Posted on 06 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
The rosters for the Shore Basketball Coaches’ Association Senior Boys and Girls All-Star games have been announced. They were selected by a committee of coaches on the boys and girls’ sides.
DigitalSports will have full coverage of the games and will have features leading up to the event, which you will want to be at when it is held on March 19 at Freehold Township High School. The girls game is at 6 p.m., followed by the boys game at 8 p.m., and there will be a 3-point shootout between the games involving some of the top players in the Shore.
Check back later for video highlights of many of the seniors participating in the game.
BOYS ROSTER
GIRLS ROSTER
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted in Uncategorized
Posted on 06 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
In the last few seasons, Rumson-Fair Haven has emerged as the Goliath of the NJSIAA Group II bracket, as the Bulldogs have won two straight overall Group II titles. At 6 p.m. on Thursday at Southern, Rumson will attempt to put itself into position for an impressive fourth straight Group II final appearance and yet another trip to the Tournament of Champions when it takes on South Jersey champion Collingswood in a Group II semifinal.
Let’s take a look at the teams and the strategies.
RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN (24-5)
Key players: Junior Kate Miller leads the way as she is the centerpiece of the offense and also a talented defender. An athletic swing, her mid-range game is her best attribute, as she is good at scoring off screens and by stopping and popping in transition. As the season has progressed, she also has become more aggressive about going all the way to the basket and finishing, and she also has 3-point range. Senior point guard Candice Green dictates the tempo of the offense and is at her best when she is breaking down defenders off the dribble and getting into the lane for a dish to a teammate. Senior forward Gabbie DePalo is the primary interior scorer, with the ability to finish under the rim and grab timely offensive rebounds. Freshman Ashley Cooper is a designated 3-point bomber, and guard Julie Kelly also does most of her damage from outside the arc. Guard Kara Abbot has developed a knack for big baskets in big spots in the state playoffs, so she is another to watch.
Rumson’s strategy:
- Defense, defense, and then some defense. This is Rumson’s trademark. Make teams work the ball around the perimeter endlessly because they cannot find any opening. Rumson has seen every opponent under the sun by this point, while Collingswood might not be ready for the pressure that the Bulldogs bring.
- Get Miller the ball in space to score. Whether it’s getting a quick runout on a long miss or running her off curl screens or getting her kickouts on the wing, give her room to operate and she will get it done.
- Get second chances. DePalo is huge in this area. If Rumson can get multiple opportunities offensively, it can milk the clock and dictate the speed of the game.
- Candice Green needs to get penetration into the lane. When she is blowing by her defender, Rumson is a much better offensive team.
- Get an 8-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. The way Rumson plays defense, a lead like that is almost impossible to overcome for most teams.
Did you know?: Rumson has won nine straight sectional titles, and it has won four overall Group II titles in its history.
COLLINGSWOOD (25-4)
Key players: Senior Lauren Gregg is a 5-foot-11 guard/forward who can get to the basket and is also a threat on the offensive glass as she had a big, 17-point, 16-rebound game in the South Jersey Group II final. Senior twins Aja and Brielle Crites are also scoring threats along with Danielle Trucksess, so Rumson will have to play solid defense across the board. However, Gregg is the key. If she gets going and is allowed to cause trouble with her rebounding, that will keep Collingswood right in the game. All four of the aforementioned players can put the ball on the floor and get to the basket.
Collingswood’s strategy:
- Speed up the game. The Panthers like to press full court and score off turnovers, so they want Rumson to play at an uncomfortable pace.
- Get Kate Miller in foul trouble. While Rumson coach George Sourlis will often leave Miller in the game with some early fouls because he trusts her to play smart, the Panthers have to do all they can to force Miller to hit the bench with too many fouls. That puts a lot of pressure on Rumson’s defense to be perfect because its offense takes a big hit when she is out of the game.
- Keep Candice Green in front of them. While she has shown at times that she is a dangerous jump shooter, make her prove it again by backing off and keeping her out of the lane.
