Shore boys basketball: NJSIAA power points update, analysis as state tournament looms

The cutoff for boys basketball power points was Saturday and the seeding meeting for the NJSIAA Tournament is scheduled for Tuesday, with the action to get underway next week.

Donovan’s Ryan Jacobs tries to set up a play as he’s closely covered by CBA Peter Noble in first half action. Christian Brothers Academy Basketball defeats Donovan Catholic in Shore Conference Tournament play in Middletown on February 8, 2024.

And while the brackets won’t be official until committee releases them, there’s plenty that can be gleaned from the final power point totals.

Here’s a look at all the power point totals in sections involving Shore Conference teams, with analysis on how it could all shake out once the action begins on the court.

MORE: Brackets released for 2024 NJ boys basketball state tournaments

NJSIAA POWER POINTS

CENTRAL GROUP 1

Henry Hudson and Shore Regional are the top two seeds, but No. 3 College Achieve Asbury Park, the startup charter school program with a lineup full of Division 1 talent, is the heavy favorite. It’s unfair that a public school like Henry Hudson, which had a great season, has to beat a team of that level to win a sectional title, with Shore having lost to Newark charter school Eagle Academy in last year’s final. State Sen, Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, a member of the NJSIAA executive committee, said recently the advent of charters and their potential impact on competition deserves a closer look. College Achieve closed the season with wins over St. Peter’s Prep and St. John Vianney, a pair of Non-Public A programs. College Achieve is not a Shore Conference member, but is allowed to play in the NJSIAA Tournament.

More: Higher seeds rule but one upset at Shore Conference Tournament boys basketball quarterfinals

Team (Record) Power Points

1. Henry Hudson (18-4) 427

2. Shore (16-6) 403

3. College Achieve Asbury Park (15-7) 388

4. Brearley (10-7) 355

5. Manville (12-1) 355

6. Perth Amboy Magnet (12-8) 311

7. South Amboy (15-9) 310

8. South Hunterdon (8-13) 302

9. Eagle Academy (11-11) 296

10. Dunellen (11-11) 292

11. StemCivics (9-10) 285

12. Point Beach (11-11) 280

13. Florence (9-12) 280

14. Somerset Tech (7-15) 246

15. CJ College Charter (9-14) 222

16. Academy Charter (10-8) 211

16. Keyport (8-12) 211

CENTRAL GROUP 2

How dominant has Manasquan been in NJSIAA sectional play? Big Blue comes in riding a 16-game sectional winning streak, while looming as the favorite to win a fifth straight sectional crown. The reigning Group 2 champs take on Holmdel in Wednesday’s SCT semifinals at Red Bank, which could loom as a preview of the Central Group 2 final. Manasquan beat Holmdel, 59-37, early in the season, but has not played Rumson-Fair Haven, which could clash with Holmdel in the semifinals.  Holmdel’s only losses during the regular season were against Manasquan and St. Rose. Rumson lost to St. Rose the SCT quarterfinals. There doesn’t appear to be any team in the section capable of challenging the top three Shore teams here.

1. Manasquan (18-5) 592

2. Holmdel (19-2) 567

3. Rumson-Fair Haven (17-6) 558

4. Delaware Valley (16-7) 491

5. Spotswood (16-6) 418

6. Bound Brook (15-10) 404

7. Point Boro (13-9) 401

8. Bordentown (12-10) 358

9. Johnson (11-6) 339

10. Middlesex (13-11) 336

11. Roselle Park (9-13) 321

12. Willingboro (10-12) 313

13. Delran (9-14) 301

14. Metuchen (12-12) 287

15. Monmouth (11-10) 285

16. South River (12-12) 278

CENTRAL GROUP 3

This looms as one of the Shore’s better chances to claim a sectional title.  Top-seeded Red Bank comes in off a loss to Howell in the SCT quarterfinals, and could face a semifinal clash with B North foe Colts Neck, which it beat, 51-49, on Jan. 30. On the other side of the bracket, Freehold Borough is a threat to make it to the final, likely opening against Matawan, before a showdown with second-seeded Nottingham, third-seeded in this week’s Mercer County Tournament, in the second round. Also expected to be on that side of the bracket is Burlington Township, winners of 15 of its last 16.

1. Red Bank (17-4) 564

2. Nottingham (17-5) 493

3. Burlington Township (19-5) 480

4. Hopewell Valley (17-4) 466

5. Colts Neck (13-7) 453

6. Ewing (14-8) 439

7. Freehold Borough (17-6) 433

8. Robbinsville (16-8) 428

9. Somerville (10-14) 383

10. Matawan (9-13) 345

11. Middletown North (10-14) 340

12. Carteret (14-10) 326

13. Lawrence (11-12) 325

14. Hamilton West (7-15) 282

15. Brick Memorial (9-12) 273

16. Ocean Township (10-15) 231

CENTRAL GROUP 4

While Montgomery, a top-20 team in the state, looms as a solid choice here, the Shore is well represented by a group of A North teams that are battle tested. Manalapan lost a two-point heartbreaker to Holmdel in the SCT second round, with the Hornets then upsetting Central to reach the semifinals. Marlboro advanced in the SCT, while Howell reached the quarterfinals before losing to CBA.  In all, five Shore teams are in the section.

