As fall sports bid farewell ‘till next year, winter sports and cold weather are in the air once again. Boys Basketball is one of, if not the most hyped-up winter sport FTHS has to offer this year. They are led by third-year head coach Todd Smith, who is coming off of a 9-16 (0-4 Shore) season in 2023-24.
The Patriots will kick off their season against Freehold Boro for the Kuhnert Classic on December 19. Then, on December 21, they will play their second and final game of 2024 on the road against Red Bank Catholic.
When 2025 hits, they will hit a three-game road trip between January 3-9, before returning home for another three games from January 11-17. Road opponents during this timespan include Howell, Ranney, and Manalapan. Home opponents consist of Holmdel, Marlboro, and Colts Neck.
Between January 21-28, they will flip back and forth between road and home games for four contests. Christian Brothers and Midd South will each host the Patriots, while Ranney and Manalapan will find themselves squaring off in FTHS’s gym. Manalapan is one of five schools playing Township multiple times this season, along with Marlboro, Colts Neck, Ranney, and Christian Brothers.
Another three-game road trip will take place from January 31-February 3, with stops planned for Marlboro, Allentown, and Colts Neck. Following this is a two-game homestand against Christian Brothers and Lacey (Senior Day) from February 6-8. The regular season will conclude on the road at Toms River North on February 20.
Six seniors are currently rostered on this year’s squad: football QB Nick Cardone, Javanni Dawdy, Jordan Dunluan, Sean Harris, Liam Grube, and Jake Tennsingque. It is an improvement from last year’s three seniors on the roster. Cardone is the highest-returning scorer from the previous season, who finished second to Andrew Silverman in the category. Grube is a new face on the team. Will these players save their best season for last?
Juniors to watch out for are JC Farley, Carmen Nalasco, and Will Varela. They may have limited experience dating back to last season, but this might be the year where they make an impact.
The dynamic duo of sophomores, John O’Neill and Jake Schultzel, will also be returning to the team. Schultzel, like Cardone, is another dual-threat player; they both played on the Varsity football team together. They are nothing but poised to become future stars and leaders of the Patriot team. And the stats don’t lie; they scored a combined 77 points last year as freshmen, more points combined than the class ahead of them.
How good will the Patriots Boys Basketball do in 2024-25? Will we walk away with a Shore Conference Title? Our first answer will be given soon. If we want to win it all, remember to STAY CLASSY at all times!
