Toms River North’s Jakari Spence Joins 1,000 Point Club
It was a special night for Jakari Spence during the semi-finals of the WOBM Christmas Classic. Early in the first quarter, Spence drove to the basket and finished strong at the rim. This layup did more than just give Toms…
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Continue ReadingIt was a special night for Jakari Spence during the semi-finals of the WOBM Christmas Classic. Early in the first quarter, Spence drove to the basket and finished strong at the rim. This layup did more than just give Toms River North a 14-6 lead over Marlboro. This was the 1,000th career point for Spence.
Toms River North entered the WOBM Christmas Classic as the second-seed. They picked up three double-digit wins to advance to the final game against Manasquan. Throughout the tournament, Spence has been their leader. He finished with 20 points against Marlboro and 29 points in the quarterfinals against Donovan Catholic. Spence’s scoring outbursts are nothing new to the Mariners.
As a junior, Spence scored 538 points and went for double-digits 24 times. This includes 15 games with 20 or more points and a season-high 37 points against Southern. Whenever he takes the floor, Spence is a threat to score the ball.
During the WOBM Christmas Classic, Spence is making sure that the Shore Conference has not forgotten his scoring ability. He is lightning fast when handling the ball and can score from anywhere on the floor. Spence is a difficult cover because of his ability to shoot from the outside. If he is given any space to prevent the drive, he can pull up quickly from three-point range. Spence is a capable passer but there is no doubt that he is a score first guard when on the floor.
Toms River North is one of the top teams in the Shore Conference. Spence is the Mariners’ No. 1 option but he is certainly not alone. Najae Hallenbeck, Colin Baker, and Jake Kazanowsky all provide threats when on the floor. This is a team that can make a lot of noise in the conference in the regular season but first, they will have their hands full with Manasquan in the finals of this Christmas tournament.