By Jim Hintelmann
RED BANK -Point Pleasant Beach boys and St. John Vianney girls earned top seeds for the Shore Conference Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament, which got under way Tuesday.
Both Point Beach and second-seeded Christian Brothers Academy were unanimous picks by the committee, whose members were a representative of each of the six conference divisions.
Overall, 28 teams qualified for the tournament during which teams that are one under .500 or better qualify.
Point Beach, CBA, Lakewood and Matawan drew first round byes.
Shore was seeded eighth and Red Bank Regional edged Red Bank Catholic for 11th seed while RBC was 12th, Middletown North 20th, Rumson-Fair Haven 24th and Mater Dei 28th.
SJV got the top seed in the girls bracket despite losing by a point to No. 2 St. Rose three weeks ago. Overall, 26 teams qualified. Rumson was the third seed and Neptune was fourth.
Middletown South was sixth followed by defending champion RBC seventh, Red Bank Regional 16th and Mater Dei 24th.
Long Branch High School will play host to the boys quarter-finals Sunday and the girl’s quarter-finals Saturday. Brick Memorial will play host to the girls semifinals Feb. 25 and the boys semis Feb. 26.
The boys and girls championship games are set for March 1 at Monmouth University.
