The JSBL Tips Off Its 56th Summer

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

Shore Regional HS alumni and Monmouth University player Dan Pillari (21) who plays for Ortho-NJ in the JSBL, drives past Zayire Dean of Larson Ford. Dean played at Ocean Township and just graduated from Red Bank Regional HS.

June 26, the 56th season of the Jersey Shore Basketball League (JSBL) tipped off at Manasquan High School. Over the nearly six decades of the league there have been two constant factors. First, great NCAA and professional players are in the league. Second, the only team sponsor that has been there since the start is Larson Ford.

Opening night 2024 had Larson Ford, the only seven-time JSBL champions, facing Ortho-NJ, who finished in second place last season. It was a very exciting game as Larson Ford had taken a 23-22 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter, Ortho-NJ had a strong showing and outscored Larson Ford 32-23 and took a 54-46 lead into the break.

Leading Ortho-NJ in that first half was former Raritan High School graduate who played at Wagner and Rhode Island, had 16 first half points. The 6’8” center had nine rebounds in those opening quarters. George Papas, who graduated Monmouth University and plays professionally in Greece, had 11 points. Also scoring 11 first-half points for Ortho-NJ was Jagan Mosely, who graduate from Georgetown and plays professionally in Denmark.

Larson Ford was led in the first half by Nate Pierre-Louis, who graduated from Temple and has played professionally in the NBA G-League for the South Bay Lakers, had 19 first half points. Aundre Hyatt who played at LSU and Rutgers and plays professionally in Belgium, had 11 points and five rebounds.

Starting the second half of action, it was Larson Ford who came out hot. They outscored Ortho-NJ 33-26. But the final quarter of the game belonged to Ortho-NJ who had a 35-28 advantage and won the game 115-107.

Aaman was high man for Ortho-NJ with 37 points, 17 rebounds, one assists and one block. He is a beast under the boards, and teams have a hard time defending him. Mosely finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. Papas had 19 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, one block and one steal.

Leading Larson Ford in scoring was Hyatt with 30 points. He also pulled down 12 rebounds and one assist in the loss. Nate Pierre-Louis finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, one block and one steal. His little brother, Josh Pierre-Louis, who played at Temple and US Barbara, had 20 points, three rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.

For information on the JSBL, please check out their website at https://jsbl.leaguerepublic.com/index.html

Additional photos of this and many other games can be viewed at www.Facebook.com/TheLinkSports