Toms River North Boys Basketball Still Atop A South Despite Graduations By John Sorce

TOMS RIVER – The Toms River North boys basketball team has been a constant threat in Shore Conference A South over the past few seasons, capturing three straight A South titles and owners of a 32-game winning streak against A South competition.

The Mariners, led by seventh-year head coach Rory Caswell, compiled a 28-3 record a season ago which ended when they fell to eventual state runner-up Shawnee in the South sectional final at the State Tournament. 

This year, the Mariners are off to an 8-2 start despite losing starters Jaden Rhoden, Mike Nyisztor and Darrion Carrington and key contributors Sean O’Donnell and Mike Husni to graduation. 

Senior guards Travis Holland and Holden Petrick return to the starting lineup and will be joined this season by seniors Mark Mogarte (guard) and Elliot Daks (forward), as well as sophomore Najea Hallenback (forward), who at 6-5 is also an offensive lineman on the football team with Division 1 offers already in hand. 

Toms River North has plenty of depth this season coming off the bench, starting with Manchester transfers Jakari Spence and Markese Davis. Spence is a sophomore guard who was second on the Hawks in scoring as a freshman, while Davis is a guard who has experience on the varsity level. Sophomore guard Colin Baker will also be playing in his second high school season, while junior Nick Dunzack (6-5) and seniors Mike Centeno (6-7) and Allen Schlanger (6-4) will also add experience and height to Toms River North’s bench.

Toms River North placed second in the 34th annual WOBM Christmas Classic, falling to Manasquan in the championship game, 71-64, on Dec. 30. Holland led the Mariners with 23 points and eight rebounds.  Mogarte was a first-team selection for the tournament after scoring a team-high 18 points to lead a come from behind victory over Marlboro in the semifinals and averaged 12 points and five assists during the tournament. 

Looking ahead, in-town rivals Toms River South on Jan. 19 and Toms River East on Jan. 25 loom large on the Mariners’ schedule. Also on there is a matchup against Donovan Catholic, who currently sits in second place in B South, in the regular season’s second to last game. 

Toms River North is one of five teams in the division to lose at least three starters from last season, so many teams are experimenting with a varying rotation of players this season. Still, the Mariners have stability on the coaching staff and a winning culture in the program, and with a 6-0 start to divisional play, they could very well still be “the big boys on the street” in A South.