- Attack the offensive glass. Rumson is not a huge threat to run, although it does pick its spots, so send as many as possible at the offensive glass to try and get second shots against the Bulldogs’ stifling defense. Chaos, when the ball is loose and bodies are jockeying for position, is the best way to score on Rumson because it is so tough in the half-court.
- Don’t panic. The pressure is all on Rumson to win this game.
- Stay close going into the fourth quarter. Rumson’s defense is too good to let the Bulldogs get a decent margin going into the final period. Hang around and then see if you can make some plays in the final minutes.
Did you know?: Collingswood just won its first state sectional title since 1986.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted on 06 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
After Middletown South‘s 45-33 stunner over Neptune in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III final for the Eagles’ first state sectional title since 1979, the question was posed to several Eagles players.
If you can beat Neptune, why couldn’t you just…
“Keep it going, you’re right,” said sophomore center Kyle Cancillieri, answering the question before it could even be finished. “If we can beat a team the caliber of Neptune, why can’t we make the (Group III) final?”
“If we can compete with a team like that, which was one of the top in the state, we can play with anybody,” said senior guard Garret Thiel.
Now we’ll see if those statements hold true when the Eagles take the long bus ride down to Winslow Township High School for a Group III semifinal against South Jersey champion Timber Creek at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Let’s take a look at the teams and the strategies.
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH (21-6)
Key players: The Eagles’ balanced attack is led by senior guard Garret Thiel, who has gutted out the state playoffs on a badly sprained ankle. He is able to hit 3-pointers off the dribble and mid-range jumpers, but his ability to get all the way to the rim is a little compromised by the ankle. Junior Matt Callori has helped pick up the scoring slack and is coming off a 17-point game in the win over Neptune. He has good shooting range at 6-foot-4 and long arms that make him a menace on the offensive glass and able to finish inside. Sophomore center Kyle Cancillieri keeps adding more moves to his arsenal, and has the ability to catch the ball behind the 3-point line and beat bigger defenders off the dribble and finish at the basket. He also can hit face-up jumpers from anywhere in the paint area and is a good offensive rebounder. Senior guard Pete Clabby is always good for a timely 3-pointer and can score in transition. Forward Will Low is a solid offensive rebounder and Callori’s brother, Rob, is a quality long-range threat.
Middletown South’s strategy:
- It looks like the Eagles will once again be employing the match-up zone defense that they used with great success against Neptune. Dare Timber Creek to beat them by raining threes, although Timber Creek was surely able to scout the zone from the Neptune game.
- Slow the game down. Timber Creek is another team that has a speed advantage on the Eagles. They need to run their sets and look for high-percentage shots as usual. Finding Cancillieri underneath should once again be a priority. This might be a game where they go inside-out, lobbing in it in the post and then kicking it out for 3-pointers.
- Knock down open looks. Timber Creek has the speed to close quickly on outside shooters, so if Callori, Clabby or Thiel gets a clean look from 3-point range, they need to knock it down.
- Slow down Timber Creek’s Marquise Smith. Timber Creek has a balanced scoring attack, but Smith has been the key throughout its playoff run. Send a double-team at him if necessary and have defenders cheat toward his area in the zone.
- No letdowns from anyone defensively. Much like Neptune, Timber Creek gets scoring from several different players, so everyone has to be on guard or their man could be the one who makes the difference.
- Take care of the ball. The Eagles had 21 turnovers against Neptune but it didn’t make a difference because Neptune couldn’t make a shot. You don’t want to tempt fate twice in this area.
- Make your offensive rebounds count. Middletown South doesn’t destroy teams on the offensive glass, but the big thing about the Eagles is that they are efficient. The second chances they do get, they convert into points. That needs to continue against the Chargers.
Did you know?: Middletown South might have won its first state sectional title since 1979, but Timber Creek had never won one until this season. However, this is only Timber Creek’s seventh season as a varsity program.
