Spring Is Here as Brackets Bust

You probably didn’t notice it but spring has sprung.  It officially arrived at 6:29 this morning and should convince us that the harsh weather of the past few weeks is at least close to being in our rear-view mirror.

It’s not quite time for shorts and flip flops but before we know it temperatures in the 30s will be replaced by the 60s and we are gaining nearly 3 minutes of daylight each day which is another sign that things are looking up.

Raise your hand if your NCAA college basketball bracket has the likes of South Carolina, Michigan and Wisconsin in the Sweet 16?  Not I who once again can’t get this thing right after a weekend of upsets claimed Villanova, Duke and Louisville.

In what is simply an amazing accomplishment, for the fourth straight year and fifth time in the last six years Manasquan has reached the girls basketball Tournament of Champions final.  Sunday at the Pine Belt Arena they blitzed shore rival Red Bank Catholic from the start and never looked back in coasting to a 29-point victory to earn a spot in tonight’s TOC Final against Franklin at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton.

The Warriors were led by sophomore Faith Masonius and junior Dara Mabrey as they moved to within one victory of third overall state championship since 2012.

The Pine Belt Arena will host one more basketball game (actually two games) this season and that is Thursday’s Shore Basketball Coaches Association Senior All Star games.  Presented by our Shore Sports Network the games will feature the top senior players from the Shore Conference with the girls game at 6 p.m. and the boys to follow.  Highlights will include Ranney sophomore Scottie Lewis defending his title in the I’m Possible Slam Dunk contest at halftime of the boys game.

Details to follow on shoresportsnetwork.com