 run and never looked back.
“It’s very exciting for us nobody expected us to get this far early in the season, but we just stuck together,” Dean said.
2024 NJSIAA BOYS BASKETBALL
SECTIONAL QUARTERFINALS
TUESDAY, FEB. 27
Central Group 3
(1) Red Bank 59, (8) Robbinsville 48
(4) Hopewell Valley 49, (5) Colts Neck 40
(7) Freehold Borough 58, (2) Nottingham 56
Three years removed from a winless season, the Colonials are heading to the sectional semifinals, as Aidan Hamlin-Woolfolk led a fourth-quarter rally that saw the Colonials erase a nine-point deficit to stun the defending section champions.
Hamlin-Woofolk scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter, and Brian Tassey and Christian DiGiso each sank a free throw in the final minute to seal the victory. DiGiso finished with 15 points, Hamlin-Woolfolk had a double-double with 13 rebounds, and Qua’Mir Everett finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Colonials must now travel to face sixth-seeded Ewing, which beat third-seeded Burlington Township, 38-34.
Central Group 1
(1) Henry Hudson 49, (8) Eagle Academy 43, OT
Junior Jack Fitzpatrick sank two free throws with 29.5 seconds left to send the game to overtime tied at 38-all, before the Admirals took charge midway through the extra session, beginning with a big triple by sophomore Mike Fitzpatrick, as the Admirals (20-4) knocked off the defending sectional champions. Jack Fitzpatrick led the way with 18 points, while freshman JoJo Newell added 14
They advance to the semifinals to take on Manville, a 46-34 winner over Brearley.
(3) College Achieve Asbury Park 89, (11) Point Beach 31
The start-up charter school program continued to dominate as the sectional favorite, having won its first two state playoff games by an average of 54.5 points. LaSalle-bound guard Deuce Jones led the way with 22 points, while 6-8 junior David Munro had a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds, and sophomore Jebron Harris added 12 points.
They move on to face second-seeded Shore Regional on the road Thursday.
(2) Shore 51, (7) South Hunterdon 33
The Blue Devils improved to 19-8, cruising into the semifinals for the second straight season, after losing in last year’s sectional final. They are looking for their sectional crown since 2015, but face a tough semifinal test against a talented College Achieve Asbury Park lineup.
Leading the way against South Hunterdon was Gianni Fiumefreddo, who finished with 15 points, while Dom DiFiori had 14 and Alex George added 12 for the Blue Devils.
South Group 3
(4) Moorestown 60, (12) Barnegat 52 OT
The Bengals nearly pulled off a second straight upset after a fourth-quarter rally sent the game to overtime, before falling in a quarterfinal heartbreaker. Mason Krey led the way with 22 points, while Jamari Smith added 15 points, as the Bengals end the season with a 17-10 record. CJ Hayes paced a balanced attack for Moorestown with 14 points.
MONDAY, FEB. 26
Central Group 4
(4) Marlboro 61, (5) Old Bridge 54
The Mustangs rolled into the sectional semifinals for the third straight year - they won the sectional title and reached the Group 4 final in 2022 - behind 18 points from Steve Scimone. Dan Elmasri finished with 12 points, while Brave Haugh and Dan Cresto added 11 for the Mustangs, who advance to face No. 1 seed Montgomery, a 65-38 winner over East Brunswick.
(3) Manalapan 58, (11) Jackson Memorial 42
The Braves advance to a semifinal showdown, their first in 25 years, with second-seeded Monroe, a 48-45 winner over North Brunswick, as Phil Pearlman scored a team-high 19 points, and Aiden Sosinov added 17.
Central Group 2
(1) Manasquan 62, 8) Bordentown 39
Manasquan continued the quest for a fifth straight sectional title, as the Big Blue improved to 21-6. Junior Griffin Linstra led the way with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
(3) Rumson-Fair Haven 76, (6) Bound Brook 43
Luke Cruz scored a team-high 15 points, and Andrew Goodes had 13 as the Bulldogs improved to 19-6. It sets up an all-Shore semifinal when they make the short trip to Holmdel Wednesday.
(2) Holmdel 59, (7) Point Boro 46
Holmdel (21-3) used an 18-6 third quarter to pull away from the Panthers, winning for the 12th time in the last 13 games, with the only loss to Manasquan in the Shore Conference semifinals.
South Group 4
(4) Toms River North 54, (5) Shawnee 51
The Mariners (21-7) make their first trip to the semifinals since 2019, looking to reach the final for the first time since 2017. Stanford football commit Micah Ford led the way with 13 points. Next up is a Wednesday showdown at No. 1 Shawnee, a 56-42 winner over Kingsway.
(3) Central 62, (6) Rancocas Valley 53
The Golden Eagles advance to the semifinals behind a monster double-double by junior Jaycen Santucci, who had 31 points and 15 rebounds, as the team equaled the program mark of 22 wins. Jordan Barbot had 13 points and Miles Chevalier added 11, as they move to face second-seeded Eastern, a 42-26 winner over Cherokee.
CR defeats RV 62-53 to advance to the SJG4 Semi-Final for the first time in school history, also tying the school record for wins with 22… Santucci leads with 31 pts 15 rebs, Barbot 13 pts, Chevalier 11 pts GREAT TEAM EFFORT @CR_athletics @Matt_Manley @kminnicksports @FydSports
— Mike Clemente (@ClementeHoops) February 27, 2024
South Non-Public A
(1) CBA 70, (9) Camden Catholic 66
CBA (18-6) reached the sectional semifinal for the first time since 2016, as the Colts, with a first-round bye, begin the quest for the program’s first sectional title since reaching the Non-Public A final in 2015.
Junior forward Justin Fuerbacher led four Colts in double figures with 19 points, while senior Peter Noble had 14, sophomore Charlie Marcoullier had 13 and sophomore Conor Andree added 10.
(3) Rutgers Prep 77, (6) Red Bank Catholic 61
South Non-Public B
(1) St. Rose 57, (8) Wildwood Catholic 46
The defending sectional champion Purple Roses survived without senior Matt Hodge, who was sick, improving to 27-2. It sets up a semifinal game Wednesday against Holy Cross Prep.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ boys basketball sectional quarterfinals schedule, scores for Shore teams