TIMBER CREEK (20-9)
Key players: Marquise Smith had 18 points in the South Jersey Group III final win over Hammonton and made the 3-pointer in the final seconds that beat Shawnee in the semifinals, so the 6-foot-3 guard/forward has led the charge for the, uh, Chargers. Another key player is 6-foot-7 center Tyler Hines, who will do battle with South’s Kyle Cancillieri. Hines is a rugged rebounder who has range out to about 12 feet and has received offers from UMBC, Kent State and Boston University. Guard Jameer Briggs is another dangerous scorer along with 6-foot-4 forward Mike Martin, so unlike Neptune, the Chargers have the size to match players like Cancillieri and Callori. Briggs is a 5-foot-9 point guard who made some huge shots against Hammonton in the closing minutes of the sectional final.
Timber Creek’s strategy:
- Control the tempo. Middletown South believes it can beat just about anyone when the game is played at its speed. Don’t let the Eagles slow the game down.
- Get Cancillieri in foul trouble. By going at him early and getting him out of the game, it allows more room to operate in the middle against South’s zone.
- Double-team Thiel in the backcourt. Get the ball out of his hands and make him have to plant on his bad ankle and throw the ball over the top of a trap.
- Box out. Giving Middletown South multiple chances on offense will allow the Eagles to milk the clock and control the flow of the game.
- Get runouts on any long misses by Middletown South. If a 3-pointer comes off the rim long, get it and go.
- Don’t get frustrated. The Eagles’ style can drive teams crazy and force them to be impatient and launch long jumpers. Keep working the ball around and get a good shot.
- Get a lead heading into the fourth quarter. If Timber Creek can force Middletown South to come out of its zone because the Chargers are leading in the latter stages of the game, the Eagles are in trouble.
- Foul if necessary midway through the fourth quarter. The Eagles have been shaky from the foul line late in their last two playoff games. Force them to close you out at the line if they are going to win.
Did you know?: Timber Creek won their first state sectional title as the sixth seed.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted on 05 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
St. Rose’s boys basketball team already beat one team that many thought it had no shot at taking down in the NJSIAA Non-Public South B playoffs, so why stop there? The Purple Roses stunned one of the state’s top 20 teams, Cardinal McCarrick, which has the state’s leading scorer in Mike Burwell, in the semifinals. Now they will try to take down top-seeded Trenton Catholic in the sectional final at 5 p.m. at Jackson Liberty on Wednesday.
Let’s take a look at the matchups and strategies for each team.
ST. ROSE (19-8)
Key players: The Purple Roses are a balanced scoring team with an array of shooters around 6-foot-7 center Sean McPaul, who is a scoring threat in the paint. Seniors Brian Poppert, Joey Quinn and Chris Heine all can hit from behind the arc, and Heine, at 6-foot-5, can put the ball on the floor and has a mid-range game. Poppert and Quinn also will pull up off the dribble frequently or come off screens to hit shots. Point guard Ryan Breval is more of a distributor and a defender than a scorer. When St. Rose is playing at its best, Poppert, Quinn, Heine and McPaul will also score from about nine to 16 points.
St. Rose’s strategy:
- Set the tempo. This has long been the hallmark of successful St. Rose teams. When the Purple Roses can methodically run their sets on offense and make teams walk it up in a half-court game, they will hang right there until the end.
- Get McPaul going early. When McPaul is able to score in the post and command a double team, that means more open looks for all of St. Rose’s shooters.
- Don’t fall in love with the 3-point shot. While St. Rose does have several players who can knock down the long-range jumper, they still need to focus on getting the occasional backdoor lay-up or mid-range jumper off a cut. They can’t totally live and die by the 3-pointer, unless it turns out to be one of those special nights when everything is falling.
- Gimmick defenses. Just like Middletown South did to Neptune on Tuesday night, St. Rose could use some match-up zone or potentially employ the triangle-and-two that it used against Burwell and Julio Rosario in the semifinals to stop Trenton Catholic’s top two scorers, Daquon Basnight and Dondre Whitmore.
- Offensive rebounding. St. Rose can’t be a one-and-done, jump-shooting team. The Roses will have to keep some possessions alive for second and third shots.
- Transition defense. They need to get back quickly, particularly on long misses from 3-point range, because Trenton Catholic will push the ball down the floor.
Did you know?: St. Rose last won the Non-Public South B title in 2004 behind former star Collin Kamm, who now plays at Johns Hopkins University.
