This year, the Point Pleasant Boro Panthers Boys Basketball team is in the B South Division. They ended their season with the final season record being 17-10 and the Shore Conference record being 7-3, ranking 14th in the Shore.
I interviewed a few of the players and coaches on the team and asked them to share their point of view on how they think they did and how they think the team did as a whole. Based on these conversations and the information that I was given, this was a great season.
When I asked head coach, Coach Hynes, for a review of this season and how it compares to last season, he replied with, “This team definitely maxed out its potential and is very similar to last year’s team. Both this and last year’s team bought into the idea that they were owed nothing and had to earn everything. Both teams played for each other, outworked and outexecuted their opponents.”
When asked about the upcoming 2026-2027 season, Head Coach Hynes replied, “We are very excited about next year’s Point Boro basketball squad. We return Hunter Hynes, Landon Hoyle, and Chase Scarponi from our main rotation of varsity players. We have a bunch of hungry younger players who will battle it out to see who will round out next year’s rotation. Next year’s team has the ability to have an even better season than we had this year. It will come down to the amount of time each one of our returning players puts in in the off-season. The sky is the limit.”
When I asked for a review of the season by the assistant coach, Ryan Canary, he responded, stating, “The boys basketball program at Point Pleasant Borough High School had a strong and successful season, highlighted by major postseason appearances. The Panthers earned a spot in the competitive Shore Conference Tournament, showcasing their ability to compete with many of the top teams in the region. Qualifying for this tournament reflected the team’s consistency and growth throughout the regular season. In addition to their Shore Conference success, the team also qualified for the NJSIAA state tournament. This postseason berth demonstrated the program’s continued competitiveness at the state level.
A major highlight of the season was the achievement of two players reaching the 1,000-point career milestone. Reaching 1,000 points is one of the most respected accomplishments in high school basketball and reflects years of dedication and scoring ability. Having two players reach that mark in the same program further emphasizes the strength of the roster. Their leadership and scoring helped drive the team during key moments of the season. The program combined experienced upperclassmen with developing younger players to build depth and balance. Strong team chemistry and disciplined play were key factors in the Panthers’ success. Overall, the season reinforced the continued growth and competitiveness of the Point Boro basketball program.”
As Coach Canary stated, both Junior Hunter Hynes and Senior Jovin Steinmetz accomplished earning 1,000 points this year, a milestone for both players and Point Boro Basketball as a whole. Coach Hynes stated, “Hunter is the first junior in the history of our school to score 1,000 points as a junior.”
I also interviewed Senior Logan DeAngelis and Freshman Jackson Morris to see their perspective on the past basketball season, as DeAngelis played his last season and Morris played his first. The following responses are quoted from my interview with both players:
How do you think you did this season?
DeAngelis: “As a team, I believe we overachieved our expectations. We came into this season with a lot of inexperience, and it was great to see how our team evolved over the course of the year. On a personal level, I think I played pretty well in limited minutes. I was hurt last season, so to be able to get back out there with my teammates and friends was a true blessing.”
Morris: “Personally, I had a decent season, but our team did perform well, and I felt that we played our best when it mattered.”
Who inspired you to play basketball?
DeAngelis: “My favorite player of all time is Russell Westbrook. I wear number 0 to pay homage to him. My playstyle replicates his, and I never really took basketball too seriously until I started following him.”
Morris: “My brother because he was the first person that I saw play.”
What is your prediction for the next season?
DeAngelis: “I think they’ve got a great group of guys over there, they share a lot of parallels with this year’s team in the sense that they won’t be returning many starters. One starter that is coming back, Hunter Hynes, is primed for a huge year leading the team as both a senior and scorer. I’m excited to see how they do, and I’m looking forward to attending as many games as I can when I’m home for break.”
Morris: “Next season I think we will be great, and although we will be young, we will perform very well, and I have been playing with a lot of the guys for my whole life.”
What was your favorite moment during this season?
DeAngelis: “Monmouth Regional, Landon Hoyle game winner to send us on to the next round. That was easily the most exciting moment of the whole season. We were tied up, projected to lose going into that game, and pulled out the win in extraordinary fashion. You can’t beat that.”
Morris: “My favorite moment was us battling in the second half of our game against Rumson because although we were down 20 and came back and put up 64 points in the second half but sadly came up short.”
What game were you most excited about playing this season?
DeAngelis: “Rumson, nothing else needs to be said. You ask anyone at Point Boro High School that same question, and they’d give you the same response. It’s become my favorite rivalry I’ve been a part of during my time here at the Boro, and although we fell just short of pulling off a miraculous comeback against them, it was still a game for the ages.”
