THE 2025-26 SHORE CONFERENCE PREVIEW

THE 2025-26 season is here and today you will get a full preview. There certainly going to be a few surprises to start the year. The Top 10 has a look we have not ever seen to start a season. This season has all the makings of what could be as an exciting year as ever. There are new stars, new coaches and new up coming teams. So take your time and let the debating begin, feel free to voice your opinion.

THE SHORE CONFERENCE 2025-26 PRESEASON TOP 10

RED BANK CATHOLIC– There is not much debate as to who the #1 team and the state to start the season will be. They have the best player in Addy Nyemchek , best Point Guard in Tessa Liggio and the best shooter in Katie liggio. Now throw in a deep roster of D1 players, that include the insanely underrated Daniela Malesky, do it all guard Lola Giordano, forwards Scarlett Levake and Sophia smith and have the making of a special group. This is a seasoned battle tested group. They are the solid choice to start the season at #1

ST. JOHN VIANNEY– Coach Dawn Karpell may have the best BIG 3 in the state in Madison Kocis, Taylor Solfkanick and Stellar Lockhart. All three are cable of dominating games. All three have been in the wars vs the superpowers and lived to tell the story. Kocis is the most efficient player in the Shore, Taylor Solfkanick the best center by a mile and Stella Lockhart just make be the toughest matchup. SJV has some real unknown talent, who now will be asked to step up. Junior Tatum Sharpe has all the tools to be the best two player in the Shore one day. She is long athletic and is emerging as a shooter. Lissy Lyons has shown flashes along the way. She had a solid summer and word is that she has made real strides during the fall. If SJV is going to challenge RBC these two will need to be ready for prime time. Sophomore Antonia Jackson proved she was ready for prime time last season and everything points to a monster season ahead. But it’s the return of GIANNA SANO, the electric and talented guard that has people buzzing. She is creative and highly skilled. She will give SJV scoring , foot speed and a ball handling upgrade. Avery Barth is much improved and will bring added depth to the SJV roster. This team can certainly challenge for a Shore and State Title. They start at #2 and are eyeing #1

TRINITY HALL– has a very experienced team of seniors Grace Feeney, Whitney Hobson, NIAMH Stapleton and Bridget Rigney. They have all played on the biggest stages and in the biggest moments and have helped build TRINITY HALL into a TOP 10 program in the state. They are a battle tested group. Trinity get a major offensive boost with the return of Teagan Drennan. If she she can regain her scoring touch and offensive rebounding skills it’s a major shot in the arm. Coach McCarthy adds an impact freshman in ELLA KRYAL . She will take some of the scoring pressure off Grace Feeney immediately and gives Coach McCarthy a legit scoring threat and more importantly an excellent passer. Trinity for the last 2 years has been trying to get over the top and have come up short. This fall they did everything as a group in hopes of building team chemistry. Each year they have gone a step further in the SCT. They won a POD SCT CHIP. Then make it to the second round of the SCT and then last year took SJV into overtime in the 3rd round. This is a dangerous team in every sense of the word. They have size, length, experience and now additional scoring. They are looking to take that final step.

MANASQUAN– Was the surprise of the year last year. But it seems we have been saying that for years now. This year Manasquan brings a mix of experience and youthful experience. American University bound D1 commit JORDYN Hollawell has seen it all over the years. She is a three year starter with TWO STATE TITLES under her belt. She is known for her big shot making ability and hard nose play that motivates her teammates. Shannon Looney returns for her senior year. The two way guard has been impressive in the fall while building on her dynamic summer. Now she gets to step into a prime time role full time and there is little doubt she is not ready. ROSE LATESTA shows all the signs of a player ready to take a big step forward. She will give Coach Lisa Kukoda size and presence up front. CALISTA VOWTERAS returns for her sophomore year after earning 1ST TEAM ALL FRESHMAN HONORS. She has all the making of the next great Manasquan guard. While Manasquan lost a lot from a year ago. There is enough talent and experience to make a deep run in the SCT. THIS IS MY HOT PICK IN THE TOP 10!

ST. ROSE– They lost leading scorer and future D1 player JADA LYNCH. But that just opens the door for others to step up and a chance to build real team chemistry. If Jersey Live was peek into the future St. ROSE is crew very capable of taking out a super power. D1 bound guard Brooke Missry is a do it all type player. She can play all 5 spots on the floor. All DEFENSIVE 1st Team Brooke Alvarado is the leader and floor general that drives tis army of talent. Future D1 guard Callie Decker, has proven she is ready for prime time. Transfer BROOKE JAENICKE was 1ST TEAM ALL DEFENSIVE last season at RFH. St Rose has a number of players who showed this fall they can impact the season. Jackson transfer Jr. Cali Brown showed real flashes this fall. She was double figure scorer at Jackson. LANEY KROSNOWSKI is a pit bull who is very capable of scoring and breaking down defenses. St. Rose has three forwards with size and all they need is for one to break into the rotation. Chrissy Hatfield has a hungry team with something to prove. They believe they can beat anyone.

