By: Carolyn M. Hartko
With three more games in the book, the Monroe Township High School girls’ varsity basketball team record stands at 4-11. The Lady Falcons split with a pair of Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division teams in cross-over action, demolishing J.F. Kennedy 52-30 last Friday, and falling to Spotswood 44-34 on Monday of this week.
But the heartbreaker was Wednesday evening’s 45-42 loss at home to White Division rival Sayreville.
In the last game, Monroe held a slim lead over the Lady Bombers throughout the first three quarters. The Falcons were up 21-17 at the half-time break, and were still up by two (34-32) going into the final stanza. But Sayreville’s senior forward Meredith Phair had a perfect game from the foul line, hitting 8-of-8 throughout night. In the fourth quarter, Phair scored the winning points, sinking 4-of-4 from the free throw line. She led her team with 16 points and teammate Danielle Vargas added 10.
Senior point guard Tara Lange paced the Falcons with 20 points that included two three-pointers. Lisa Gaydas netted 10, and Katie Lederman scored eight.
The game against JFK was one where the Falcons finally got to put some major points on the board. Gaydas led the scoring-fest with 18 points. Lange drained three big ones on her way to 15 points, and Lindsay Jones finished with 10. Junior guard Laura Gibbons led off the boards with 13 rebounds.
Monroe faced a tough Spotswood team on Monday night. The Lady Chargers jumped out to an early 10-5 lead, and never looked back. Spotswood led 22-7 at the halftime break, and ended the third quarter up 37-17. The Chargers won with a balanced scoring effort, and only sophomore Jill Dickinson reached double digits, posting 10 points. Lange again led the Falcons with 18 points, and Lederman kicked in 12.

