BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Staff Writer
Defensive intensity has been the key all year long for the St. John Vianney High School girls basketball team, and the commitment to that style paid off in a trip to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions (TOC) finals last night against Woodrow Wilson at Continental Airlines Arena.
The Lancers, who captured the NJSIAA Non-Public South A crown to gain entrance to the TOC, knocked off Absegami in the semifinals Friday, 61-51. The contest seesawed back and forth for three quarters before SJV took command in the final stanza using a full-court press to outscore Absegami, 19-10.
PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff At left, St. John Vianney’s Shantel Brown, of Lakewood, is fouled from behind as she drives to the hoop during the Lancers’ TOC semifinal win over Absegami in Toms River on Friday. Above, SJV’s Alisa Apo fights for a loose ball. The SJV defensive forced numerous turnovers, many of which turned into fast-break points. The Lancers also dominated under the hoop, forcing Absegami to commit fouls. The SJV made the most of the opportunities, connecting on 22-of-35 chances. Conversely, Absegami went to the charity stripe just eight times.
The St. John Vianney girls basketball team celebrates its Tournament of Champions semifinal win. “When our team comes out and plays that kind of defense, we’re a tough team to beat,” SJV coach Bob Ward said. “The girls have bought into the concept of letting the defense create our offense and that’s what happened.”
Shantel Brown, SJV’s dominating point guard, topped all scorers with 17 points, eight of them on free throws, and also doled out 10 assists. Alisa Apo made 12-of-16 from the line and contributed 16 points, while Courtney Calderone added 15 points for the winners.
The bigger Absegami five presented a challenge, the SJV girls showed grit and quickness in grabbing 28 total rebounds and in taking the ball to the basket to force fouls.
“We came into the season with high expectations,” Ward said. “Our goal from the start of the season was to be one of the last teams playing in March.”
Along the way, SJV won the Shore Conference Tournament, downing Monmouth Regional, 47-30, to avenge a regular-season loss. The Lancers then entered the state tournament as the fifth seed and went on to defeated Bishop Ahr (63-28), Gloucester Catholic (49-25) and Red Bank Catholic (51-39). Ward’s team went on to defeat Roselle Catholic (57-37) to capture to overall Non-Public A title. SJV entered the TOC seeded fourth and downed Bloomfield Tech 72-59 in the opening round.
Woodrow Wilson was seeded second. After receiving a first-round bye, Wilson triumphed over Pascack Valley, 47-32 in the TOC semifinal.
Woodrow Wilson promised to challenge the Lancers on both ends of the floor tonight. However, if the Lancers could continue their dominant defensive play, they promised to once again be tough to beat.