When the Neptune High School boys’ basketball team played in Sunday’s Tournament of Champions final at the Continental Airlines Arena, they entered uncharted waters, becoming the first boys’ team in Shore Conference history to advance to the state’s championship game.
Unfortunately for them, their opponent, eight-time TOC champion St. Anthony’s, of Jersey City, was much more familiar with the environment, and jumped out to an early lead, before eventually ending Neptune’s storybook season, 69-49. St. Anthony’s displayed the type of poise and depth expected of the state’s premier boys’ basketball program, while Neptune looked like a team that simply ran out of steam following a brilliant run through the postseason.
In what was the final high school game for seniors Taquan Dean, Terrance Todd and Robert Layton, the Scarlet Fliers wrapped up a season that brought the entire Shore Conference basketball community a boost in respect and their fans plenty of reason to exalt in hometown pride.
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