NJSIAA TOURNAMENT

South Jersey, Non-Public A - Click for preview
Championship
At Long Branch

5-St. Rose 73, 3-Red Bank Catholic 59

Senior forward Lucy Thomas netted a team-high 22 points, including six during a 10-0 opening splurge that sparked the Purple Roses (27-3) to their first sectional title since 2015, when they won South Jersey, Non-Public B. It marked their first in Non-Public A since 2012 and eighth overall.

St. Rose extended its lead to 38-20 at the outset of the third quarter. However, Red Bank Catholic (23-6), the defending Non-Public A state champion, put together a string of eight successive points, keyed by four points from senior guard Rose Caverly, to close to within 50-45, early in the fourth.

Mikayla Markham stablized St. Rose in a one-minute sequence. The senior point guard hit two free throws, sank a 3-pointer, blocked a shot, retrieved a defensive board and fed Thomas inside to boost the Roses' advantage to 57-45 midway through the fourth quarter.

Caverly ended her career in style for RBC, scoring a game-high 24 points, 19 of which fell in the second half. Markham finished with 14 points as did junior guard Lauren Lithgow for St. Rose, who knocked down four triples off the bench.

Lithgow teamed with fellow reserves, Abigail Antognoli, a freshman, and junior Maggie Stapleton to account for 21 points for St. Rose. Senior Ari Dalia chipped in with 10 points. The Purple Roses hit eight 3-pointers.

Senior Amanda Hart came off the RBC bench to net 15 points - all from behind the arc - and senior forward Katie Rice scored 11. The Caseys drilled 11 3-pointers.

St. Rose (27-3)                               18           19           13           23 --- 73
Red Bank Catholic (23-6)               09           11           23           16 --- 59

St. Rose: Abigail Antognoli 1-0-0-2; Lauren Lithgow 0-4-2-14; Sam Mikos 1-0-2-4; Mikayla Markham 0-2-8-14; Lovin Marsicano 1-0-0-2; Ariana Dalia 4-0-2-10; Maggie Stapleton 1-1-0-5; Lucy Thomas 7-1-5-22. Totals: 15-8-19---73.

Red Bank Catholic: Sophia Sabino 0-0-0-0; Eliza Srinivasan 0-0-0-0; Fab Eggenschwiler 0-0-0-0; Katie Rice 3-1-2-11; Julia Setaro 0-2-0-6; Hayley Moore 0-1-0-3; Rose Caverly 5-2-8-24; Amanda Hart 0-5-0-15. Totals: 8-11-10---59.

Group 4 - Click for Preview
State Semifinal
At Timber Creek

Toms River North vs. Hunterdon Central, ppd. - Rescheduled for Friday, March 9, 5:30

Group 2 - Click for Preview
State Semifinal
At Williamstown

Manasquan 63, Manchester 41

Senior guard Dara Mabrey and junior forward Faith Masonius clicked for seven points apiece in the opening quarter to spark four-time defending Group 2 champion Manasquan (29-2) to a 21-8 lead en route to 18th consecutive victory.

Mabrey totaled 21 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals,  junior guard Lola Mullaney pumped in 20 to go with 13 rebounds and Masonius ended with 17 points and 10 boards.

Masonius was responsible for 13 points in the first half while Mabrey and junior guard Mullaney scored 11 apiece to pace Manasquan to a 38-20 cushion at the break.

Freshman Destiny Adams collected 13 points and 11 rebounds for Manchester (26-5). Sophomore Serenity Anderson finished with 11 and classmate Kemari Reynolds added 10 for the Hawks, who bowed to Manasquan for the second straight year in the state semifinals.

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