1. Montgomery (19-2) 603

2. Monroe (15-7) 481

3. Manalapan (15-7) 469

4. Marlboro (13-8) 449

5. Old Bridge (13-9) 448

6. Howell (15-8) 440

7. North Brunswick (14-10) 437

8. East Brunswick (12-13) 405

9. Hightstown (13-11) 395

10. Sayreville (15-9) 392

11. Jackson Memorial (11-11) 365

12. West Windsor-Plainsboro North (12-11) 360

13. Princeton (11-10) 359

14. Middletown South (10-11) 334

15. Freehold Township (8-14) 319

16. West Windsor-Plainsboro South (7-15) 282

SOUTH GROUP 4

As usual, this is shaping up as a very tough group, with Lenape, winners of 12 straight, the favorite, while Eastern’s only losses have come against Lenape, twice, and Camden Eastside. And Central’s path might include a second-round clash with a dangerous Shawnee team, which beat Delsea last week and lost by two points to Lenape on Feb. 3. Atlantic City’s only losses have come against Mainland, top seed in South Group 4, Middle Township, tops in South Group 2, Camden Eastside and Hammonton, and Toms River North could have to play them in the second round. This is the deep end of the pool, for sure.

1. Lenape (20-3) 666

2. Eastern (21-3) 583

3. Central (19-4) 582

4. Toms River North (16-7) 536

5. Atlantic City (20-4) 515

6. Shawnee (16-8) 494

7. Rancocas Valley (13-11) 490

8. Cherokee (15-11) 472

9. Southern (15-9) 434

10. Kingsway (12-11) 391

11. Cherry Hill East (11-15) 372

12. Pennsauken (13-11) 355

13. Washington Township (13-10) 348

14. Toms River East (10-12) 322

15. Egg Harbor (6-20) 312

16. Bridgeton (10-13) 304

SOUTH GROUP 3

1. Mainland (21-5) 639

2. Ocean City (22-2) 560

3. Camden Eastside (16-8) 526

4. Moorestown (16-7) 518

5. Timber Creek (16-4) 500

6. Toms River South (14-9) 492

7. Cherry Hill West (18-5) 486

8. Delsea (15-8) 483

9. Hammonton (15-8) 450

10. Absegami (19-6) 418

11. Triton (13-9) 392

12. Barnegat (14-9) 384

13. Deptford (12-10) 373

14. Clearview (13-9) 369

15. Pemberton (10-14) 331

16. Westampton Tech (8-16) 328

SOUTH GROUP 2

13. Manchester (10-12)

SOUTH GROUP 1

No Shore Conference teams

SOUTH NON-PUBLIC A

CBA’s last state sectional title came in 2015, when the Colts defeated St. Augustine in the final. But since then, the Colts have not advanced past the quarterfinals. They have to face powerhouse St. Rose in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals Wednesday. But Union Catholic, the reigning Non-Public A champs, could be considered the favorites here, with their only losses in 2024 to Elizebeth and St. Rose. And Rutgers Prep has some nice wins, along with a 16-point loss to St. Rose that’s like a win. Red Bank Catholic, which lost to CBA in the regular season, Donovan Catholic and St. John Vianney give the Shore a big presence in this bracket.

1. CBA (17-5) 609

2. Union Catholic (17-6) 588

3. Rutgers Prep (16-6) 587

4. St. Joseph Metuchen (18-7) 567

5. Paul VI (16-8) 554

6. Red Bank Catholic (14-11) 543

7. Donovan Catholic (18-5) 541

8. Pingry (16-4) 537

9. Camden Catholic (13-9) 502

10. St. Augustine (13-12) 400

11. Notre Dame (11-10) 393

12. St. John Vianney (12-13) 370

13. Immaculata (10-12) 364

SOUTH NON-PUBLIC B

St. Rose reached the Non-Public B final last year where it lost to Roselle Catholic in the championship game, with virtually all of the main contributors from that team returning. The Purple Roses only losses have come in the season-opener against the Patrick School and in the Metro Classic to Montverde (Fla.), No. 1 in the USA TODAY Super 25. Ranney, the only other Shore school in this group, lost to St. Rose by 41 points. St. Rose is unlikely to be tested until the Non-Public B final, when they could face Roselle Catholic again. But the Purple Roses are the favorite to win their first state championship since 1977.

1. St. Rose (23-2) 684

2. Gloucester Catholic (14-9) 433

3. Bishop Eustace (11-12) 428

4. Calvary Christian (17-3) 425

5. Holy Cross Prep (11-12) 410

6. Trenton Catholic (14-9) 406

7. St. Joseph’s Hammonton (11-14) 388

8. Wildwood Catholic (9-15) 376

9. Ranney (10-11) 328

10. Princeton Day (7-13) 245

11. Holy Spirit (4-20) 235

12. Doane Academy (7-17) 226

13. Moorestown Friends (5-13) 184

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore boys basketball: NJSIAA power points update, analysis as state tournament looms