By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
Asbury Park's Convention Hall once again hosted the Hoop Group Battle on the Boardwalk, which featured top boys and girls teams from all around the Tri-State area.
The Convention Hall, an architectural landmark just hundreds of feet from the Atlantic Ocean, held five boys games Saturday and four girls games Sunday in front of thousands of fans.
Neptune and Asbury Park, a storied South Jersey rivalry, kicked off the weekend, with Neptune posting a convincing 80-52 victory.
Asbury Park had entered the game undefeated, but had no answer for Neptune guard Mike Ogelsby. Ogelsby poured in 19 first-half points to put the game out of reach. He finished with 29 points and added 12 rebounds for a Neptune squad whose only loss this season came at the hands of Don Bosco Prep.
The second game featured Newark powerhouse St. Benedict's High School, who defeated Prep Charter of Philadelphia, 81-73.
Corey Stokes led St. Benedict's with 21 points and 10 rebounds. The Gray Bees also received help from super sophomore Gregory Echenique, who was a force on both sides of the court.
Parrish Grant netted 22 points for Prep Charter in defeat. Markieff and Marcus Morris, Prep Charter twins heading to Memphis, were largely held in check by St. Benedict's, thanks to strong defensive efforts from Echenique and junior Samardo Samuels.
In the third game, Linden knocked off Christian Brothers Academy, 65-50.
Linden's strong guard play was enough to erase an early 9-0 deficit. Senior guard Darrell Lampley and junior guard Desmond Wade were a one-two punch that C.B.A. could not answer.
Brian Neller, a rising sophomore, led the way for Christian Brothers with 17 points.
The fourth game featured two talent-laden teams: St. Patrick and Blair Academy. The Celtics of St. Patrick displayed several Division I prospects, most notably Corey Fisher and Jeff Robinson. Blair boasted senior power forward Alexis Wangmene, a future Texas Longhorn, and Patrick Hazel, a Marquette recruit.
In the end, the guard play of Corey Fisher and sophomore Dexter Strickland was too much for Blair to handle, as St. Patrick won 64-45. Fisher finished with a game-high 23 points.
In the final game Saturday, Freehold Township held off Holy Spirit, 52-49, thanks in large part to 11 points and nine assists from Eddie Fischer.
On Sunday in girls action, St. John Vianney beat Southern Regional, 57-36. St. John Vianney was led by Alisso Apo, who seemed to do it all. She registered 19 rebounds, four assists, and four rebounds.
Like the boys a day earlier, the Neptune girls team won easily, defeating Middletown South, 59-39. Cyialece Davis had an outstanding all around game, finishing with 22 points and seven rebounds. She also had five blocks and four assists.
Christina Longo led Middletown South with 13 points in the losing effort.
In the third girls game, led by Georgia Tech bound-Iasia Hemmingway, Shabazz knocked off Rumson Regional High School, 51-34.
Hemmingway had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
In the day's premier matchup, nationally-acclaimed Christ the King defeated Red Bank Catholic, a top New Jersey program, 56-43.
Led by Connecticut recruit Lorin Dixon, who finished with a game-high 23 points, Christ the King was able to hold off a talented Red Bank Catholic team. Jenna Strich, a Fairleigh Dickinson-bound senior, finished with 14 points in defeat.
