Shore Conference 2021 Season Recap Pt. 5

Prep Girls Hoops New Jersey has dove deep into the Shore Conference to recap the 2021 high school girls basketball season in full. So far, PGH NJ has taken a look at all eight pods, two at a time, to talk about the best individual players up and down the conference. Now, it’s time to look at the teams that dominated competition in the Shore Conference this season. We’ll be splitting the Shore in half as this article will talk about the best teams in Pods 1-4, of which there are plenty of great choices to pick from. <strong>Donovan Catholic</strong> The Griffins ran away with Pod 1 supremacy, finishing 12-1 with a 9-1 conference record and 6-0 record in pod play. Donovan Catholic clicked on all cylinders on offense, averaging 55.9 PPG while allowing just 46.9 PPG to opponents during the 2021 season. The Griffins were led by a three-headed monster of talent: Gabriella Ross, Olivia Conroy and [player_tooltip player_id="134638" first="Kya" last="Joseph"], who accounted for nearly 38.0 PPG combined during the season. This team showed off the ability to shut teams down on defense and overpower opponents on offense, and with a lot of firepower returning for the 2021-22 season, expect Donovan Catholic to make a run to keep hold of their conference dominance. <strong>Howell</strong> Howell ran the table in pod play, going 7-0 as they finished the season with an 11-4 record, including a 9-3 conference record. The Rebels nearly averaged 60.0 PPG on offense this season, playing an up-tempo style that most opponents couldn’t keep up with. As for their opponents, Howell allowed just 41.6 PPG to their opponents during the 2021 season, much of that due to the 7.6 SPG that the Rebels averaged. On the offensive end, Howell knocked down nearly five three-pointers a game on average and got to the line early and often. Corralling in nearly 24.0 RPG helps in a big way to create more offensive opportunities. The Rebels were senior-heavy in 2021, so they’ll be competitive next season, but might take a slight step back. <strong>Marlboro</strong> Unfortunately, Covid cut Marlboro’s season short, a season that saw the Mustangs finish with an 8-1 record and 7-1 record in pod play. Marlboro’s defense was the story of their 2021 season, allowing 37.1 PPG to opponents, out-scoring them by an average of around 20.0 PPG on average. Getting more than seven turnovers a game just from steals helps out in a big way. Marlboro was unselfish on offense, averaging 11.6 APG as a team, and the love was shared in a big way. Senior guard Sammy Jay averaged nearly 5.0 APG alone, and while her and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="159087" first="Dani" last="Schlesinger"] put up double-figure scoring averages this season, the Mustangs featured a balanced offense from top to bottom. This is a team to watch for next season as Marlboro has some unfinished business to complete. <strong>Manchester Township</strong> The story of Manchester Township this season was the play of senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="134607" first="Destiny" last="Adams"], who lit up the stat sheet, putting up nearly 30.0 PPG, 20.0 RPG averages in 2021. She was as advertised and then some, and as she went, so did Manchester Township. However, Adams wasn’t the only person who helped the Hawks finish with a 10-5 record this season. Three players posted double-figure scoring averages on the season: Adams, junior guard Amyah Bray and freshman guard Devyn Quigley, who despite being listed as a guard, could very well fill the forward role for Manchester Township for the remainder of her high school career. This is a team that averaged 65.8 PPG as a team and will carry that high-octane offense into the 2021-22 season without a hitch. <strong>Jackson Memorial</strong> Jackson Memorial played in just 10 games this season, but the Jaguars showcased one of the best offenses in the conference in 2021, averaging 64.7 PPG as a team. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="155550" first="Rachel" last="Capua"] and Lexi Linton combined to score 43.9 PPG alone and losing that production going into the 2021-22 season will be a big thing to watch. However, the Jaguars showed off its next stars in sophomore Zoei Maffei and junior Brooke McKown. Their roles and importance on the court will be increased tremendously come next season, and both have shown that they’ll be able to handle the added pressure. That’s key for the Jaguars, a team to keep tabs on coming up. Keep your eyes peeled as Prep Girls Hoops New Jersey continues to finish up its 2021 high school girls basketball season recap series through every conference in the state.