Playoff soccer, Monmouth basketball & the Jets

Truly a little of this and a little of that on a Wednesday “hump day.”

For the second straight year the Toms River South boys soccer team has reached the Group 3 state final.  The Indians rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to edge Mainland 2-1 in the semifinals last night across town at Toms River North.

Senior Dylan Danelson and freshman Jack Seitz scored just over two minutes apart both off superb throw-ins by Chris Kluxen early in the second half to send South to Sunday’s championship game against undefeated Ramapo at Kean University.

Coach Ed Leibe’s squad is 17-3-2 this fall and once again one of the few teams left in the state still playing.

While the South boys team was playing on their home turf the Toms River North girls team traveled to Pennington and lost 4-0 to powerful Hunterdon Central in the Group 4 semifinals.  Despite the loss the Mariners finish with a 20-3 record and won the first sectional title in program history.

The Monmouth University basketball team gained notoriety last year by knocking off a host of established programs like UCA, USC and Notre Dame.  Last night they dropped a heartbreaker on the road at the University of South Carolina, falling 70-69 in overtime on a basket at the buzzer.

The Hawks rallied from 18 points down in the second half before falling just short. Friday night they visit Syracuse.  All Hawks road games can be heard on the Shore Sports Network’s WOBM AM 1160 & 1310 which is also where King Rice does a coaches show every Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The Jets have a bye this weekend but fans of “gang green” are invited to Sunday’s Jets Appreciation Day in Spring Lake.  Organized by Trinity Financial Sports & Entertainment Company the event will feature former Jets safety and current broadcaster Erik Coleman who will appear at their offices at 219 Morris Avenue from 2 p .m. -4 p.m. signing autographs and taking pictures.

If you wear any Jets gear you’ll be entered into a drawing for a special Jets prize package and there will be free drawings throughout the day.  For more visit petergrandich.com.  Trinity recently announced that NFL running back and Spring Lake resident Donald Brown has joined their Advisory Board.  Brown was a standout player at Red Bank Catholic and was most recently a member of the New England Patriots.