Every year there is a massive tournament for all teams in the Shore Conference that have a record of at least .500. This year’s tournament is filled with 32 teams and our Saint John Vianney Lancers being the 15th seed. The Lancer took on the number 18 seed Point Boro earlier this week on Tuesday. Our Lancers defeated the Panthers 36-34 with the leading scorer being Mark Augello with 11 points. He wasn’t the only one getting after it during the game with Emanuel Domingo adding in 8 points, 8 rebounds, and 10 blocks. This win pushes the Lancers to the Round of 16 where they face the Central Regional Golden Eagles. 

          SJV and Central Regional faced each other earlier in the year in the WOBM Christmas tournament. In this game Central Regional beat SJV 48 to 40. SJV has a lot on the line in this game as if they lose they are out of the post season tournament and a wait on the state tournament. If SJV defeats Central Regional it would be one of the bigger upsets in the tournament and brings up the question of, “Can our Lancers make it to the finals for the first time in school history?”

         We last saw a 15 vs. 2 upset in the Shore Conference Tournament in 2020, when now closed 15th seed Mater Dei Prep who was led by now junior guard at Ramapo college upset the number 2 seed in Middletown South. These games  are somewhat similar. With a program seeded as high as it has ever been going against a hungry non-public school that has taken some time to learn to play together. Mater Dei even beat Point Boro in round 1 in 2020, even though Point Boro was much closer to beating SJV on Tuesday than they were to beating Mater Dei. If SJV beats Central regional they would most likely move on to play the 7th seed in Holmdel High School which would bring a massive rivalry game to the Shore Conference post season.