MHS struggles in SBHS tourney

By: Carolyn M. Hartko
   SOUTH BRUNSWICK — There were no belated Christmas presents for the Monroe Township High School varsity girls’ basketball team this year. Instead, they went 0-2 at the South Brunswick High School Holiday Tournament, losing to the host school 57-20 in Monday’s opening round game, then falling 52-39 to Sayreville in Wednesday’s consolation match.
   Against the Lady Bombers, Monroe couldn’t seem to get into the flow of the game in the first half. Sayreville had opened a 14-7 lead after the first quarter, and extended their cushion to 22 points (31-9) a minute before half time. Falcon junior Lisa Cosentino sparked a rally when she hit a jumper in the paint. Mai’lee Paselio banked a lay-up, then turned it into a three-point play when she was fouled on the shot. Cosentino scored on another jumper, bringing the half-time score to 31-16.
   Monroe continued the run as Ali Baumlin, who was named to the All-Tournament team, converted an offensive rebound. Baumlin then scored on a post-up off a feed from Leah Scarpetti. After Amy Krainski picked up a basket and Paselio converted a three-point play, the Falcons had closed to within eight of Sayreville (33-25).
   "We did a better job in the second half of breaking the press," Falcon head coach Keith Hudak said. "The kids put forth more effort in the second half, and they made a bit of a comeback. We cut it to eight or nine at one point. And then, all of a sudden, (Sayreville) started getting those rebounds, and (the deficit) was back to 15."
   Baumlin scored eight of her team-high 13 points in the third quarter, and she posted 14 rebounds and four steals. Paselio also had a well-rounded game with 11 points, nine boards and four steals. But a combination of 22 turnovers, and the fact that more people aren’t making major contributions on offense held the Falcons back in Wednesday’s game.
   "Like I’ve been telling these kids all along — we’re not a good basketball team," Hudak said. "I’m not saying that to be mean to anybody, but we’re not. For us to be successful, we’ve got to protect the basketball. We can’t turn it over. We’ve got to rebound the basketball. We don’t rebound the basketball. We’ve got to shoot the ball well, and we don’t shoot the ball well. So, doing those three things badly, and not being of county-champ caliber, we’re going to be in trouble."
   The story was similar for the first game in the tournament. South Brunswick outscored Monroe 32-8 in the first half, and the Falcons couldn’t make any headway against the Viking press. Sayreville and South Brunswick are both in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division, so Monroe got a look at what the competition will be like outside of the White Division this winter.
   "South Brunswick is as good as anybody," Hudak said.