Epic comeback lifts Manasquan boys basketball to 5th straight title: 'Something in the water'

MANASQUAN – It seemed Manasquan’s run of four straight NJSIAA sectional state championships was coming to an end Friday night, trailing Rumson-Fair Haven, 30-23, with just over two minutes to play in a defensive slugfest to decide the Central Group 2 title.

Then came a comeback for the ages.

Manasquan closed the game with a 13-0 run, with senior Jason Larned starting the rally on a drive with two minutes to play before eventually burying a 3-pointer from the corner with 41 seconds left to put Manasquan on top.

From there, Big Blue's defense took over and junior Griffin Linstra closed the game out with four free throws as top-seeded Manasquan won its fifth straight sectional crown, 36-30. Up next is a Group 2 semifinal showdown Tuesday with powerhouse Camden, which beat Middle Township, 80-55, in the South Group 2 final Friday night.

“Our culture just keeps us winning,” said Linstra. “It’s a crazy thing. It’s got to be something in the water.”

More: NJ basketball: Red Bank vs Freehold preview, pick in Central Group 3 final

The stars have changed for Manasquan (23-6) over the years, but the results remain the same.

As the wild celebration played out on the court postgame, Linstra embraced senior guard Ryan Frauenheim, a key member of the previous three championships, including last year's Group 2 title. But a summer knee injury robbed him of his senior season, although he’s been helping the team from the sideline and in practice.

“That’s our brother. That’s who we did this for,” said Linstra. “He would have had his fourth year and I had to get him his fourth ring, so it’s just amazing.

“If you think, we had the best player in New Jersey last year leave (Darius Adams), the best point guard in New Jersey tears his ACL (Frauenheim), most teams wouldn’t be here.”

“It’s what Manasquan basketball is all about,” Frauenheim said. “Two years ago Ben Roy, a great player, went down with the same injury as me and we really bonded together as a team and said at the beginning of the year, everything is for Ben, and we brought that home for Ben that year. Unfortunately, I had the same injury this year and that was what everyone has been saying. These guys are my best friends.”

Defense comes through

For much of the game it was Manasquan trying to fight off withering defensive pressure from Rumson, which held Manasquan to just 23 points in nearly 30 minutes.

But it was the Manasquan defense that turned the game around in the end. After Larned’s score made it a five-points deficit, Linstra scored inside with 1:14 to play to make it a one-score game. Freshman guard Rey Weinseimer then made a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass, getting the ball to Linstra for a layup with 1:10 left, pulling Manasquan within 30-29.

Manasquan promptly got a tie-up defensively, with the possession arrow giving Big Blue the ball. That’s when Larned drained his triple from the corner to give his team a 32-30 lead it would never relinquish at the 41 second mark.

"Everyone keeps telling me to shoot it and that is just what I did. Right place, right time," Larned said.

Linstra scored eight of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, while Larned scored seven of his 10 points in the final quarter. Manasquan has now won 20 straight games in state sectional play, dating back to a 2018 loss to Lincoln.

“I thought the kids battled,” Manasquan head coach Andrew Bilodeau said. “People say score one more than other team. We look at it the other way. Stop them from scoring one more than us. Defensively, I thought we really did great job in the second half the assistant coaches made some adjustments at halftime that helped.”

Rumson (20-7), which had been seeking its fourth sectional title since 2017, was led by Andrew Goodes’ nine points.

Jersey Shore teams could claim four sectional titles. In addition to Manasquan, Red Bank and Freehold Borough play in Saturday’s Central Group 3 final, and College Achieve Asbury Park is in the Central Group 1 final, while St. Rose plays for the South Non-Public A title Monday at Lenape High School.

PREGAME

NJSIAA Central Group 2 Basketball Final: Manasquan vs Rumson preview, prediction, coverage

MANASQUAN – It’s the most intriguing matchup of the Shore high school basketball season on several  different levels, as top-seeded Manasquan hosts third-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven in an all-Shore final to decide the NJSIAA Central Group 2 championship Friday night (6:30 p.m.).

It marks the fifth time since 2016 the two have met in the state playoffs, but the first time in the final. And the last time Manasquan lost on its home court to a Shore Conference public school it was against Rumson, falling 56-46 on Feb. 3, 2018.

It would be the fifth straight sectional title for Manasquan, while Rumson is looking for its fourth sectional crown since 2017, having last won it in 2022, when Manasquan was in Group 3.

No. 1 Manasquan (22-6)

The aforementioned homecourt advantage is very real in the bandbox gym, which will be overflowing. Manasquan’s 19-point home loss to St. Rose this season is the closest any local team has been to the Purple Roses. But Manasquan also lost at home this season to Ranney, which struggled all season, so it’s not impossible to win there.

Manasquan’s best, however, is very good, with its most impressive performance coming in a takedown of East Orange, favored to win the North Section 1, Group 4 title.

In junior Griffin Linstra, Manasquan has a player capable of dominating at both ends of the court. The 6-5 Linstra can get to the basket at one end and protect the rim at the other, having produced 16 double-doubles in 26 games. And 6-7 Alex Konov is a matchup problem because of his range as a 3-point shooter. Manasquan’s starting backcourt of fresman point guard Rey Weinseimer, and seniors Luke Roy, a defensive stalwart, and Jason Larned have performed well against some very good guards this seasons.

Manasquan has a pair of 6-5 reserves in Ryan Mulvaney and Jack O’Reilly, who could help offset the Bulldogs’ size inside.

No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven (20-6)

Rumson has not ducked anyone this season. Entering Friday, four of the six teams they lost to this season were still alive in the state playoffs. And it’s those experiences that will serve them well against a strong opponent in a hostile environment.

Where Rumson appears to have an advantage is in the paint, where 6-7 Andrew Goodes is healthy, helping ignite a second-half rally against Holmdel with 11 points, while grabbing 16 rebounds, and 6-8 sophomore Luke Cruz has been a force all season, with the ability to hit 3-pointers as well.

It ultimately comes own to defense for the Bulldogs, who have relied on 6-4 junior Riley Gill to line up against the opposition’s top scorer, with Gill expected to draw the assignment on Linstra. From there, it comes down to the Bulldogs’ rugged 6-2 yards, senior Nick Rigby and junior David Carr, to win their battles with the Manasquan guards at both ends.

The Bulldogs have to shoot the ball well, hitting 5-of-7 from 3-point range against Holmdel to open up a 10-point first quarter lead.

Common opponents

Manasquan is 7-2 in games against their common foes, while Rumson is 5-4, with both teams having lost to St. Rose and Toms River North, a loss Manasquan avenged in the SCT quarterfinals.  They both played Holmdel recently, with Manasquan winning 66-43 in the SCT semifinals, and Rumson beating the Hornets, 60-37, in Wednesday’s semifinals.

Prediction

Manasquan 65, Rumson 63.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manasquan boys basketball rallies to top Rumson in Central Group 2 final