Ranney School of Tinton Falls hosted its 18th annual Panther Classic Basketball Tournament in the Gerhard Pavilion for Athletics on Jan. 6-7, with a familiar outcome: the Lady Panthers captured their fourth straight title.
Atradition since 1994, this year’s Panther Classic featured varsity boys and girls teams from United Christian Academy, Calvary Academy, Doane Academy and Ranney School. Doane Academy’s boys join the Ranney girls as tournament champions.
Ranney opened the tournament with a 35-18 win over Calvary. Sophomores Carly Ansell and Madison Pflaster led the Lady Panthers with eight points apiece. They were followed by freshman Jeeda Ani, who netted six, junior Rachel Burstiner, who garnered five, and senior Alexa Volpe, who added four.
United Christian Academy played its way into the girls’ final with a 38-30 victory over Doane Academy. Ranney’s Volpe made four free throws in the final minute to secure a 24-21 victory over United Christian.
“I was nervous, but trying to stay as focused as possible,” Volpe said about her free throws, in a Ranney School press release. “I knew the team was counting on me. ”
Ansell, who scored a game-high 10 points in the final, was named MVP. Teammate Pflaster was one of several talented athletes named to the Classic’s All- Tournament team. She was joined by Monalisa Hyppolite of Doane Academy, Alyssa Kafton of Calvary Academy, and Taylor Lee and Brielle McCarthy of New Jersey United Christian Academy. This was the 11th title overall for the Lady Panthers and could be a springboard toward success for the rest of the season.
“This game showed the girls that they are capable of winning a close game,” said head coach and Ranney Athletic Director Thomas Moriau. “It gave us the confidence needed to move forward toward yet more victories on the court this year.”
The Ranneys boys reached the final, where they were defeated by Doane, 61- 40. The Panthers advanced to the final by beating New Jersey United Christian Academy from Cream Ridge, 59-18.
Sophomore Joseph Esquivel-Murphy had 16 points, seven steals and three steals. Junior Omar Hozayen, who went six-forsix from the free throw line, added 12. Freshman John Mejia contributed eight points, five rebounds and two assists.
Doane advanced following a 51-32 win over Calvary.
Although beaten in the final, head coach Tyler Schmelz saw improvement.
“Although they did not win, Ranney’s varsity boys basketball team has definitely improved since last year’s tournament,” said Schmelz.
Senior Neil Amin scored five threepointers in the final, and Ranney sophomores Joseph Esquivel-Murphy, Grahame Wade and William Rotolo contributed a combined 20 points to the 61-40 loss. Esquivel Murphy and Rotolo were selected to the All-Tournament team. Meanwhile, the boys’Tournament MVP award went to Davis Graham of Doane Academy.