Basketball: Sterns Trailer aims for JSBL four-peat; will face ACI in final on Tuesday

MANASQUAN -- While the first game of Monday's Jersey Shore Basketball League semifinals doubleheaders was a surprising comeback victory, the second matchup was a reminder that it would take another stunner to prevent Sterns Trailer's quest for a fourth straight victory at the premier summer tournament.

The ACI/Robin's Nest squad energized the local crowd with a second half comeback to beat Intern Helpers 102-97 in the first game at Manasquan High School. Leading the way were two former Neptune stars, Dwaine Jones and Jared Kimbrough, as ACI stormed back to take their first lead of the game with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter and eventually cruising into the finals on Tuesday against Sterns Trailer.

"I kind of knew going into that second quarter, going into halftime, I went on maybe a 9-0 (run) myself," said Jones. "I just knew if I could get my team a burst, just to give us some confidence. Instead of down 12 or 13 (going into halftime), we're down five. I think it just gave us a bunch of confidence."

Facing an Intern Helpers team that was highlighted by several former South Jersey standouts, the familiar faces on ACI essentially had a home crowd cheering them on as they punched their ticket to the final. Jones finishes with a game-high 36 points while Kimbrough added 15. Former Patrick School standout Ibn Loyal added 19 for ACI. Lakewood's Chris Smith, who played at St. Benedict's and then Louisville, had 15 for Intern Helpers. The matchup was also a duel between Shore Conference high school coaches, as Neptune's Joe Fagan got the win against Jackson Memorial's Randy Holmes.

"We came in here feeling like we were one of the better teams," said Kimbrough. "Honestly, we all have a chip on our shoulders. We want to win, we're all driven by trying to win this whole thing."

For an ACI/Robin's Nest team that is playing in the final for the first time, winning it all would be a massive upset against the three-time reigning champs that looked the part in the second game of the night. Sterns Trailer didn't necessarily roll over RKE Athletic, which battled closely for four quarters, but the result also never felt in doubt as Sterns Trailer closed out the 106-95 victory.

Leading the way was former Toms River North and Monmouth standout Jakari Spence, who finished with a game-high 34 points. In a game full of former Shore Conference standouts, Spence reflected on how his game and outlook has matured since his time with the Mariners.

"It's definitely a me versus me thing," said Spence. "When I was younger, maybe it was like I wanted to catch those guys who were in rankings and stuff. And then I got to college and rankings don't mean nothing. Rankings can't save you when you get between these lines."

Spence led the way in the victory over his former Monmouth teammate Jack Collins, who was back at his old stomping grounds at Manasquan. Collins had 11 for RKE Athletic, but it was the former Mater Dei and Saint Peter's guard Kyle Cardaci who nearly matched Spence with his own scoring outburst as he finished with 28 for RKE.

Second to Spence on Sterns Trailer was Parker Dortch with 24 points while Rasheen Merlin added 13 and Kevin Mateo added 12. Former Saint Peter's big man Derrick Woods was also in double figures with 10, and former Ranney star Bryan Antoine finished with seven points.

The results set up an intriguing finale on Tuesday night at Manasquan. Since the pandemic cancellation of 2020, only three teams had played in the final including Sterns Trailer (the others being Sea View Jeep and Ortho-NJ Institute). ACI/Robin's Nest breaks that trend as a true newcomer vying for a breakthrough championship.

But Sterns Trailer is showing no signs of letting up and is not lacking for motivation on the verge of a fourth consecutive league title.

"It's about winning," Spence said. "If you don't win, you can't talk. So I did a lot of backing up my talk this year."

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Basketball: Sterns Trailer aims for JSBL four-peat after semifinal win