Red Bank Catholic High School’s Alex Alfano (33) gets to the basket for a shot before Middletown High School South defender Carissa Gray can stop her during the Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) semifinals played at Brookdale Community College’s Collins Arena on Feb. 19. The Caseys breezed to a 46-29 victory. On Feb. 23, they won their sixth SCT title by beating Point Pleasant Borough High School at Monmouth University. ERIC SUCAR staff The Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School girls basketball team faced a tougher challenge in the Shore Conference Tournament finals than they faced against competition in previous tournament games.
The No. 1 seed Caseys breezed to the championship game with a 46-29 victory in their semifinals game against No. 4 Middletown High School South on Feb. 19.
In the finals, played on Feb. 23 at Monmouth University’s Multipurpose Activities Center, Point Pleasant Borough High School fought until the last minute. Kelly Hughes fueled a fourth quarter rally to bring her team close, but RBC held on to a 50-46 win to take home the title.
The Caseys’ Grace Fallon tipped Hughes 3-point attempt and Mary Kate Caverly, who was fouled after getting the rebound, hit one of two free throws with seconds left to help RBC pull away.
Hughes, named the winner of the Kerwin Award as the top player in the Shore Conference this season, scored seven consecutive points late in the fourth quarter to bring Point Pleasant Borough back from a nine-point deficit. She finished with 28 points, 15 of which came in the fourth quarter.
RBC (24-1) led 36-27 with 7:40 left in the game, following a three-pointer by Alfano. Boston College-bound Hughes helped Point Boro pull within one point, 47-46, in the last minute.
Point Boro forced a turnover but Hughes was called for an offensive foul near midcourt. RBC got the ball inbounds and Caverly was fouled. She made both free throws to give the Caseys a three-point advantage, while her free throw after Fallon’s tip sealed the win.
Alex Alfano led the Caseys with 15 points, while Caverly added 12. Fallon scored 10 points. Caroline Corcoran had nine points and six rebounds.
The Caseys notably took advantage of the Panthers’ 1-3-1 zone defense, shooting 4-for-7 from behind the arc in the first half. RBC led at halftime, 21-15, and a 7-0 run to close the third quarter gave the team a 33-25 lead.
Third seed Point Pleasant Borough has now been to the finals two times, with this year being its first appearance since 1972.
The Shore Conference championship was RBC’s sixth title. Only St. John Vianney High School, with 12 wins, has more conference titles.
RBC has a No. 1 seed and first round bye in the NJSIAA Non-Public A South tournament, which kicked off on Feb. 26. The Caseys are scheduled to play a second round game on Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. They will play the winner a matchup between Notre Dame High School and Holy Cross High School.