The Saint John Vianney High School girls’ basketball team closed 2017 with a bang, and now the Lancers begin the new year as the team to beat in New Jersey.
In a span of two days, the Lancers knocked off two 2016-17 state champion teams in Holmdel.
On Dec. 27, Saint John Vianney defeated Franklin High School, 63-55. Franklin won last year’s state Tournament of Champions title.
Franklin, which also won the Group 4 state championship last winter, defeated Manasquan High School, 50-48, in the Tournament of Champions title game.
Saint John Vianney did not have too much time to celebrate its result over Franklin since Rutgers Preparatory School paid a visit to Holmdel on Dec. 28. The Lancers struck again, winning by a score of 52-49 over Rutgers Prep, which won the Non-Public B state title last season.
In last year’s Tournament of Champions, Franklin, which was the fourth seed, defeated top-seeded Rutgers Prep, 66-57, in the semifinals before beating second-seeded Manasquan in the final.
A week earlier, Saint John Vianney also posted a victory against a strong program when the Lancers edged University High School, 60-58, in Newark on Dec. 21.
The Lancers have been sparked during their early surge, which has them unbeaten through six games, by Sarah Karpell, Madison Doring, Sajada Bonner and Sarah Furch.
Last year, the Lancers were knocked out of the South Jersey, Non-Public A sectional semifinals by Red Bank Catholic High School, which ended up winning the Non-Public A state title.