Trenton Catholic (22-6)
Key players: Daquon Basnight leads the Iron Mikes with 15.3 points per game and Dondre Whitmore is the other main scorer for them at 13.5 points per game. Both have good speed and can slash to the basket. Lafayette Smith also averages in double figures at 10.4 points per game, but the tandem of Basnight and Whitmore is the group to stop. Basnight had 17 points and Whitmore had 12 in a 52-44 win over St. Joseph-Hammonton in the semifinals.
Trenton Catholic’s strategy:
- Make St. Rose play at a faster speed. Try to push the Purple Roses up and down the floor, as they do not go very deep on their bench. They also tend to get sloppy when the pace dramatically increases.
- Get Sean McPaul in foul trouble. The Iron Mikes need to slash into the lane and force McPaul to help to try and draw some fouls. With him out of the middle, it opens up the lane to get to the rim and hurts St. Rose’s offense.
- Challenge every shot. St. Rose has some good shooters, so every shot needs to be challenged with a hand in the face.
- Bait St. Rose into shooting only threes. If the Purple Roses start mis-firing from long range, the caroms could create fast break opportunities the other way.
- Don’t get overconfident. It might be a little late for that, considering the Iron Mikes are already picking out a place to hang their championship banner. That could play perfectly into St. Rose’s hands in the role the Purple Roses relish as the underdog.
Did you know?: Trenton Catholic is gunning for its first state sectional title in 18 years since winning consecutive championships in 1988 and 1989.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted on 04 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
It will be the clash of the titans at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Sayreville High School when Colts Neck collides with Trenton in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV final in a match-up of two of the state’s top eight teams.
Trenton and its senior veterans are looking to return to the Tournament of Champions final for a second straight season, while Colts Neck wants to continue making school history at every turn with a sophomore-laden group.
Let’s take a look at the match-ups and strategies:
TRENTON (28-1)
Key players: The Tornadoes feature a 1,000-point scorer in senior guard Leola Spotwood, who is at her best when she is putting it on the floor and getting to the basket. However, the player Colts Neck may have to worry about the most is 6-foot-2 center Torrie Childs, a shot-blocking, lay-up making machine who can take over a game with her rebounding ability and defensive presence. Another player to watch is guard Alexis Sweet, whose jumpshot is like her last name, as she can get hot from 3-point range. Tracy Parsons is also another athletic scorer for Trenton, and Sierra Mendenhall is another name to watch because her game revolves around Colts Neck’s vulnerable point, as she attacks the offensive glass.
Trenton’s strategy:
- Get the ball to Torrie Childs. The more damage Trenton can do inside, the better. If Childs can get Brittany Howes in early foul trouble, it could be a long night for the Cougars.
- Keep Brooke Hampton and Lauren Clarke in front of them. Trenton has guards who are athletic enough to slow down the penetration of that duo, which would go a long way toward grinding Colts Neck’s offense to a halt.
- Finish in transition. Trenton is going to cause turnovers and get fast breaks, but sometimes the Tornadoes can’t get any lay-ups to fall as they go wildly to the basket. They need to convert those points.
- Go all out at the offensive glass. Trenton needs to use its size advantage to punish Colts Neck for easy putbacks and multiple shots on each possession.
- Knock down jumpers. There is a good chance Colts Neck will sit in a zone, essentially daring Trenton to prove it can hit jumpshots for 32 minutes.
Did you know?: Trenton is trying to become the first girls team ever to win four straight Central Jersey Group IV titles. Neptune (1988-90) and Piscataway (1996-98) each won three straight.
COLTS NECK (28-1)
Key players: The sophomore duo of Brooke Hampton and Lauren Clarke has been virtually unstoppable the past few weeks, as both can hit threes and cause major problems off dribble penetration. They also will go all the way inside and finish on drives to the basket, and both are good foul shooters. Sophomore guard Tiffany DeTulio is a good defender who also can light it up from 3-point range. Sophomore center Brittany Howes will be counted on to play one of her best games of the season against Childs in the paint. Seniors Crystal Butler and Nicole Vaccarella are good defenders who can shoot and finish on the break, sophomore Emily Laurence is another good defender and Leann Lanza is another tall body underneath.
