This season's best Shore high school girls basketball games

Not all regular season games for girls hoops are created equal.

With so much talented teams all over the Shore, it makes for a lot of great games this winter - regular season and a full menu of showcase events.

Of course most teams have the goal to be the last squad standing come postseason. However, with rivalry games, showcases and high-profile matchups, some earlier games deserve to be circled on the calendar. Whether it's two local teams, or a ball club facing a team out of state, we're here to provide you with what's important.

Here's a list of marquee games this season - regular season plus showcases - for girls hoops:

Regular season:

Toms River North at Holmdel, Jan. 2, 5:15 p.m.

First game to kick off the new year and it's with two experienced teams that are spotted in the top 10 of our preseason rankings. Longtime Ocean County power Toms River North and Holmdel, a team that won 20-games last season. NJIT commit Allison Cannon will play a key role for Holmdel as she's their best scorer. As for the Mariners, they dominated their division by going 10-0, now with senior Megan Sias and a roster filled of upperclassmen, it makes for an interesting matchup.

More: Who are the Shore girls basketball Breakout Players of the Year? Scouts gave us 28 candidates

Red Bank Catholic at Ocean Township, Jan. 3, 5:30 p.m.

There's no better way for both teams to kick off 2024 than facing a fellow high-profiled squad on the Shore. Ocean Township, a program on the rise, will lean on their returning players in Eli Clark, Kayden Clark, Gamila Betton, Jineen Ayyash, and Sofia Chebookjian against a Caseys team that was 26-3 and made it to the state semifinals last year. This will be one of many tests this season for RBC's returning players who include Raquelle Mcmullin, Addy Nyemchek, Katie and Tessa Liggio.

Point Pleasant Beach at Ocean Township, Jan. 4, 5:30 p.m.

Right after facing a top team in Red Bank Catholic, the Spartans have another meaningful showdown the next day. This early regular season game is for bragging rights amongst the top small schools. Point Pleasant Beach has junior Erin Frauenheim who was its leading scorer last season. If the Garnet Gulls are able to find another reliable source of scoring, this game might come down to the wire.

Middletown North at Middletown South, Jan. 8, 7 p.m.

May not be the same type of rivalry as their Thanksgiving football game, but this game is picked as a sleeper. The Eagles were knocked out early in the playoffs last year and will look to add on to that this winter. As for the Lions, they struggled big time last year, but have a good number of returning players to make this an interesting crosstown rivalry game.

Manasquan at St. Rose, Jan. 22, 5:30 p.m.

One of the Shore's best rivalries will get to happen once again after the two teams split their two games last year. Last year, the Warriors had a relatively young roster but still managed to rack up over 20 wins. Now, Manasquan will have junior Olivia Shaughnessy who will likely step up from being a role player. As for St. Rose, sophomore Jada Lynch and senior guard Tanaiyah Decker are a dynamic duo. There's a reason both teams were right next to one another and in the Top 10 in our preseason rankings, this game might decide who deserves the higher spot.

St. John Vianney at St. Rose, Jan. 31, 5 p.m.

This is a game that'll consist of high level basketball from start to finish. Both teams are a shoe-in to be making deep playoff runs, but this regular season game might feel like a postseason match. St. John Vianney's senior Julia Karpell was on our second team All-Shore preseason list for a reason. SJV will only have one returning starter, but it would be silly to count them out. St. Rose has hidden gems who will have to shine under the bright lights in this one.

Colts Neck at Manchester Township, Feb. 15, 6:30 p.m.

NC State commit Devyn Quigley of Manchester entered this season 910 points shy of Kelly Hughes' Shore Conference career record of 2,588 points. If Quigley has anything close to the season she had last year averaging 34 points a game, she's on pace to break that. And what's a better way to break that against a Cougars team that's on the rise with Senior Savannah who averaged close to a double-double last year (10 points, 8 rebounds)? This will be Manchester's last regular season game, so expect a packed gym to possibly witness history.

Showcase games:

Shore Games Tournament (Dec. 15-17)

Dec. 15

Dr. Phillips (FL) at St. John Vianney @5 p.m. (Location: St. John Vianney)

Marlboro at Holmdel @ 5 p.m. (Location: St. Mary School, Middletown, NJ)

St. Rose vs Paul VI, 8 p.m., Dec. 15 (Location: Saint John Vianney)

St. Rose at Paul VI @ 8:20 p.m. (Location: St. John Vianney)

Union City at Rumson-Fair Haven @8:20 p.m. (Location: Saint Mary School)

Colts Neck at Hudson Catholic @8:35 p.m. (Location: Sportika, Court 3)

Dec. 16

Red Bank Catholic at Dr. Philips (FL), 10 a.m. (Location: St. John Vianney)

Pope John XIII at Manchester, 11 a.m. (Location: 'The Fort', Oceanport, NJ)

Monsignor McClancy (NY) at Manasquan, 12:40 p.m. (Location: 'The Fort', Oceanport, NJ)

Wildwood Catholic at Shore Regional, 2:20 p.m. (Location: 'The Fort', Oceanport, NJ)

Blair Academy at Ranney, 5:40 p.m. (Location: 'The Fort', Oceanport, NJ)

Dec. 17

Life Center at St. John Vianny, 5:20 p.m.

Cancer Showcase at Donovan Catholic

Jan. 13

Donovan Catholic vs Middletown North, 9:30 a.m.

Jackson Memorial vs Marlboto, 11 am

Manchester vs Ranney, 12:30 pm

Wall vs Hightstown, 2 p.m.

Holmdel vs Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.

Trinity Hall vs Mount Saint Mary Academy, 5 p.m.

Manasquan vs Red Bank Regional, 6:30 p.m.

Colts Neck vs Shore Regional, 8 p.m.

Hoop Group Boardwalk Classic at Brookdale Community College

Jan. 7

Ocean Township vs St. Rose, 11 a.m.

Trinity Hall vs St. Thomas Aquinas, TBD

St. John Vianney vs Blair Academy, 2:20 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic at Morris Catholic, 4:05 p.m.

Score At The Shore at Southern Regional

Shore Conference school seedings

#2 Trinity Hall

#7 Southern Regional

NJ Showcase at Franklin High

Jan. 13

Franklin High School vs Rumson-Fair Haven, 3:30 p.m.

South vs Shore Showcase at Rancocas Valley

Jan. 20

Manasquan vs Lenape, 6 p.m.

The Mecca 2024 at Gauchos Gym (N.Y.)

St. John Vianney vs TBD, date TBA

War vs The Shore IX at Mainland High School

Feb. 3

St. John Vianney vs Mainland Regional, 11:30 a.m.

Coaches Choice College Showcase at Holmdel High School

Red Bank Catholic vs Union City, Feb. 3, 6:15 p.m.

St. Rose vs Gill St. Bernard's, Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m.

Rumson Fair-Haven vs Ewing, Feb. 4, 2 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic vs Rutgers Prep, Feb. 4, 5:15 p.m.

Manasquan vs Paul VI, Feb. 4, 3:45 p.m.

Trinity Hall, TBD

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore girls basketball best games 2023-24 season