Doug McKenzie
After further review
Doug McKenzie
As I sat in the bleachers at Lakewood High School just a few weeks ago, the gentleman sitting in front of me turned around and initiated a conversation.
"This is not the St. John Vianney we’re used to seeing," he said, referring to the Lady Lancers team that was being dominated by an unbeaten squad from Red Bank Catholic in the semifinal round of the Shore Conference Tournament. "They look lost out there."
At the time I couldn’t argue with him. The Lancers, of Holmdel, were not playing well, at least not to the standards that we’ve come to expect of the state’s premier girls’ basketball program. They were suffering from defensive breakdowns, while on the other end of the floor they lacked rhythm and any kind of shooting touch. Shantel Brown, the sophomore point guard who normally plays more like a seasoned senior, was missing shots in the lane that she usually makes in her sleep. Shannon Coyle, the sharpshooting senior guard, couldn’t buy an open look. And Courtney Calderon, the freshman forward with endless potential, was being frustrated by a swarming RBC defense in the paint.
Basically, RBC was dominating the Lancers in every facet of the game, and this guy didn’t like it.
FARRAH MAFFAI St. John Vianney sophomore guard Shantel Brown has been one of the key components of the Lady Lancers’ run to a Parochial A crown, leading the team in scoring throughout the postseason.
"Nick Russo must have known something," my new friend said to me as RBC pushed its lead to 10 in the second quarter. He was referring to SJV’s coach of the last few seasons, who stepped down before the year began, paving the way for Bob Ward to take over.
As the game wore on, it became more and more apparent that SJV was overmatched on this particular day, and my associate’s discontent grew. When he wasn’t getting on a referee for a "horrible call," he continued shouting encouragement to his team, looking for the smallest sign that they could come back in the unfamiliar role of underdog.
But it wasn’t meant to be that day as the Caseys rolled to a 14-point win, and eventually the SCT title after upsetting Marlboro in the final.
My new friend, along with the hordes of SJV fans who have become spoiled over the years with championships, filed out of the Lakewood gym with a little less faith in their team than they had when they arrived.
But the St. John Vianney players remained confident despite the loss — the second time they had fallen to RBC this season. They promised a better effort in the state playoffs, where they were hoping to see the Caseys once again.
Meanwhile, many of their fans (though they would probably never admit it) were secretly hoping the Caseys would get knocked off in the early rounds.
As it turned out, the Lancers made good on their promise. They did give a better effort in the state tournament, knocking off top-seeded RBC in the sectional final, 47-32, before topping Immaculata on Saturday to win the Parochial A title and return to the Tournament of Champions.
They kept it going on Tuesday, knocking off Butler in the TOC quarterfinals, 45-37, with a solid team effort, to earn a shot at top-seeded Shabazz, of Newark, tomorrow night in the semifinals.
This briliant postseason run has turned what appeared to be a rebuilding season for the Lancers into the latest in a long line of championship efforts. They believed in themselves throughout all of their struggles this year, and are now one of just four girls’ teams in the state still playing.
Brown is unstoppable on the drive once again, averaging close to 20 ppg in the state playoffs, while Coyle has seemingly found her shooting touch, particularly in the clutch. Calderon has emerged as a dominant low blocks player, averaging in double figures in points and rebounds in the postseason, while senior point guard Jamie Komar is setting the tone defensively with her inspired play.
Add to the mix some solid play from some less heralded players like sophomore Colleen Light and freshman Kristine Perez, and you begin to understand just how the Lancers have proven everybody wrong.
Everything came together at the right time for the St. John Vianney Lady Lancers. After struggling against the best the Shore had to offer during the regular season, they turned things around in the postseason. They never panicked, or changed what they were trying to do. They just kept working hard and believing in themselves, and the result was another state championship, and a shot at a sixth TOC title.
Maybe Bob Ward knew something, too.