Colts Neck’s strategy:
- Limit Trenton to one shot. This is the key to the whole game. If Colts Neck gets eaten alive on the offensive glass, it puts a lot of pressure on Hampton, Clarke and the offense to keep scoring to keep up with the Tornadoes. If Trenton is turned into a jump-shooting team with limited second chances, Colts Neck is in great shape.
- Go right at Spotwood and Sweet. Hampton and Clarke need to challenge those two right away and see if they can get them in foul trouble. This is one of those games where reputations are made in a match-up of top-flight guards like those two tandems.
- Don’t let Torrie Childs destroy them on the offensive boards and in the paint. Colts Neck has to pressure the ball on the perimeter and make Childs catch passes when she is 10 feet away from the basket or more. They also need to harass her underneath and be physical in order to get her frustrated and maybe draw a charge or two.
- Get some big shots from other players, particulary DeTulio. If she can heat up from behind the arc with the attention on Hampton and Clarke, that would be huge. Also, if Howes can get Childs in some early foul trouble, that would also be crucial.
- Don’t let Trenton dictate the pace. If they start playing at 100 miles per hour, Colts Neck can’t get baited into that type of helter-skelter game. However, if the Cougars have numbers, they need to push the ball because they can get threes on secondary transition.
- Hampton and Clarke have to play big. That’s kind of a no-brainer, but it’s also no easy task against a veteran team with veteran guards. Hampton and Clarke will not back down, that’s for sure.
Did you know?: This is Colts Neck’s third trip to a sectional final in school history and the first in Central Jersey Group IV. The Cougars have won a Central Jersey Group I title in their history.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted on 04 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
While the rivalry between Rumson-Fair Haven and Red Bank Catholic is well-established, the Bulldogs and Raritan have also developed a nice little ongoing battle every time they have laced them up in recent seasons.
Now an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II title is on the line at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, where Rumson seeks a whopping ninth straight sectional championship against the upstart Rockets. The two teams split their two regular-season Class A Central meetings, with Raritan pulling out the victory in the most recent meeting. If the Rockets want to break into the upper echelon of Shore Conference teams, this is their chance. For the Bulldogs, every season a trip to the Tournament of Champions is on the agenda, so this is another crucial step in the journey.
Let’s take a look at the match-ups and strategies:
RUMSON-FH (23-5)
Key players: The offense revolves around junior Kate Miller, one of the top players in the Shore Conference and state. Her trademark is the mid-range jumper from the foul line area, whether off a curl from a screen or in transition. She is relentless and has made too many big shots to count. Senior point guard Candice Green is at her best when she is getting into the lane off dribble penetration, but she showed in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals againts Colts Neck that she can do damage from behind the 3-point line. Senior forward Gabbie DePalo is Rumson’s best finisher underneath and is always good for a few points from offensive rebounds. Guards Ashley Cooper and Julie Kelly are relied on to hit big 3-pointers here and there, and freshman guard Ellie Wilbur is also capable of some clutch shots.
Rumson’s strategy:
- Defend the 3-point line. Raritan’s offense sometimes stagnates, but guards Alexa Ryan and Loreta Tonuzi will jumpstart it with 3-pointers. Don’t let the Rockets get new life with a bomb from behind the arc.
- Slow down Ryan. While she has struggled at times in the state tournament, she is still the most dangerous shooter on the team when she gets on a roll. Force her to put it on the floor and go all the way to the basket and finish, because if she is allowed to come off screens and get open jump shots, that’s not good for Rumson’s chances.
- Push the pace a little bit. Usually the games between these two teams are low-scoring, defensive slugfests. Get Miller and Green out on the break and see if they can make something happen.
- Keep Raritan’s forwards Meg Lentine and Hannah Mertz, off the offensive glass. Those two don’t do a ton of scoring, but they will keep possessions alive by snatching offensive rebounds. Limit Raritan to one shot.
- Force Kandace Johnson to hit jumpers. Johnson is quick off the dribble and can get into the lane, so back off of her and force her to score from outside.
- Get some open looks on kickouts. If Green is getting in the paint, Cooper and Co. need to make Raritan pay by draining open threes.