Morris: “I was most excited for our game against Point Beach away because it was our chance to beat them, and they are our cross-town rival.”
Do you see potential in this year’s freshman players?
DeAngelis: “I saw a lot of raw potential. I didn’t get to watch many freshman games this year, but I had plenty of exposure to a few freshmen who practiced and played with us on the varsity team. Blake Nedza, Jackson Morris, and Chase Scarponi all logged minutes this year as freshmen and showed extreme promise in the limited action they saw. I’m really excited to see these guys blossom into great players and integral pieces of the program for years to come. With a full year of experience under their belts, the skies are the limit for them.”
Morris: “Yes, I’m one of them, and we have multiple other guys who have a bright future ahead.”
Do you believe you can go to the NBA?
DeAngelis: “Not a chance. I’m ready to close the book on organized sports. Injuries have added up over the years, and mentally it’s taken a toll. I intend to play pickup or intramural in college, but I’m done lacing them up for an organized team. I’m content with what I’ve accomplished thus far. Why push it?”
Morris: “It’s definitely a long shot, but if I work at it, anything is possible.”
Where do you think you’ll be going to play college or university basketball?
DeAngelis: “Dealing in hypotheticals, say I could go back to 6th grade when I first started playing basketball; If I could have put the effort and hours in from that age and become a great player, I would’ve loved to go play at Villanova. My dad went there, and I’ve grown up watching Villanova Basketball since I was 5. The history is there, the lineage is there, and it would’ve been a dream come true to play for the team I’d always seen on TV.”
Morris: “Not too sure I got 3 years until that comes.”
What university or college do you hope to attend after high school?
DeAngelis: “I have not decided where I’ll be spending my next four years. However, I’ve been admitted into the University of Maryland, Purdue, Rutgers, UC Davis, and Syracuse, along with many more. Only time will tell where I end up, but I have full faith in the process, and I know that wherever I land I’ll have the time of my life.”
Morris: “A cool place I’ve always wanted to go to is Duke. No main reason, but I’ve always rooted for them, and I just love everything about that school.”
Who is your favorite teammate?
DeAngelis: “There is no one real answer to this. I’d have to say the senior class as a whole. They’re the guys I’ve grown up playing basketball with since the first time I laced my shoes up. We’ve won so many games together, lost just as many, and made countless memories as a group, and we’ve all improved as people through the adversities we’ve faced head-on together. I consider each of them brothers, and I’d give the world to step back out there one last time with them.”
Morris: “I have too many teammates that I love playing with, so I couldn’t pick one, and our whole coaching staff is great.”
Logan and I furthered our conversation, and I asked him questions to reflect on the past 4 seasons and his basketball career, as he graduates this June.
Are there any freshmen you saw or played with that you see yourself in when looking at them?
DeAngelis: “Honestly, I don’t believe there is anyone in the program at any level that plays the way I do, and I say that humbly. What I mean is that none of our big men or centers play football, and none of them are undersized like I was. The physicality I had to bring to the court in order to thrive out there is something a lot of our team lacked going into this season. However,I hope I was able to instill a work ethic into the underclassmen that allows them to reach that level of physicality. I’ve taken a few of them under my wing in the weight room so far in the offseason, so I’m looking forward to seeing how my efforts impact them in the future.”
Do you think you left your mark/spot on the team?
DeAngelis: “I’m gonna speak to this on a team level. I think this group, this team, has changed the culture of Point Pleasant Boro basketball for the better. Before this season, there wasn’t much in the way of team bonding off the court. This season, we were able to take ourselves a lot less seriously and just embraced every moment, the ups and the downs. For that, I believe as a group we did leave our mark on both the program and the school.”
How did it feel walking onto the court knowing it was your last high school basketball game?
DeAngelis: “It didn’t really hit me until halftime, once we were down 30-10, I thought to myself, ‘This might be it” I think my fellow seniors shared that same idea, and I think that’s what lit the spark to go on that incredible run at the end of the Rumson game. You never wanna go out in blowout fashion, and I couldn’t be more proud of how hard we fought as a group to try and continue our season.”
Who is the one teacher who impacted your high school experience?
DeAngelis: “Mrs. Jensen. She was a teacher here from my freshman year to my junior year. I had her for multiple classes, and I attribute everything I know about writing a good article to her. My passion for sportswriting stemmed from what she taught me and showed me, and her constant motivation for me to be the best writer and person I could be has left a lasting impact that’ll stick for the rest of my life.”
Finally, what is a quote you can leave us with?
DeAngelis: “Embrace every second of the good things in life. The second you take them for granted, they’re gone before you know it. Don’t live life wishing you did something you didn’t; If you have a goal, go achieve it.”
