Girls Basketball – St. Rose Comes Up Short in Non Public B South Final

Jackson, NJ- Another great season under 5th year coach Joe Whalen for the Purple Roses came to an abrupt end Tuesday night at the hands of Rutgers Prep in 65-47 NJSIAA Non Public B South Final.  Rutgers Prep, ranked #2 in New Jersey, forced St. Rose, ranked #6 in New Jersey, into 18 turnovers.

The turnovers were uncharacteristic for a Whalen-lead team that were usually the ones forcing the turnovers rather then committing them.

Coming into the contest Rutgers Prep was looking to exact revenge against St. Rose who knocked them off in the semifinals last season 67-59. The Argonauts jumped out to a 9-3 lead before St. Rose found their shooting and made a game of it the rest of the quarter and closed out the quarter with Rutgers Prep leading 19-15.

The second quarter it looked like the Purple Roses were ready for a run of their own when the cut the lead to 21-20 just a minute into the quarter but then the Argonauts erupted for 13-6 run to close out the half and go into the locker room with a 34-28 lead.

The third quarter was no better for St. Rose who finished with just four points and trailed Rutgers Prep 44-32 going into the fourth quarter.

As was most of the game, St. Rose missed on several layups and short jumpers that could have turned the game at several points, but the luck had run out for the Roses. Add on top the 18 turnovers both forced and mental mistakes, led to the Argonauts running away with the game late.

Rutgers Prep closed out the fourth quarter on a 21-15 run, riding the hot hand of sophomore Jahsyni Knight who finished with 21 points, with 9 of them coming in the fourth quarter. Knight along with senior Niki Metzel who scored 18 points paced the way for Rutgers Prep to secure the NJSIAA Non Public B South Championship.

St. Rose closed out their season with a record of 25-5 overall and 10-0 in conference.  In the Championship game Mikayla Markham scored 14 points, Ellyn Stoll with 15 points, and Lucy Thomas and Elizabeth Marsicano with 9 points each.