- Close out on Tonuzi on any looks from 3-point range. She has been a big key to Raritan’s state tournament run. Take her out of the game and you are in great shape.
Did you know?: Rumson has won the last two overall Group II titles. The Bulldogs and Raritan are two of four teams from Class A Central (including St. John Vianney and Red Bank Catholic) playing for sectional championships.
RARITAN (21-7)
Key players: Junior guards Alexa Ryan and Loreta Tonuzi are the two best scorers on the team. Ryan is streaky, but when she is making her 3-point shot, she can hit four or five of them in the blink of an eye. Tonuzi will put it on the floor and go left, and she is physical enough to finish in traffic. She also is a good 3-point shooter and likes to shoot from the corners. Senior Kandace Johnson is a good penetrator who can get to the foul line, and Meg Lentine and Hannah Mertz are two big bodies underneath who can slow down penetrators by rotating defensively. Guard Nicole Lentini is a scorer off the bench who can get by defenders off the dribble, and Lauren Falco is a guard who can push the ball in transition.
Raritan’s strategy
- Harass Miller off the ball and be physical with her at every turn. Miller usually gets her points, but you want to make her weary trying to do so, especially if she is expending effort on the defensive end defending someone like Ryan or Tonuzi. Also, when she is coming off screens, Raritan needs to hedge out and make Rumson think twice about making the pass.
- Keep Green out of the paint. If Green keeps getting into the middle, Miller and DePalo will have a field day and Cooper and Kelly will be open for 3-point looks.
- Get Alexa Ryan going early. If she can come out and get in a groove by coming off some high screens and hitting jumpers, that bodes well for Raritan.
- Find Loreta Tonuzi on kickouts. Whether it’s Johnson, Falco, Lentini or someone else penetrating, find Tonuzi and get her the ball for an open look from behind the arc.
- Keep DePalo off the boards. Don’t let Rumson beat you with hustle points by grabbing loose balls and offensive rebounds. As tight as these two teams play, a tipped ball or an offensive rebound could make the difference in who walks away with a sectional title.
Did you know?: Raritan last reached the Central Jersey Group II final in 2002, falling to Rumson in a thriller, 46-44.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted in Uncategorized
Posted on 04 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
One team is accustomed to being in this spot and dealing with the pressure, while the other is seeking its first sectional title since 1979. At 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Franklin High School, we will find out if the Shore Conference’s No. 1 team, Neptune, will keep dominating Shore competition, or if one of the stories of the state tournament thus far, Middletown South, can bring down Goliath.
Let’s take a look at the match-ups and strategies for each team.
NEPTUNE (24-4)
Key players: This team is the definition of balanced, with different leading scorers emerging from game to game depending on what the defense is giving the Scarlet Fliers. Senior forward Gary Foster is Neptune’s beating heart and leading rebounder, and he is an offensive rebounder extraordinaire who also is dangerous when he can catch the ball at the foul line against zones and make a move right or left. Senior Terry Hicks can put it on the floor, hit from downtown and pull up for mid-range jumpers in transition. Junior guard D.J. Gutridge is Neptune’s most explosive player off the dribble, able to get into the lane whenever he wants. Junior Jabari Joyner has no fear of pulling up for 3-pointers off the dribble but does not shoot much inside the arc, preferring to give the ball up when he gets in the lane. Junior Thomas Jones has the deepest shooting range of anyone on the team and has shown in recent games that he will put it on the floor and go to the rim. Junior Lem Walker is an excellent shooter off the bench who would start for most teams.
Neptune’s strategy:
- Run the Eagles ragged. This is Neptune’s strategy in every game. Just punish the opponent with a relentless pace until it wilts in the fourth quarter.
- Use their speed advantage. The Fliers will want to push the ball at every opportunity to just beat the Eagles down the floor for lay-ups. Also, Foster is quicker than most big men and can use that to slither around defenders and grab offensive rebounds.
- Make jumpshots. There’s a very good chance Middletown South will be in some type of zone, so the Scarlet Fliers will have some open looks from behind the arc.
