From Matt Manley’s Original Story: https://shoresportsnetwork.com/boys-basketball-2023-24-season-preview-class-b-north/
Middletown North finished a distant third in Class B North and with an 0-10 record in the division and just four wins all season, it is hard to dismiss everything that went wrong for the Lions as simply bad luck. With that being said, a difficult schedule for a young, inexperienced team played a significant part in Middletown North’s struggles.
Of the Lions’ 19 losses, only four of them came against teams with a losing record and two of them were two-point losses to Red Bank. The other two were against Class A North teams Howell and Manalapan, which combined to win 20 games. Middletown North also battled to close losses against Marlboro (57-54), Rumson-Fair Haven (47-45), Colts Neck (71-66) and Middletown South (58-53).
For the second straight year and third time in the last four seasons, Middletown North has a new head coach, with Chris Hoffman taking over after Eric Youncofski coached his alma mater for one season. Hoffman will have a team that gained valuable experience last year and graduated a playmaker in Mac Colantino and interior player in Connor Down.
The returning group includes top scorer Jason Quardt, plus a pair of guards in Luke Sheehan and Jack Walsh who give the Lions some size in their five-guard lineup. Seniors Derek Butler and Joe Berenger round out the all-senior starting five and Isiah Ellis is a 6-5 presence looming on the bench if Hoffman wants to matchup with a bigger front court.
Juniors Colin Byrne and Jac Colantino will be important pieces in the rotation, with Joe Grasso and Damien Merker providing more frontcourt depth. Braden Marcoutte is among the top sophomores on the roster and while getting them some playing time may be in the cards, the seniors on Middletown North showed last year that they are not far off from breaking through against quality competition – which the Lions will see every night playing against Class B North and A North.
Middletown North at a Glance
Head Coach: Chris Hoffman, first season
2022-23 Record: 4-19 (0-10, sixth in Class B North)
Key Losses: Mac Colantino (5-10, Guard), Connor Down (6-1, Center)
Projected Lineup (Returning Starters in Bold)
Jason Quardt, Sr., 5-8, Guard
Derek Butler, Sr., 5-11, Guard
Jack Walsh, Sr., 6-2, Guard
Joe Berenger, Sr., 5-8, Guard
Luke Sheehan, Sr., 6-3, Guard
Off the Bench
Isiah Ellis, Sr., 6-5, Center
Colin Byrne, Jr., 6-3, Forward
Jac Colantino, Jr., 5-8, Guard
Joe Grasso, Jr., 6-4, Center
Braden Marcotte, So., 5-9, Guard
Damien Merker, Jr., 6-4, Center
Owen Robson, So., 5-11, Guard
Matt Dickie, So., 5-9, Guard
Jack Dambaugh, So., 6-3, Guard
Jack Kelly, So., 5-10, Guard
Eddie Lopez, So., 6-6, Guard
Nate Tyburczy, Fr., 5-9, Guard