It’s a tradition that began in 1937, when unbeaten Keyport defeated Atlantic Highlands, 31-22, at Convention Hall in Asbury Park to win the first ever Shore Conference basketball title.
And on Saturday the seeds were unveiled for the 86th renewal of the Shore Conference Tournament, with Manasquan (18-4) grabbing the top-seed among the 26 teams that qualified with .500 records by Friday’s cutoff.
The selection committee, made up of representatives from each of the conference’s eight divisions, gave Manasquan the nod over second-seeded St. Rose (18-2). The two split their regular-season series, sharing the C North title, and have not lost to another area team this season.
Toms River North, the A South champion, picked up the third seed, while Raritan, the lone unbeaten at 17-0, picked up the fourth seed, with the A Central champions poised to take on the area’s top teams. Middletown South, winners of 15 straight at Friday’s cutoff, is seeded fifth, while Jackson Memorial gets the sixth seed.
The top six seeds receive byes in Tuesday’s first round, with the winners of those 10 games, advancing to Thursday’s Round of 16. The first two rounds are played on the home court of the higher seeded team.
In the end, it’s relatively insignificant who the one or two seed is, with the final three rounds played on neutral courts.
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Manasquan, which lost to Union Catholic, 59-53, at the Metro Classic at Kean University Friday night, the second meeting of the season with St. Rose at home, after losing at St. Rose in December. The Big Blue will be looking to reach its fourth straight SCT championship game, having lost to Ranney in 2019, beaten Toms River North in 2020 and lost to Marlboro last year. They also won the unofficial Shore Conference crown during the pandemic shortened 2021 season.
For St. Rose, it would be the first SCT title, and first championship game appearance for the program should the Purple Roses reach the final game.
Here are the SCT seeds, with the schedule of games listed below:
Seed Team (record at cutoff)
1 Manasquan (18-4)
2. St. Rose (18-2)
3. Toms River North (17-4)
4. Raritan (17-0)
5. Middletown South (15-4)
6. Jackson Memorial (17-4)
7. CBA (11-6 plays St. Rose)
8. Freehold Township (15-3)
9. Rumson-Fair Haven (14-5)
10. Colts Neck (14-5)
11. Ranney (11-9)
12. Central (16-5)
13. Red Bank Catholic (11-9)
14. Brick Memorial (13-8)
15. Point Boro (13-6
16. Southern (12-8)
17. Ocean (15-5)
18. Manalapan (10-10)
19. Shore (12-4)
20. Donovan Catholic (8-8)
21. Point Beach (12-6)
22. Lacey (11-9)
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23. Matawan (12-9)
24. Monmouth (11-9)
25. Keyport (13-4)
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26. Keansburg (7-7)
OPENING ROUND GAMES
Tuesday, Feb. 7
(26) Keansburg at (7) CBA
(25) Keyport at (8) Freehold Twp.
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(24) Monmouth at (9) Rumson-Fair Haven
(23) Matawan at (10) Colts Neck
(22) Lacey at (11) Ranney
(21) Point Beach at (12) Central
(20) Donovan Catholic at (13) Red Bank Catholic
(19) Shore at (14) Brick Memorial
(18) Manalapan at (15) Point Boro
(17) Ocean at (16) Southern
Round of 16
Thurs., Feb. 9
(17) Ocean/(16) Southern winner at (1) Manasquan
(18) Manalapan/(15) Point Boro winner at (2) St. Rose
(19) Shore/(14) Brick Memorial winner at (3) Toms River North
(20) Donovan Catholic/(13) Red Bank Catholic winner at (4) Raritan
(21) Point Beach/(12) Central winner at (5) Middletown South
(22) Lacey/(11) Ranney winner at (6) Jackson Memorial
(23) Matawan/(10) Colts Neck winner vs. (26) Keansburg /(7) CBA winner
(24) Monmouth/(9) Rumson-Fair Haven winner vs. (25) Keyport/(8) Freehold Twp. winner
Sat., Feb. 11 – Quarterfinals at Middletown South. Games at 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2:30 and 4:15.
Tue., Feb. 14 – Semifinals at Toms River North, Games at 6 p.m. and 7:45.
Sun., Feb. 19 – Final, 2 p.m. (Girls’ final at noon).
