By Michael Stoia and Denise Jadevaia
New school records in pole vault and sprint relay, a second straight boys hoops tourney win, and a 6-0 start for the girls hoops season. Red Bank Regional High School issues a monthly roundup of its sports news and upcoming highlights and redbankgreen is here to amplify. Read on, Bucs backers.
Boys’ Basketball Dominates Buc Classic
The RBR boys’ basketball team clinched the Albert E. Martin Buc Classic championship for the second consecutive year. The Bucs delivered an emphatic performance in the first round, defeating Long Branch with a commanding score of 70-37. The semifinal against Hightstown proved to be a nail-biter, but the Bucs emerged victorious with a 52-49 win. In the championship game, RBR triumphed over Freehold Boro, finishing with a decisive 65-57 victory.
Senior standout Ryan Fisher was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), highlighting his leadership and skill on the court. The team’s season is off to a perfect start, boasting an undefeated 7-0 record.
Girls’ Basketball Shines in WOBM Tournament
The RBR girls’ basketball team had an equally successful holiday season, securing their second consecutive WOBM Tournament championship at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena. The Bucs claimed the title with a hard-fought 58-49 victory over rival Rumson-Fair Haven in the championship game.
Junior Synai Blychanton was named MVP of the tournament, showcasing exceptional performance and leadership on the court. The girls’ team remains unbeaten with an impressive 6-0 record to start the season.
Indoor Track Athletes Break Records
RBR’s indoor track program also had a stellar start to the 2024-2025 season, with athletes shattering school records:
Anna Petersen (Junior):
- Broke the RBR school long jump record on December 10 at the Monmouth Showcase Meet. She surpassed her own record on December 16 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island with a leap of 16’4.25”.
- Set a new school record in the 300m dash, clocking in at 42.15 seconds on December 16.
Julia McCormack (Junior):
- Broke the school record in the pole vault with a jump of 10’4” at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on December 16.
- Achieved a personal best in the triple jump with a distance of 34’0.5”.
Boys’ 1600m Sprint Medley Relay Team:
- The team of Trey Cummings, Micah Eagles, Peter Gallina, and Conor Fagan set a new school record with a time of 3:43.83, earning third place at the county meet.
Wrestling Milestones
The RBR wrestling team also had standout performances during the holiday season:
Kevin Ruland (Senior):
- Achieved the 100th win of his career at the Gateway Regional Tournament on December 21.
Jason Huss (Junior):
- Secured first place in the Walter Woods Tournament on December 28 in the 157-pound weight class.
Upcoming Home Games
Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Buccaneers in their upcoming home games:
- Saturday, February 1: 1:00 PM – Varsity Boys’ Basketball vs. Manasquan
- Tuesday, February 4: 6:45 PM – Varsity Boys’ Basketball vs. Rumson-Fair Haven
- Thursday, February 6: 5:30 PM – Varsity Girls’ Basketball vs. Holmdel (Senior Game)
- Wednesday, February 12: 6:30 PM – Varsity Wrestling vs. Metuchen (Senior Match)
redbankgreen editor Brian Donohue may be reached via email at [email protected] or by calling or texting 848-331-8331 or yelling his name loudly as he walks by. Do you value the news coverage provided by redbankgreen? Please become a financial supporter if you haven’t already. Click here to set your own level of monthly or annual contribution.