There’s something to be said about standing your ground. While Julie Hoebee’s Rebels struggled at the start of the season and reached the nadir at 4-8, the state playoffs appeared out of reach for a second straight year. More important, the team didn’t look like it was making much improvement coming off 2001’s 5-14 campaign.
With her team going south, the Howell girls’ basketball coach rejected change for change’s sake and remained confident that her veteran team, with a healthy helping of newcomers, would turn things around.
The Rebels rewarded Hoebee’s confidence and themselves by running off four straight wins to reach 8-8 by the cutoff date for the state playoffs and qualify for the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.
"Things just started to click," noted Hoebee. "I didn’t change anything. We stayed with our motion offense and match-up zone.
"What really helped was that a couple wins raised their confidence level," she added. "They now know they can hang with the big teams."
Proof of that was Howell’s 75-73 upset of Raritan, a state-playoff and Shore Conference Tournament-bound squad led by the Shore’s third-leading scorer, Kelly Robinson.
The Rebels went toe-to-toe with the high-scoring Rockets. Robinson netted 19 but was out-scored by the Rebels’ Kristin Hein’s 23.
Vanessa Healy had 20 for the Rebels and, with Lyndsay Hehner, dominated the glass. Hehner also scored in double figures with 10.
In their drive to the playoffs, the Rebels were led by the Big Three, veterans all, Hein, Healy and Hehner.
"They fueled it," Hoebee said of Howell’s late-season streak.
Hein, still just a junior, has been a three-year starter for the Rebels and has been on fire in the last couple of weeks, averaging close to 20 points a game and raising her season’s average to 13.2. According to Hoebee, Hein’s scoring has increased as the play of her teammates has improved.
"Having the other kids scoring has taken the pressure off Kristin," Hoebee explained. "She is more relaxed, knowing she doesn’t have to do everything. She’s such a well-rounded player."
Instead of forcing the action, Hein, who can play both guard and forward, is letting the game come to her, and she has been shooting lights out. Her all-around play includes leading the team in assists (3.6 a game) and shooting 72 percent from the foul line.
Senior forward Healy ranks among the top five rebounders in the Shore, pulling down more than 14 caroms a game. According to Hoebee, Healy is one of those rare players who relishes rebounding.
"She has the mind-set of a rebounder," she pointed out. "She chases every ball.
"Vanessa made her decision as a freshman that she was going to be a rebounder, and she has been very consistent throughout her career.
"Vanessa boxes out incredibly well," she added. "She always gets good position. She has an instinct of knowing where the ball is."
Healy’s offensive production has been on the rise as she has become even more aggressive on the offensive glass and scoring on put backs.
Hehner, a senior forward, has been contributing on both ends of the floor.
"Lyndsay has definitely stepped up for us," Hoebee remarked. "She does a good job on the boards with Vanessa, and she has been scoring."
Hehner’s shooting range has helped the Rebels extend defenses and open things up more down low for Hein and Healy.
Guard Christine Coringrato and center Jen Brown round out Howell’s starting five. Coringrato is the prototype guard running the motion offense while Brown contributes inside.
Hoebee has settled on a solid rotation with Laura Kerrigan spelling Coringrato and providing depth at the guard positions. Ashley Healy is Brown’s back-up at center and Courtney Krol can provide offense off the bench. All three are underclassmen.
Howell, now 9-10 for the season, will open play in Central Jersey Group IV against Old Bridge. Although defending champion and top-seed Marlboro awaits the winner, the Rebels are happy to know that they have the chance to play the state’s No. 1 team for a third time. It means that they are in the state playoffs.