The Shore Conference boys basketball tournament semifinals saw two outstanding games at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River.  SSZ has highlights of Marlboro’s first ever trip to the SCT finals with a shocker over Ranney and Mater Dei Prep holding off an upset minded Toms River North

Mater Dei Prep 73 Toms River North 68

Elijah Barnes had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Kenny Jones added 13 points and dished out 10 assists as the Seraphs survived a scare from the red hot Mariners.  After beating RFH by 44 points in the quarterfinals, TRN jumped out to a 24-14 lead, but the Seraphs battled back.  Kyle Cardaci had 20 points for Mater Dei as the Seraphs reach the SCT finals for a second straight year.  Sean O’Donnell was scorching from beyond the arc scoring 21 points for Toms River North (24-2), who suffers just their second loss of the season.  A Barnes dunk over Jaden Rhoden put the Seraphs up seven late in the game, but O’Donnell nearly brought Toms River North back with a pair of three pointers in the final minute.  The Mariners were plagued by two key turnovers in the final moments that ended their upset bid.  Watch the highlights of the first SCT semifinal from Pine Belt Arena in Toms River:

Marlboro 50 Ranney 47

Daniel Weiss drained a right wing three-pointer off a feed from PJ Ringel with 30 seconds to go to put the Mustangs ahead for good in a shocking 50-47 win over #2 seed Ranney.  The Mustangs reach their first ever SCT Final.  Ryan LaRocca led the Mustangs with 15, Weiss added 13.  The Ranney trio of Bryan Antoine, Scottie Lewis and Ahmadu Sarnor combined for 70 points in a quarterfinal win over Middletown North, but that number shrank to 40.  Antoine had 15 points, all in the second half and Scottie Lewis added 10.  Weiss drained a three to end the first half and give the Mustangs a 22-15 lead.  Antoine got going in the third quarter and Lewis delivered a slam and blocked shot to get the Panthers knotted with Marlboro 38-38 through three quarters.  Antoine scored on a great crossover move to tie the game at 43, but Weiss delivered the heroics and the Mustangs made their free throws down the stretch.  Watch the highlights of an historic win for the Mustangs:

Shore Conference Tournament Finals

Saturday at Monmouth University

SCT Girls Final: (5) Saint Rose vs. (3) Saint John Vianney, 5:30 pm

SCT Boys Final: (6) Marlboro vs. (1) Mater Dei Prep, 7:30 pm

Sponsor Shout Outs!

Thanks so much to four great sponsors who allow us to capture incredible Shore Conference Tournament basketball.  I’m Possible Training (Ranney), Hit Training (Marlboro), Gold Coast Cadillac (Mater Dei Prep) and FlyNyon (Toms River North) are the reason we can bring you the great coverage from all four of these schools!