Manasquan was able to avoid an upset during its high school basketball game against Point Pleasant Beach in New Jersey. A pair of free throws from a technical foul during overtime proved to be the difference.
Fortunately, officials were able to separate the ensuing scuffle before it got out of hand.
Unfortunately, the officiating (or lack thereof) proved to be the difference in the high school basketball game. Two questionable calls might’ve swung the outcome in the other direction if they were flipped.
Manasquan barely defeated Point Pleasant Beach.
Manasquan High School is located in Manasquan, New Jersey with a total enrollment of approximately 1,000 students in Grades 9-12. Its opponent, Point Pleasant Beach High School, is located in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey with a total enrollment of approximately 350 students in Grades 9-12.
These two high school basketball programs played each other in the quarterfinal round of the 41st annual SSI Kevin Williams Christmas Classic from RWJ Barnabas Health Arena. It was a mismatch on paper.
The Warriors of Manasquan, a powerhouse in recent years, went 21-4 last season and 23-6 in 2023-24. The Garnet Gulls of Point Pleasant Beach went 15-6 last season and 11-15 in 2023-24.
However, the top-seeded Warriors were without two key starters so this game was a lot closer than expected. Officials chose not to end the game on free throws, which led to overtime tied at 39.
The Gulls likely could have and should have gone to the line to win the game from the charity stripe. The referees chose not to call at least one clear foul on the putback attempt by No. 13. Play on.
Things got chippy during the New Jersey high school basketball game.
Although the officials chose to look the other way on the final play of regulation, they had no choice but to blow their whistles on a physical play during the extra period. A Point Pleasant Beach player took an elbow to the chest on the rebound, which caused him to fall on top of an already downed Manasquan player. It was something of an accidental table top. The former was pushed over the latter.
And yet, it was the latter who took issue with the former. The Manasquan player immediately got back to his feet and started to chirp at the Point Pleasant Beach player who fell on top of him.
A brief scuffle ensued, which resulted in an ejection. Danny Cavanaugh of the Gulls was not allowed to continue in the contest. Unfortunately, Matt Manley of Shore Sports Insider mysteriously deleted his video of the altercation overnight. All we have is a video of the initial play that started the fight.
OT underway. A scuffle after this initial play, and Danny Cavanaugh of Point Beach was ejected
— Jake Matson (@JakeMatson) December 27, 2025
Technical foul shots to Manasquan, who makes it and take a 41-39 lead pic.twitter.com/Wd4yl3VYE8
Manasquan received two free throws because of the ejection. It went on to win by one point, 43-42 on a defensive stand in the closing seconds of overtime.
Manasquan with the defensive stand to win it!
— Jake Matson (@JakeMatson) December 27, 2025
Final
Manasquan 43
Point Beach 42 pic.twitter.com/fCTo0vvV2X
Point Pleasant Beach was on the wrong end of two controversial calls. A foul call at the end of regulation might’ve won the game. The technical foul from the kerfuffle, which seemed to be started by its opponent, gave two free points to the team that ended up winning by one. The upset bid fell short.