Freehold girls capture first Central Jersey state sectional basketball title

Colonials edge Neptune in overtime thriller

By Tim Morris

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As freshmen, Kim Dana and Camerin Spahn were starters on a Freehold High School girls basketball team that won just seven games.

The future did not look very bright for the team, but coach Jenn Brzucki insisted that by the time those players were seniors, the Colonials would be winners.

It was only fitting then that the seniors played a  major role in Freehold’s thrilling 50-48 overtime win over Neptune High School in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III state sectional tournament championship game played in Freehold Borough on March 4. It was the program’s first state sectional title.

Freehold will play South Jersey Group III champion Ocean City on March 6 in Williamstown in the Group III state semi-finals. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. The winner of that game will advance to the Group III state championship game.

Two free throws by Spahn with :10 left in overtime provided the winning margin against the Scarlet Fliers. She made them despite a miserable night at the foul line (3-9 before making both shots).

“I wanted to be the one to take those shots,” Spahn said. “I wanted to redeem myself. I had to help my team. They deserved it.”

Spahn swished her two free throws and when Neptune’s last shot caromed off the rim as the buzzer sounded, these Colonials had made school history. That set off a joyous celebration with their fans at center court.

Dana, the point guard, hit some critical three-point field goals that kept the Colonials  in the game and it was her steal late in the fourth quarter that pulled the Colonials even at 36-36 when she sank two free throws.

The game was an uphill struggle for the Colonials, who trailed 18-10 at halftime, but they persevered and when Dana hit a three-point field goal to start the  third quarter, the Colonials started their comeback.

“We’re never going to give up,” Dana said. “I kept saying ‘this is doable.’ We had our crowd behind us and I think that was a factor.”

After Neptune built a 42-37 lead with 1:00 to play, Dana hit a three-point field goal to bring Freehold within 42-40. With :25 left, she hit two free throws to tie the score at 42-42.

“I knew I could make those foul shots,” she said.

Spahn gave Freehold its first lead of the game, 43-42, with :11 to play when she made one of two throws.

Neptune’s Taleeya Terrell was fouled with :02 left and made one of two free throws to send the game into overtime, where the Colonials prevailed on Spahn’s free throws.

“It’s incredible, it feels so right,” Spahn said after the Colonials had locked up the state sectional crown.

Dana, who led all scorers with 18 points, said playing the sectional championship game at Freehold High School was “a big factor.”

Junior Rebecca Cobb scored 16 points in the second half for the Colonials and her sister, Sara Cobb, added nine points. Although Spahn only scored five points, she pulled down 11 rebounds and handed out nine assists as Freehold improved to 23-5.

Neptune (21-6), which has been Central Jersey Group III’s dominant team for the last few years, was led by Iyonna Crenshaw with 15 points. Neptune’s Ivy Harrington netted her 1,000th career point early in the game.