- But don’t fall in love with the 3-pointer. When Neptune remembers that its bread-and-butter is dribble penetration, that is when it is the most dangerous. Even against a zone, players like Joyner and Gutridge can still beat defenders off the dribble. Also, they need to look for Foster in the middle of the zone to keep him involved in the offense. Middletown South wants Neptune to settle for jump shots.
- Take advantage of Garret Thiel’s ankle injury. Thiel has gutted it out on a bad ankle, but whomever he is guarding needs to test it immediately by taking the ball right at him.
- Keep the Eagles off the offensive glass. While offensive rebounding is usually Neptune’s thing, Middletown South has a size advantage at some positions, so don’t let the Eagles get any cheap points.
- Dictate the tempo. This might be the biggest one of all. If this gets into one of those slow-down, 45-second possession games, that has the makings of a Villanova-Georgetown type of upset-style tempo.
Did you know?: Neptune won its last Central Jersey Group III title in 2003 behind Marques Alston.
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH (20-6)
Key players: Senior guard Garret Thiel is the clutch player and foul shooter who the Eagles turn to at the end of games. He is a bit hobbled by an ankle injury but is still capable of taking big shots. He plays under control, and will release 3-pointers right in the faces of defenders who back off of him too much. He also uses the glass well and has a good mid-range game. Sophomore Kyle Cancillieri is Middletown South’s other big scorer, an athletic 6-foot-5 center who has long arms and goes hard to the rim. He also is a good offensive rebounder. Swingman Matt Callori has been instrumental in the Eagles’ playoff run and can hit threes while also being tall enough to score in traffic in the paint. Senior guard Pete Clabby has developed a knack for big 3-pointers that rally the Eagles when they are down on the scoreboard. Will Low does his damage as an offensive rebounder, while Callori’s brother, Rob, will launch it from the parking lot and has the range to make it.
Middletown South’s strategy:
- Gimmick defenses galore. Use a match-up zone, a regular zone, some man-to-man looks, basically everything but the kitchen sink to keep Neptune guessing and out of sync offensively.
- Keep Neptune off the offensive glass. This has been an almost impossible chore for opponents because Neptune’s guards, like Thomas Jones, rebound well despite their lack of size. The best-case scenario for South is that it transforms the Scarlet Fliers into a jump-shooting team.
- Rush to get the ball over half court and then pull it back and run the clock with each possession. Make Neptune try and gamble and then hit the Scarlet Fliers with some backdoor cuts if they overplay, which Nottingham had some success with in the sectional semifinals.
- Get the ball inside to Cancillieri. Neptune’s guards apply tremendous ball pressure on the perimeter, but South has to find a way to get the ball to Cancillieri, who then needs to go right at Foster, Hicks or whomever else is guarding him and use his size advantage.
- Sit back against Gutridge and dare him to make outside shots consistently. He is just way too quick off the dribble, and when he gets in the lane, it’s lay-up city.
- Run some screens for Thiel. If he can hit some shots early, that bodes well for the Eagles. He only had four points heading into the fourth quarter against Red Bank, but South might not be able to get away with that against a team like Neptune.
- Play with nothing to lose. The pressure is all on Neptune.
- Get some big baskets from role players. If Matt Callori and Pete Clabby are knocking down open shots with Neptune helping on Thiel or Cancillieri, that could change the whole game.
Did you know?: Thiel and Foster are good friends who have been AAU teammates on the Central Jersey Hawks since sixth grade and roomed together on the road when the team traveled. They also are both being recruited by Rowan University, so they could potentially be college teammates.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted on 04 March 2008 by new_league.
By Scott Stump – Senior Editor
As has been the custom seemingly every year since the mid-1990s (or seemingly the 1880s at this point), if Red Bank Catholic or St. John Vianney‘s girls basketball team wants to keep its respective state playoff and NJSIAA Tournament of Champions hopes alive, it must go through the other to get there.
On Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Jackson Liberty, the fierce rivals will once again be butting heads, this time with the Non-Public South A title on the line. RBC has a 2-1 edge in the three meetings between the teams this season, and the Lancers would like nothing more than to pay the Caseys back for an upset win in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals by ending their season.
