1/6

Marlborough High School basketball players Jack Seidler and Jonathan Spatola hug on the sidelines during the Shore Conference Tournament final on Feb. 27 in Toms River. Marlboro defeated Manasquan 63-46 and won its first-ever conference championship. STEVEN BASSIN / STAFF

2/6

The Marlborough High School Youth Basketball Team celebrates its victory in the first Shore Conference Tournament with a 63-46 victory over Manasquan on February 27 in Toms River. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF

3/6

Marlborough High School boys basketball players Jack Seidler and Jay Ratner are holding up the Shore Conference Tournament after defeating Manasquan 63-46 on February 27 in Toms River. STEVEN BASSIN / STAFF

4/6

Marlborough High School basketball player Jonathan Spatol passes the ball across the field to teammate Zach Molode for a stop during the Coastal Conference final on February 27 in Toms River. Marlboro defeated Manasquan 63-46 and won its first-ever conference championship. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF

5/6

Marlborough High School Athletic Director Dave Ryden congratulates seniors Jay Ratner and Vincent Spatol with the help of the boys basketball team to win the first-ever Shore Conference Tournament Program Championship on Feb. 27 in Toms River. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF

6/6

Marlborough High School basketball player for boys Jack Seidler leads the ball on the court against Manasquan during the final of the Shore Conference Tournament on February 27 in Toms River. Seidler scored 22 points in the competition. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF


×

1/6

Marlborough High School basketball players Jack Seidler and Jonathan Spatola hug on the sidelines during the Shore Conference Tournament final on Feb. 27 in Toms River. Marlboro defeated Manasquan 63-46 and won its first-ever conference championship. STEVEN BASSIN / STAFF

2/6

The Marlborough High School Youth Basketball Team celebrates its victory in the first Shore Conference Tournament with a 63-46 victory over Manasquan on February 27 in Toms River. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF

3/6

Marlborough High School boys basketball players Jack Seidler and Jay Ratner are holding up the Shore Conference Tournament after defeating Manasquan 63-46 on February 27 in Toms River. STEVEN BASSIN / STAFF

4/6

Marlborough High School basketball player Jonathan Spatol passes the ball across the field to teammate Zach Molode for a stop during the Coastal Conference final on February 27 in Toms River. Marlboro defeated Manasquan 63-46 and won its first-ever conference championship. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF

5/6

Marlborough High School Athletic Director Dave Ryden congratulates seniors Jay Ratner and Vincent Spatol with the help of the boys basketball team to win the first-ever Shore Conference Tournament Program Championship on Feb. 27 in Toms River. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF

6/6

Marlborough High School basketball player for boys Jack Seidler leads the ball on the court against Manasquan during the final of the Shore Conference Tournament on February 27 in Toms River. Seidler scored 22 points in the competition. STEVEN BASIN / STAFF


Marlborough High School basketball coach Michael Navsedas and his players felt the sting of defeat when they sat in a science lab at Manasquan High School after losing in the 2021 Shore Conference Pod A in overtime against the Warriors at the end of the postseason, who suffered.

This loss added to the pain the Mustangs felt in 2020 when they lost to South Brunswick High School in the final seconds of the Central Jersey State Championship in Group IV.

Nauseda and Mustang wanted revenge in 2022 for these heavy losses.

The first chance to make it a “Mustang” came against Manasquan in the Shore Conference Tournament on February 27 at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River. The Mustangs won 63-46 to win their first conference tournament program after nearly 55 years of basketball.

“It’s a weird feeling,” senior Jack Seidler said. “Words cannot describe it. The last two years have not been easy, but this year, fortunately, we have coped with this task. “

Seidler led Marlboro with 22 points and was named the most valuable player in the final, despite the fact that it was difficult for him in the first quarter.

Seidler scored one point in the first quarter when Manasquan led 14-10. He later said he was confident he would find his shot as soon as his basket fell.

His first basket was a three-point goal from the game, which equalized 18-18 in the middle of the second quarter. Seidler scored seven more points to lead the series 11-4, while the Mustangs led 29-21 at the break.

“I just needed to see the ball go through the hoop and it made me go,” he said. “I was closed and I was going to do anything to win.”

From 2:30 to the game in the third quarter Seidler joined a step back, which increased the advantage to 38-30.

When his shots from the field weakened, Seidler went 6-6 from the foul line in the second half. This season, the Mustangs are 13-0, when the senior scored 20 or more points.

Starting the fourth quarter with a score of 40-33, the Mustangs found their rhythm from a long distance to put the game out of reach. Senior Zach Molod connected to the 44th three-pointer from the game in his team and increased the lead to 46-36.

The first half in the “Youth” was difficult, because he was whistled for three early fouls. He showed strong play in the second half, scoring two three-pointers from the game and scoring 10 of 14 points in the last two quarters.

“My coaches kept telling me to leave (fouls) and just keep playing smart, and teammates will find me,” said Youth. “That’s what happened. I knew this was our last trip and we didn’t want it to end like the last two years. It’s amazing to be the first team in the school’s history to win a championship in a conference. “

After a three-point ball from the game “Youth”, senior Jay Ratner struck from a three-point distance. His second three-pointer basket put the Mustangs 49-36 out of 5:00 before the game.

The Mustangs finished the game with eight three-pointers from the game.

Ratner finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Senior Jonathan Spatol scored 16 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The Mustangs slowed down in the second half to prevent Manasquan’s fast-paced style of play.

“We were going to get them to adjust to our pace,” Nauseda said. “It was a chess match. It was a game of running and pace. “

Marlboro extended the lead to 55-40 with less than 2 hours to play as a sense of redemption became a reality.

The difficult moments of the last two seasons have receded when the starting five of Seidler, Ratner, Young, Jonathan Spatola and Vincent Spatola came out on the bench.

The cohesive group of seniors, who had twice experienced a heart attack, now felt the joy of winning the championship.

“We have finally overcome this hump of victory in the championship,” said Jonathan Spatol. “It’s a good feeling. We will celebrate it and then prepare for the state tournament. “

Marlboro (23-2) is No. 1 seeded in the Central Group Jersey Group IV State Section Tournament and will host Sayreville War High School No. 16 on February 28 in the first round.

Source link

Previous articleThe nonprofit is increasing the number of jobs in cannabis for disenfranchised communities
Next articleUkraine agrees to meet with Russia as fighting escalates: Live updates