RED BANK REG– Like it has been for the last 3 years.This group just has struggled against the blue bloods. But they have a new coach in Adam Merklinger who replaces Hall of Fame Coach John Truhan. Adam Merklinger is a disciple of legendary Coach George Sourlis, so expect defense to be the backbone of RBR. Seniors SYNAI BLYCHANTON, Riley Wheeler, Riley Joyce, Zoe Gulley and Kristen Connors get one more shot to make a deep run in the SCT and win a state title. This may be their best chance. This group has played a massive amount of minutes and games together. They also have been ranked in the Top 20 and have had some massive wins along the way. Now the question is can they put it all together for a season. This is a rather high ranking for a team with a new coach and suspect expectations. I say RBR has a chance to surprise everyone.

COLTS NECK– this is an ascending group. They have embraced getting in the gym. They have embraced playing against next level competition. The player development has been nothing short of sensational by Coach Nick Russo. Now this season, they are looking to make another big step forward. They have all the tools in place. They have a future D1 point guard in Emily Donahue. She is not only a dynamic passer but her shooting and scoring ability vs real competition has taken a major jump. Transfer Allison McANDREW is clearly an emerging star. She can make a serious claim as the most improved player in the Shore. The SHORE SPORTS NETWORK FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR JULIANNA JASINA returns. The forward put on up monster numbers last year and nothing makes you believe she won’t take the next step. Junior Mattilyn Caffiero (5.8 ppg., 3.2 rpg., 2.1 apg., 2.2 spg.), senior Gabriella Bryce (4.5 ppg., 4.6 rpg.) will bring experience and proven battle tested performances. Wallace is often forgotten. But her contributions and impact cannot be denied. She is very capable of big nights. This is a young battle tested group filled with talented desperate players. They could be factor come SCT time.

RUMSON FAIR HAVEN– Coach Dave Callahan does not care much about preseason rankings. It’s why he constantly plays an outrageous non conference schedule early, it has served him well over the years. His teams are notorious for being dangerous, SCT time. They are annually the team nobody wants to play late in the season. This year he has D1 swing Erin REID for one more season. The do it all Reid has shown she can be dominant and act as a coach on and off the floor. Her presence if vital if RFH is going anywhere. She can expect help from junior Grace Smith who had a rock solid sophomore year with 228 points. Sophomore CHLOE KELLY had a breakout season last year. If she takes another step forward. Things could get very interesting for RFH. There’re is an excellent freshman class that Coach Callahan can rely on to contribute. Like every year, we won’t know the RFH story until late in the season.

HOWELL– The are most intriguing team in the Shore Conference. They have won a lot of big games in the past two years. Coach Joe Santopietro has built a legit program buy stressing teamwork and hard grinding defense. He has a future D1 player in Kylee Beam a force in the lane or behind the three point line. She has willed herself into a true gym rat. Beam is not alone. BELLAROSE MARINO was a problem all year last season. She is a proven scorer and shot maker. Expect her to have big year. This summer she surprised everyone. Senior Peyton Smith is a leader and pure warrior. No doubt she is biting at the bit to start the season. She is a true winner. Look for OLIVIA QUINONES to have a breakout season. She had an outstanding fall playing against Top level competition. She can score , pass and defend. junior Zoe Ficorelli may not look the part but may offer real help off the bench. We may not be use to seeing Howell in this position. But you may have to get use to it and don’t be surprised if they rise in the ranking.

BRICK TWP– This is a tough call but we will give the nod to Brick to start the season. Ariana Wissen and Kendall Fredricksen are both future D1 players. Ari Wissen was the runaway FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR. Both are capable of big scoring nights. They also have a knock down shooter in sophomore ILYANI POZO who is a proven three point shooter. She had a excellent freshman as as a part time starter. Junior Anna Claire Stout and Julia Stephan a sophomore are both forwards with size and experience. They may also hold the key to Bricks future this year. With guards who can score like Ari Wissen and crew, Brick can make some noise especially if their frontline shows up.

THE 2025-26 PRESEASON ALL SHORE TEAMS

This year’s Preseason First Team All Shore Team took about 30 seconds. There is not much to debate here. 2nd and 3rd Team may look completely different by years end. These projection are based on what kids did in the spring , summer and fall. Last season does get factored to some degree.