NEPTUNE, NJ–We are just three weeks into the season at the 2009 Hoop Group Headquarters High School Boys Spring League at Rebounds, and already we’ve seen some great competition played amongst the 16 teams in the league. In the first two weeks, 8 of the 16 games that had been played were decided by single digits. After three weeks of play, only two teams are undefeated (both in Division A with Neptune and Manchester), and only two teams are winless including Toms River North in Division A and Jackson Liberty in Division B. The two games that Monroe Township has played have both been close.
The lone GMC representative won its first game of the Spring here at Rebounds by just three points over Asbury Park (56-53) in Week 2, and then lost a one point decision to Manasquan (54-53). Division B is the much more competitive league at this point with five teams tied for first place at 2-1 with two more teams in Lacey and Mater Dei that are both 1-2. Division A, which is supposed to be the stronger of the two Divisions has only three teams with records at 2-1 or better: Neptune, Manchester, and Asbury Park, and one of Manchester’s victories was a forefeit.
However, Manasquan, the defending Central Jersey Group II sectional champion, which defeated GMC Blue Division squad, Middlesex for the title (59-36), is much better than their 1-2 record indicates. In the Warriors season opener on April 20th, they lost to Group III State Champion, Neptune by a score of 49-41. Then, in Week #2 on April 27th, they dropped a nine point, 53-44 decision to St. John Vianney of Holmdel. Manasquan has a lot of size, some athletic ability, and can really shoot the basketball as Monroe will attest.
Returning to the GMC for a moment, GMC Hoops asked League Director, Joe Stein if there had been any other interest expressed by teams from the Greater Middlesex Conference in playing in this year’s Spring League. According to Stein, only one other team, Spotswood, expressed interest. GMC Hoops plans to be back out at Rebounds on May 11th to take in the fourth week of action from the league when Monroe takes on St. John Vianney while the two undefeated teams in the league Neptune and Manchester will face off, and Manasquan will take on G-Force Gold in another game from Division A.