BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Staff Writer
MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Mater Dei’s Ryan Killeen goes to the basket and gets fouled by Keyport’s Jessica Carroll during a game on Thursday in Keyport. Although the Mater Dei High School boys basketball team is 6-10 heading into the home stretch of the season, coach Bob Klatt is building a strong foundation for the future with a group of talented freshmen and sophomores.
The Seraphs have struggled at times, but are still in position to qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament. That, however, means Mater Dei needs to win five of its next six contests.
“We’re still in it and I’m starting to see some real progress,” the coach said. “Our offense, in particular, has been playing well lately and we’re starting to play more consistently.”
Thus far Mater Dei’s biggest success came with a win against Shore Regional. The Seraphs other triumphs have come against Henry Hudson Regional, Point Pleasant Beach, Matawan and Keyport (twice). Klatt also lauded his team’s play in a hard-fought loss to Asbury Park.
“We have a lot of young players and while they’re doing well, they’re still learning,” he said. “I think the biggest adjustment for them is the speed of the game. Everything happens so much faster at the varsity level. I think that was a surprise for them.”
Mater Dei’s starting lineup includes a pair of freshman guards, Chris Jetter and Glen Holck. Jetter averages six points and 3.5 assists and is dangerous from three-point range. Holck has been equally impressive, in averaging eight points. Three sophomores, forwards Nick Kelleher and Pat O’Boyle and guard Dan Truebig, who missed four weeks with a broken foot, are splitting time between the varsity and the JV. All have played well, Klatt noted.
The coach also pointed out that the Seraphs seniors have kept the team competitive. Forward Mike Pellicane averages just under 10 points and leads Mater Dei in scoring. Center Jay Cash puts up seven points and leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.5 caroms. Guards Tom Matthew and Nick Rufo average eight and five points, respectively, and can hit from three-point range. Forwards Ryan Lino and Dan Yervis round out the senior contingent.
Mater Dei has had to do without junior guard Justin Vega, who required surgery after tearing a rotator cuff in the Seraphs Thanksgiving Day football game against Keansburg. Vega, who letters in three sports, has missed the entire campaign, but is expected back in time for baseball, Klatt said.
“Mike Pellicane has really stepped up for us and, as a result, some of our other guys are starting to do more,” Klatt said. “All year long it’s seemed like we were on the verge of turning the corner and the Shore Regional win was especially encouraging. The guys know what they’re capable of doing.”
The Seraphs are scheduled for two games this week. On Monday Mater Dei hosted Asbury Park and Klatt’s team will visit St. Rose in Belmar tomorrow. Next week the Seraphs square off against Keansburg, Middletown South and Ocean.
“Right now we just have to find ways to win games,” the coach said. “Our guys are very positive and they’re working hard to end the season on a high note.”
Postseason deadlines approaching
With the deadline for the state playoffs this Saturday (teams must be at .500 or better to qualify), three local boys teams have wrapped up their spots in the postseason, while one more may sneak in with some wins this week.
The Middletown South Eagles entered the week at 7-9, with just two games on the slate this week. That means the Eagles need to win both. On Monday, they faced a struggling Marlboro team (5-12), while tomorrow, they take on a solid Howell team (8-6).
Meanwhile, Raritan (12-4), St. John Vianney (13-4) and Christian Brothers Academy (12-6) will all be headed to the state tournament. Raritan should be one of the higher seeds in the Central Jersey Group II tournament, while both SJV and CBA will have their work cut out for them in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive South Jersey Parochial A bracket.
As for the local girls teams, Mater Dei (13-2), Middletown South (11-2), Raritan (11-7) and St. John Vianney (13-4) are all state-tournament bound, while Holmdel (8-6) and Keyport (8-9) could also qualify.
Holmdel has three games scheduled this week, and needs to win just one to wrap up its state tournament berth. The Hornets were in Red Bank on Monday to take on top-ranked Red Bank Catholic, and will be back in action today when they host Manasquan (4-9). From there, they take on Middletown North (4-10) on Saturday in Middletown.
Keyport improved its chances with a 43-46 win over South River on Friday, but still needs to win two out of three of its games this week to qualify. The Red Raiders took on Henry Hudson (0-13) on Monday, and will face Academy Charter later today. With wins in both games, tomorrow’s match-up with Shore Regional (7-9) won’t mean as much for Keyport. Shore, on the other hand, may very well need the win to seal up its postseason berth.
Of the four teams that are guaranteed to be playing in the state tournament, none are hotter than the SJV Lady Lancers. Under first-year head coach Dawn Karpell, the Lancers are playing at the highest level of any Shore Conference team of late, having posted wins over top-ranked Red Bank Catholic, second-ranked Rumson-Fair Haven, and most recently, Monmouth Regional, in the past couple of weeks.
On Saturday, the Lancers blew past Monmouth (12-6), 72-49, as Katelyn Linney led the way with 24 points, and Alisa Apo added 23. It was just the latest impressive performance from a team that has bounced back from some early season struggles to emerge as one of the top teams in the state, as well as the squad nobody wants to play right now.
Middletown South also got a big win on Saturday, knocking off Southern, 52-42, as Shealyn Taggert led a balanced scoring effort with 13 points for the Eagles.
For those teams that just miss out on qualifying for the state tournament, there’s still hope that they can earn a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament, as the deadline for that tourney is Feb. 11.
Colts ride balance to County Relays title Scoring in every event but one, Christian Brothers Academy captured the Monmouth County Relays Championship on Thursday.
The Colts rang up 56 points to top Monmouth Regional (32) and Freehold Township (31).
The championships marked the first time that area track and field athletes got a look at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex on the campus of Toms River North High School. The new venue, however, produced a familiar result with the Colts out front, thanks to their overall balance which allowed them to place in seven of the eight events. Whether it was hurdling, sprinting, distance running, throwing or jumping, the Colts scored points in it.
CBA scored a pair of wins on Thursday in the 55-meter shuttle hurdles and shot put relays.
The quartet of Bart Henderson, Clay Collins, Pat Larkin and Christian Yuskevich posted a 32.52 in beating Ocean Township by .10 in the hurdles relay.
In the circle, Kevin Roehrig (45-7) and Carl McSherry (45-3) were so close to each other’s mark that they easily won the shot put relay. Their combined throws totaled 90-10, and was more than two feet ahead of runner-up Colts Neck (88-8).
The Colts, led by Brendon Pierson, who ran on three teams, piled up the points with second places in the 4×400 (3:32.80), 4×800 (8:19.60), 1,600 Sprint Medley (3:41.27) and Distance Medley (10:58.76).
CBA took fourth in the high jump relay with Mike Galano and Ian Sutherland each over the bar at 5-8.
Matawan’s high jumpers finished in a three-way tie for first place with Colts Neck and Manalapan as each team had combined just of 11-6.
The Huskies’ Kyle Robinson was one of just two jumpers to do 6-0 (Rumson-Fair Haven’s Alex Smith did 6-2). Teammate Kevin Burns negotiated 5-6 setting up the three-way tie for first.
Matawan’s boys were sixth (15).
Thursday’s relay was a prelude to Saturday’s Monmouth County Championships, which will be at the Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River. The meet will start at 2 p.m.
The Shore Conference Championships will follow the county championships on Feb. 10 back in Toms River.
– Tim Morris