Manasquan Earns First Trip To SCT Final In 14 Years

Photos courtesy of: Ken Cook @ http://theessentialnews.net/

TOMS RIVER – Second-seeded Manasquan held off a furious Christian Brothers Academy (20-5) fourth-quarter rally to get by the third-seeded Colts, 70-64, in Thursday’s Shore Conference Tournament final at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena in Toms River.

The win was the Warriors 16th straight – tying them with Toms River North for the longest streak in the Shore this season - and sends them to their first Shore Conference Tournament final in 14 years. Ironically, it was CBA who they faced in that game which they lost 57-41 in the 2005 final.

Since that loss, Manasquan (25-2) has met CBA twice in the Shore Conference Tournament losing both, including the 2015 quarterfinals and the 2016 semifinals. The Warriors are in search of the programs first Shore Conference Tournament championship since 1957 when they beat Red Bank, 79-56.

But Thursday night belonged to the Warriors and they were not to be denied. They played near perfect basketball in the first half dominating at both ends of the floor with tenacious rebounding and a fast-break offense that gave them a 21-point lead, 42-21 at the half.

“We just played to our strengths, we’re a good rebounding team,” said Manasquan head coach Andrew Bilodeau. “So, you rebound and you run. We were pretty consistent in the fist half and they missed some shots. I thought Xander (Korolik) and Tim (McEneny) did a super job on Cohen (Josh) in the first half. We were able to get some run-outs in the first half and in the second half we didn’t get any. We had some uncharacteristic turnovers but when you’re playing a great team that’s what happens. So credit their defense.”

Senior guard Brad McCabe led the first-half onslought with 13 points, including hitting three, three-pointers in the first quarter and pulling down five boards in the half. Freshman guard Ben Roy added nine points and three rebounds and the 6-foot-6 senior forward Korolik took his game outside dropping two three’s and finishing with eight first-half points and four rebounds.

Roy’s bucket midway through the third quarter pushed the Warriors lead to 22 points, 48-26, before CBA methodically climbed back into the game getting as close as four points in the closing minute.

“Definitely,” said Bilodeau when asked if the big lead makes it harder to play. “Because the shots that are open all night are shots you don’t want. We had a couple of times where we didn’t want anything quick unless it’s a layup and we took a couple of quick ones and missed them. We just said, ‘Just keep running and we’ll grind them.’ We just tried to be a little more selective.”

The Warriors held the 6-foot-11 big man, Cohen, to just four point in the first half but Cohen caught fire in the second half scoring 18 of his game-high 22 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter when he and senior guard Stephen Braunstein, who had 21 points – 11 in the fourth – brought the Colts to with striking distance.

Braunstein’s three-point play to open the fourth finished off a 15-4 run for the Colts pulling them to within 52-41 while supplying them some momentum.

However, the Warriors withstood the Colts best shot as junior forward Alex Galvan and Roy stepped up with some fourth-quarter magic that helped the Warriors fend off the CBA challenge.

Galvan converted two three-point plays and went four-for-four from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter when he scored 10 of his team-high 21 points while Roy calmly sank four-of-four from the stripe in the final minute to keep CBA at bay.

“I knew that I really had to make it count when I was in (the game),” said Galvan, who played through foul trouble in the fourth quarter. “I had to play smart and do the right things. I had to do the simple things like get open, get to the basket and make my layups.”

“It’s his offensive rebounding, really,” said Bilodeau when asked about Galvan’s play. “Everybody keys on him and it’s difficult to throw him the ball. He’s playing usually 32 minutes a night and rarely comes out. We can put it up there and he does a good job positioning himself for putbacks. Normally, you get fouled on those and he does a great job with that.”

Braunstein’s three-pointer pulled CBA to within four, 68-64, with 7.8 seconds remaining but Roy iced the game with his two free throws with six seconds left in the contest.

Roy finished with 17 points, including eight in the second half, four rebounds, three assists and a steal while Galvan added eight rebounds, an assist and block to his 21 points.

The Warriors went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter with Galvan and Roy both a perfect four-of-four while sophomore guard Casey Mulligan and junior point guard Kiernan Flanagan each hit one-of-two from the line.

Galvan’s two free throws extended the Manasquan lead to 64-55 with 1:31 left in the game and Roy’s four in the final minute sealed CBA’s fate.

Flanagan and Roy’s guard play down the regular season stretch including the Shore Conference Tournament has been key for the Warriors who characteristically thrive on the inside power game of Galvan, McCabe and Korolik.

McCabe finished with 15 points and nine rebounds while Korolik scored eight of his 10 points in the first half and added seven boards, a blocked shot and a steal.

Flanagan chipped in with six point Thursday, including a pivotal drive to the hoop with just under five minutes left in the game that helped slow down the CBA comeback attempt. He also dished out a team-high six assists and is averaging 12.3 points and five assists since February 1. Roy is scoring at a 13.2 clip over the last six games and 16.0 per in the Shore Conference Tournament.

“You get to the second half of your conference schedule and now Ben Roy has been scouted,” said Bilodeau. “Nobody knows how to play him until week seven or eight. Now, everyone has the book on him. Teams are jumping his right hand and denying him the ball. So, now he’s got to adjust.”

And apparently, Roy has done just that in his breakout freshman campaign.

The Warriors now have their work cut out for them if they are to end the programs 62-year drought in Saturday’s SCT final when they matchup against top-seeded Ranney, the No. 1 team in the state that is also ranked No. 13 in the country by USA Today.

“You can’t reinvent yourself in two days, nor can they (Ranney),” said Bilodeau. “The way I see it, they have to play us too. We’re just going to play loose and attack and do what we do.

“Our guys are fired up whoever it was going to be. We want to be in this game. Why not against the No. 1 team in the state. I think it’s a great opportunity for our guys.”

“I can’t even express my feelings right now,” said McCabe. “It’s unbelievable what this coaching staff and team has done this year. We’re more than willing to play Ranney and we’ll see what happens. We’re going just keep doing what we’re doing and don’t let anyone stop us.”

Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday at 5:00 p.m. at the Ocean First Bank Arena on the campus of Monmouth University.

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