First Team
James Anderson, Middletown South (Sr.)
Stats: 18.0 points per game, 96 3-pointers made
Best Moment: 35 points, nine 3-pointers in a 85-43 win at Long Branch (Jan. 16)
The senior guard saw the Eagles get 26 wins and their first division title since 1979. His 96 triples were the most in the Shore Conference but Anderson was much more than a long-range shooter. He was able to bring a complete game thanks to his defensive effort and the ability to attack the rim. Anderson will continue his basketball career playing at Drew University.
Alex Baker, Holmdel (Jr.)
Stats: 12.9 points, 10.8 rebounds per game Best Moment: 22 points vs. Lincoln in 60-57 win in CJ Group 2 semifinal (March 7) Baker was good for a double-double every night and helped Holmdel become one of the Shore’s surprise teams in 2019-20. The Hornets went 23-5 and reached the sectional final. Four of the five losses came against Manasquan but the Hornets gave the Shore Conference champs a scare in two of those four games. Baker was active on the glass on both ends of the floor and will look to keep Holmdel as a top 10 Shore team next season.
Mike Dabas, Middletown South (Sr.)
Stats: 13.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.65 steals
Best Moment: 27 points, 10 rebounds in 73-57 win vs. Middletown North (Feb. 15) Dabas did a little bit of everything and that helped Middletown South become one of the top teams in the Shore Conference. Dabas was capable of getting on a hot streak and sharing the scoring load with James Anderson. He brought a great energy on the floor and it resonated with a senior-laden lineup. The result was Middletown South enjoying one of the best seasons in program history.
Elijah Perkins, Ranney (So.)
Stats: 15.1 points, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals. Best Moment: 16 points, 11 assists vs. Roselle Catholic
Perkins went from the lone freshman contributor on Ranney’s Tournament of Champions team to the sophomore leader of a young team that shows the potential to once again be a state power in the coming years. Perkins got better as the season went along and helped a young team win 17 games. He has embraced the role, taking the torch from Scottie Lewis and Bryan Antoine to make Ranney more than a flash in the pan.
Bobby Pirie, Middletown South (Sr.)
Stats: 12.4 points, 7.8 rebounds per game
Best Moment: 15 points, 16 rebounds in 71-65 win vs. Marlboro (Jan. 13)
One of the most underrated big men in the Shore Conference, Pirie was able to put up big numbers during the Eagles’ 20-game win streak on the way to a 26-3 record. Pirie was able to play bigger than his 6-foot-4 frame thanks to athleticism and the ability to outjump opponents to haul down rebounds.
Second Team
Kevin Bauman, Red Bank Catholic (Sr.)
Stats: 12.28 points, 7.1 rebounds per game
Jack Carroll, Rumson-Fair Haven (Sr.)
Stats: 10.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.3 blocks per game Charlie Gordinier, Red Bank Catholic (Sr.)
Stats: 13.5 points, 6.8 rebounds per game
Pete Gorman, Mater Dei Prep (Sr.) Stats: 17.8 points per game
Geoff Schroeder, Rumson-Fair Haven (So.)
Stats: 18.45 points per game third team
Luke Albrecht, Middletown South (Jr.) Stats: 10.2 points, 4.65 assists per game Colin Farrell, CBA (Jr.)
Stats: 9.6 points per game
Jack Giamanco, Holmdel (Sr.) Stats: 9.25 points per game
Tahaj Parland, Mater Dei Prep (Sr.) Stats: 8.8 points per game
Drew Valentino, Red Bank Regional (Sr.) Stats: 10.1 points per game
This article originally appeared in the April 2nd, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
