New Jersey track stars setting pace nationally

Sure, the winter track season has only just begun, but New Jersey athletes are already setting the pace nationally.

Just last week, Paramus Catholic star junior sprinter Myasia Jacobs and the Red Bank Catholic 4x400 relay raced to the country's fastest times thus far, joining Morristown senior shot-putting phenom Nick
Vena as standard-setters in their respective events.

Running on her 17th birthday, Jacobs recorded the state's third-swiftest time ever, clocking an impressive 6.85 seconds in the 55-meter dash at the Hispanic Games held last Saturday at New York's famed Armory Track & Field Center. In addition, she also broke her own Bergen County mark by .07 seconds.

Last Friday at the Monmouth County relays, the Red Bank Catholic quartet of Mary Kate Byrne (2:29), Meghan McMullin (2:24), Molly McNamara (2:15) and Lindsey Bellaran (2:20) produced a stellar 9:30.21 in the 4x800 to win by nearly 21 seconds.



Earlier this season, Vena heaved a state-record 71 feet, 9 ¼ inches in the shot put which is the nation's best. This is hardly surprising considering the Virginia-bound senior owns every indoor and outdoor record for freshmen, sophomores and juniors.

BOYS BASKETBALL BRAWL AT THE SHORE
Unfortunately, this is not the name for a new tournament. Instead, it reflects the incident that took place during a boys basketball game between Middle Township and Cape May Tech last Thursday in Middle Township's gym in Cape May Court House.

According to a report from the Press of Atlantic City, the fight started with 4:14 remaining and the home team holding a 79-35 lead. Although the brawl began with a fight between most junior-varsity players, fans rushed the court and township police were forced to respond. The Press reported that a 16-year-old was arrested.

From here, both schools await word of punishment from the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association after reviewing the referee's report. NJSIAA rules dictate that if three or more players or coaches are ejected from competition, that team is banned from the state tournament. Furthermore, there are no appeals of the state's ruling.

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ROOKIES STAR AS SHABAZZ' WATSON WINS 600th
During her 28 years stalking the girls basketball sideline at Shabazz (Newark), Vanessa Watson has found countless different ways to accumulate victories along the way to four Tournament of Champions titles and seven state titles.

In earning her 600th victory via a 55-46 triumph over fellow TOC contender Trenton Catholic in Saturday's New Year's Resolution at Kennedy High School in Paterson, Watson watched as two precocious freshmen shared the spotlight. Zaire O'Neil scored eight of her game-high 16 points during a key 12-4, second-half spurt, while De'Ashia Jones chipped in 10 points and seven boards.



HOROHONICH JOINS 400-400 CLUB
Although Jeff Horohonich is best known for establishing Immaculate Heart Academy as a Garden State juggernaut in both girls basketball and softball, his recent work in developing Immaculate Conception (Montclair) into a budding North Jersey power is also plenty remarkable. The venerable coach's work with the latter program helped him join the 400-victory plateau in both softball and, most recently, girls basketball as Immaculate Conception throttled Wood-Ridge, 66-37, on Jan. 6.

All the more remarkable, Horohonich reached these milestones after recovering from enduring a major heart attack and quintuple bypass in 2007. He only returned to the Blue Wolves' sidelines after friend and assistant coach Ray Long, who took over the program while Horohonich convalesced, suffered a stroke during a 2008 practice and passed away soon after.

Horohonich, who has also coached at Hanover Park and Hawthorne, gave the Blue Wolves instant credibility in his two sports since his arrival. Last spring, Immaculate Conception played in its first Non-Public Group B softball championship game.

"I loved IHA, I love this place, the kids are similar, they work real hard," Horohonich told The Record's Darren Cooper. "People talk about public schools and the money; it's not about that for me. I have been blessed with so many wonderful parents and kids, I wouldn't trade that for the money."

FOOTBALL TALK
Among the elite prospects still uncommitted and considering the Rutgers Scarlet Knights are St. Peter's Prep running back Savon Huggins and defensive back Sheldon Royster, Union City offensive lineman Josue Matias, Bergen Catholic quarterback/athlete Tanner McEvoy, Red Bank Catholic tight end Jack Tabb and Winslow Township wideout Devante` Waugh.

Of the state's top 30 prospects, eight have verbally pledged to play for Rutgers: Shuler, Gary Nova, Willingboro defensive end Kyle George, St. Peter's Prep offensive lineman Keith Lumpkin, Neptune running back Kyle George, Bound Brook linebacker Andrew Campolattano, Manalapan quarterback Michael Bimonte and Sayreville Memorial defensive tackle Daryl Stephenson.



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* Taylor Bernstein, Montville wrestling: The senior stayed undefeated by recording three falls in 3 minutes, 32 seconds against grapplers from Bergen Catholic, Roxbury and St. Joseph (Montvale).

* Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft) boys and girls track: Accumulated 86 of a possible 90 team points to easily win the Monmouth County relays last Friday.

* Syessence Davis, Neptune girls basketball: The senior and Rutgers commitment helped stave off Teaneck's upset bid in a 68-56 victory last Saturday, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks.

* Kelsey Haycook, Point Pleasant Boro girls basketball: Spurred a 53-51 upset of Rumson last Saturday with 15 points and 12 caroms.

* Kyle Janeczek, Wall Township boys basketball: His 30-point, 11-assist, six-rebound showing highlighted an 82-62 triumph over South Amboy.

* Christina Jones, Morrow (Englewood): The senior scored her 1,000th point during a 25-point, 13-rebound showing in a 52-48 victory over rival Westwood last Wednesday.



* Dawan Lighty, Kennedy (Paterson) boys basketball: The senior guard averaged 19.5 points as the Knights posted impressive victories over Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco Prep last week.

* Chris Martin, St. Patrick boys basketball: The senior transfer from St. John's in Washington, D.C., canned five 3-pointers and scored 22 points in a 73-65 triumph over St. Benedict's Prep last Sunday in the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children Basketball Festival at Kean University in Union.

* Stephon Mosley, Seton Hall Prep boys basketball: The 6-6 junior notched a career-high 28 points and collected nine boards in a 63-53 victory over Hudson Catholic last Sunday at the Scholarship Fund for Inner-City Children Basketball Festival at Kean University in Union.

* Tyler Rizzi, Paramus Catholic boys bowling: Rolled a high-game of 278 in the Paladins' 3-2 triumph over Pascack Valley last Thursday.

* Miles Schoedler, Ocean City boys track: Qualified for the Millrose Games by winning the mile invitational at last Thursday's 17th Hispanic Games in New York, clocking a time of 4:15.76.

* Anthony Walker, Lakewood boys basketball: Poured in a game-high 31 points and snared nine rebounds in an 81-50 victory over Red Bank.

* Ajee' Wilson, Neptune girls track: Won the mile invitational in 4:53.35 at the 17th Hispanic Games last Thursday in New York, which qualified her for the Millrose Games.



EVENTS TO WATCH
* St. Rose (Belmar) at Red Bank Catholic girls basketball, Wednesday: A matchup of two Shore Conference B powerhouses. Senior forward Samantha Guastella is averaging 22 points per game over her last four contests for the Caseys, but will be countered by St. Rose's 6-3 junior Samantha Clark.

* Southern Regional (Manahawkin) vs. High Point (Sussex) wrestling, Friday: Two of the state's best wrestling programs take the mat at Rutgers University as the opening act before the nationally ranked Scarlet Knights face Bucknell. The premier bout could take place at 125 pounds between High Point's Nick Francavilla and Southern's Kyle Casaletto. High Point is the state's deepest team, though, with as many as eight potential state medalists.

* St. Anthony (Jersey City) vs. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) boys basketball, Saturday at Hall of Fame Classic (Springfield, Mass.): Two Top 20 teams in the MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 tip off when Hall of Fame head coach Bob Hurley, Sr., and No. 4 St. Anthony opposes the No. 20 Stags in a nationally televised game. A pair of future Big East performers will be featured in DeMatha's 6-8 forward Mikael Hopkins (Georgetown) and the Friars' 5-11 point guard Myles Mack (Rutgers).

* Neptune vs. Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) girls basketball, Sunday: The Scarlet Fliers start a challenging four-game stretch when they face this perennial Big Apple-power. Neptune figures as the favorite here thanks to Rutgers-bound stars Syessence Davis and Shakena Richardson.

* Freedom Fighters Hoop Challenge, boys basketball, Monday: This annual showcase at Paterson's Eastside High School features four terrific games, starting with Teaneck against Union at 3 p.m., followed by Kennedy (Paterson) against Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) at 4:30 p.m., Nia Prep (Newark) versus South Kent School (Conn.) at 6 p.m. and Eastside (Paterson) facing East Side (Newark) at 7:30 p.m. Nia Prep-South Kent features six Division I prospects, including future Cincinnati teammates in Nia's Shaquille Thomas (nephew of former Paterson Catholic and NBA standout Tim Thomas) and Ge'Lawn Guyn.

RECRUITING NEWS
New Egypt's 6-9 center Desmond Hubert is being courted by North Carolina. One of the top remaining unsigned players in the Class of 2011, he has already visited two of the Tar Heels' ACC rivals in Wake Forest and Maryland. … St. Patrick's 6-0 senior guard Chris Martin is deciding between Colorado State, George Mason and LaSalle. … St. Anthony's 6-3 guard Tyquan Goodlett currently has offers from Hofstra and Providence.



Brian Falzarano, a veteran New Jersey sportswriter, covers the state of New Jersey for MaxPreps.com. You can reach him with story ideas or questions at bfmaxpreps@gmail.com.