Lavin is clutch again as Rebels edge Colts Neck

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Above, Howell’s Brianne Lavin defends against Colts Neck’s Holly Jones during the Rebels’ Kuhnert final victory in Freehold Borough on Dec. 29. At left, the Rebels celebrate their victory at midcourt. Colts Neck was looking for the dagger all night, while all the time it was in the steely hands of Howell’s Brianne Lavin.

Time and again the Cougars had the defending champion Rebels on the ropes. They seemed one play away from delivering the knockout blow in Thursday’s Jack Kuhnert Holiday Basketball Tournament final at Freehold Borough High School.

But the Rebels withstood each and every hit, and when it came time to deliver the knockout punch, it was point guard Lavin who stuck the dagger into the hearts of the Cougars.

Trailing Colts Neck by six, 41-35, with 5:00 left, the Rebels scored the final 11 points of the game to capture their second straight Kuhnert crown, 46-41.

The Rebels had come back to tie the game at 41-41 on a three-pointer from Michele Blum. After a defensive stop gave the ball to Howell, it was time for Lavin, who made the big plays a year ago in Howell’s comeback win over the same Cougars, to be clutch again.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Getting free at the top of the key, she swished a three-pointer with 1:18 remaining in the game, giving the Rebels their first lead of the quarter. It was also the basket that deflated the Cougars.

Lavin would add a pair of free throws that sealed the victory and earned her Most Valuable Player honors for the second straight year.

“We wanted this so bad,” said Lavin. “We wanted to show everyone that we are ready to do whatever it takes to be competitive. We play well together.”

Lavin got in early foul trouble and said that coach Bill Gallacher told her to “keep up the intensity and play smart.”

The Rebel senior let the game come to her, and when it was time to step up, she delivered yet another clutch performance to her growing résumé.

Gallacher said that Howell’s ability to come from behind and pull out games like this was the result of the team’s talent and experience over the past two seasons.

“They’re good and they’re smart and they play with confidence,” he said. “They never doubted themselves.

“Our man-to-man pressure got some turnovers [in the fourth quarter],” he added.

The loss was another heartbreaker for the Cougars, who fell in the final for the third straight year. Each time, the Cougars have run into a juggernaut — two years ago, it was the final year of Marlboro’s run of four straight wins, and the last two were to a very strong Rebel five.

Like last year’s final, this one slipped away in the final minutes.

“We’ve got to learn to play more than 28 minutes,” said Truhan. “We made some mistakes [in the last four minutes]. We’re not one of the elite teams just yet.

“It was frustrating because this year we played better,” he said.

While one Rebel after another was making big shots when they were needed, the Cougars were riding forward Cat Cristino (game-high 21 points) and point guard Holly Jones (16). They scored all but two of Colts Neck’s 20 points in the first half, and it was enough to put them in a 20-20 tie.

In the third quarter, Jones and Cristino kept the pace up, combining for a trio of threes that put Colts Neck up 35-30. But just before the quarter ended, Ali Goldsmith hit a big three from the wing that closed the gap to just a basket, 35-33, with eight minutes to play.

A steal and resulting layup from Jackie Spinella pushed the lead up to 41-35 with just over five minutes to go in the game, and again the Cougars had the Rebels on the ropes. Little did the Cougars know, those would be the their final points of the night.

Denise Crudup made one of two free throws and then hit a basket that drew Howell within three, 41-38.

The Cougars were still holding on until Blum’s three tied it. They then let the ball get into the hands of Lavin with the game on the line, and she made them pay for it.

Howell (5-0) had a balanced attack led by Lavin and Colleen Thomas, who each had 10 points. Crudup and Goldsmith each had nine.

It’s that balance, Gallacher noted, that is the difference for the Rebels.

“Everyone works hard and gets their moment,” he said.

Colts Neck lost for the first time in six games this year.

Don’t be surprised if these two teams run into each other down the road in the Shore Conference Tournament. They are certainly two of the best teams in the Shore area.

Lavin was joined on the All-Tournament Team by teammates Thomas and Goldsmith and Colts Neck’s Jones and Cristino.

Up-and-coming Freehold Borough (3-2) won the third-place consolation game over Manasquan, 39-32, behind 14 points from Alyssa Mayrose.

Marlboro (3-1) topped Freehold Township (2-4) for fifth place, 32-28, as Anat Sibony hit for 18.

Colts Neck played a classic in the semifinals on Dec. 27 in Manalapan. The Cougars edged Manasquan in overtime, 45-42, as Spinella came up big in the overtime. Melanie Wilmot and Crystal Butler made big free throws in the final minute that extended the lead.

Howell defeated Freehold Borough in the nightcap at Manalapan.

In first-round games, defending champion and top-seed Howell had a bye.