The Mustangs hosted the Rebels on Jan. 25, 2018 and Howell won 61-58 in overtime. Sherlon Christie
The Shore Conference will have a triple-header of showcases over the next week.
The first segment of this triple header is the Toms River Showcase on Jan. 27 at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena, formerly the Pine Belt Arena, which is on the campus of Toms River North High School.
The six-game slate features 10 teams from the Shore Conference and two respectable out-of-area squads. The full schedule is as followed: Brick Memorial versus Donovan Catholic, 11 a.m.; Matawan will face Toms River South, 12:30 p.m.; Class B North rivals Long Branch and Mansaquan will face off one more time, 2 p.m.; the host, Toms River North, will meet Hunterdon Central, 3:30 p.m.; Toms River East against Ridge, 5 p.m. and St. John Vianney is scheduled to face Central, 6:30 p.m.
Valarie Fund Basketball Challenge
The second major showcase of the week is the Third Annual Valarie Fund Basketball Challenge hosted by Mater Dei Prep, located at 538 Church Street in Middletown, on Jan. 27 and Jan. 28. Some of the best teams in the state will be participating this year.
The schedule for Jan. 27 is as followed: Don Bosco Prep against Newark Westside, Noon; Hun School versus Wayne Hills, 1:30 p.m.; St. Mary’s-Elizabeth against Hackensack, 3 p.m.; Middletown North girls basketball versus Mater Dei Prep girls basketball, 4:30 p.m.; St. Peter’s Prep against Middletown North, 6 p.m.; Carteret versus Mater Dei Prep, 7:30 p.m.
The schedule for the Jan. 28 will go like this: Conwell Egan (Pa.) will challenge Rutgers Prep, Noon; Bergen Catholic against Newark Central, 1:30 p.m.; West Catholic versus Gill St. Bernard, 3 p.m.; Lincoln-Jersey City will take on Mater Dei Prep, 4:30 p.m.
Admission to the Valarie Fund Basketball Challenge is $5 for students and $10 for adults.
2018 Jersey Shore Challenge
The final showcase in the triple header is on Jan. 31 at Brookdale Community College, which is located at 765 Newman Springs Road in Middletown, and that will be the site of the 2018 Jersey Shore Challenge.
This showcase will feature boys teams from the Ranney School, Roselle Catolic, Rumson-Fair Haven and Red Bank Catholic and girls teams from Rumson-Fair Haven and Roselle Catholic.
Here is the schedule of events for that day: Roselle Catholic girls versus Rumson-Fair Haven girls, 4:30 p.m.; Rumson-Fair Haven boys against Red Bank Catholic boys at 6 p.m.; Ranney School boys versus Roselle Catholic boys at 7:30 p.m.
For tickets and more event information, visit www.theshorechallenge.com
The 1,000th point club now at Super Six
Shore Conference players such as Middletown North’s Rob Higgins, Barnegat’s Mike Revello, Point Pleasant Beach’s Danny Frauenheim, Ranney School’s Scottie Lewis, Jackson Liberty's Daniel Sofield and Wall’s Steve Geis) have recorded their 1,000th career point this season. With just under two months left in the season, a few more players might reach this milestone.
Basketball Tournament Cutoff Dates
The NJSIAA cutoff date for teams to qualify for the postseason is Feb. 3, the tournament will be seeded on Feb. 8 and the tournament will begin on Feb. 26. Meanwhile, the Shore Conference cutoff date is Feb. 10, the tournament will be seeded on Feb. 11 and the tournament will start on Feb. 13.
Staff Writer Sherlon Christie: schristie@gannettnj.com
Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sherlonapp
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