Let’s take a look at the match-ups, top players and scouting reports:
RED BANK CATHOLIC (21-6)
Key players: Senior Kristina Danella is right there for Player of the Year honors, as she has strapped this team to her back throughout injuries and still given the Caseys a season to remember. She had 16 points and 16 rebounds in the semifinals against Camden Catholic despite drawing her usual swarm of defenders. Once she is facing the basket in the foul line area, she has been nearly unstoppable, either drawing a foul by initiating contact with the defender, scoring, or both. She has been getting her points, but the Lancers at least need to make her keep working hard for them.
Freshman guards Kasey Hobbie and Mary Kate Byrnes have made several clutch shots in spots to tide RBC over when Danella is being surrounded. Senior Megan Spanarkel could be a big X-factor if she can get some jumpers to fall early. It’s hard to say Caroline Gabriel could be an X-factor against St. John Vianney given the fact that the Lancers watched as she threw in an offensive rebound in the final seconds for the game-winning basket in a 33-31 win in the SCT. I think they know about her. Watch out for forward Mary Ellen Whitlock in this one, as she could benefit from increased attention on others.
RBC’s strategy:
- Find ways to get Danella the ball while facing the basket from 17-18 feet on in.
- Do a good job with the skip pass to give Byrnes, Spanarkel and Hobbie space to get off good 3-point looks.
- Stay with the exotic defenses. RBC played a box-and-one at times on St. John Vianney standout Katelyn Linney and had success, so keep SJV guessing. Show man, go zone. Show zone, go man, etc.
- Take better care of the ball. RBC’s guards had way too many turnovers against St. John Vianney’s press in their last meeting and need to keep that to a minimum.
- Dictate the tempo. The more RBC can get the ball past half court and slow the game down, the better, although the Caseys will run in spots if they feel they have numbers in transition.
- Get Linney in foul trouble early. By going right at her and getting her out of the game, RBC would force someone else on the Lancers to try and carry the offense for a stretch.
Did you know?: Red Bank Catholic is the defending overall Non-Public A champion.
ST. JOHN VIANNEY (22-4)
Key players: Junior guard Katelyn Linney is the team’s leading scorers and one of the top players in the Shore Conference. She was limited to nine points in a 33-31 loss to RBC in the SCT and will be hungry to have a big performance. She likes to go to the baseline off the dribble and has a quick first step. She also won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a 3-pointer with a defender up on her. Freshman swing Missy Repoli is another scoring threat, with the ability to knock down threes and a solid mid-range game. Another freshman, guard Jackie Kates, can put it on the floor and get to the basket. Freshman forward Arron Zimmerman can hit from 15 feet on in and is able to score in the paint. Junior Jen Mulvey is a defensive stopper who also will come up with some big baskets. Yet another freshman, Katie O’Reilly, is also capable of scoring in big spots.
SJV’s strategy:
- Get Linney the ball in position to score. Even if it means having her bring the ball up a little more so that she can break down her defender and get into the lane, get her open. Set a million screens so if RBC goes to a box-and-one again, that defender will have to fight through one body after another.
- Finish at the rim. St. John Vianney tries to play at warp speed, but the Lancers need to convert those fast-break opportunities into lay-ups.
- Box out. As any Lancers fan knows who watched RBC’s Caroline Gabriel beat them on a putback, this is a crucial area of concern. Force RBC to make jumpshots to beat you. Don’t give them any easy putbacks.
- Make free throws. Missed free throws in the final minutes cost the Lancers the game in the SCT, so they have to close out RBC if they have a lead and get put to the line.
- Jump out on the skip pass. The defense will most likely be sagging toward the middle with Danella in there, so when RBC skips the ball to a 3-point shooter, just do a good job of running out and at least challenging the shot.
- Swarm RBC in the backcourt. The Caseys’ guards are susceptible to turnovers, and if Danella has to come back and help handle the ball, that only works to SJV’s advantage.
Did you know?: St. John Vianney won its last Non-Public South A title in 2005 by beating RBC and went on to the Tournament of Champions.
E-mail: [email protected]
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Posted on 03 March 2008 by new_league.
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