RED BANK - Joe Montano has helped the Red Bank Catholic girls basketball program reach a level few N.J. programs have seen and on Tuesday, his successful tenure with the Caseys pushed him into a club to which few coaches belong.

RBC's 71-10 win over Ocean on Tuesday gave Montano his 600th career victory, making him only the ninth coach in N.J. history to ever reach that milestone, according to veteran N.J. girls basketball reporter Gregg Lerner.

In 28 seasons at the helm at RBC, Montano has led the Caseys to six Shore Conference Tournament titles, eight NJSIAA overall group championships in nine trips to the group championship round and two NJSIAA Tournament of Champions titles.

Among the group of nine coaches who have reached 600 or more wins is longtime Rumson-Fair Haven coach George Sourlis, who retired after the 2015-16 season. Montano and Sourlis battled many times during their careers at programs that often shared the same Shore Conference division and are separated by just four miles.

During his career, Montano has coached to a record of 600-157 and his current team is the defending NJSIAA Non-Public A champion after reaching the Tournament of Champions semifinals last year.

Eleven RBC players scored at least two points in Tuesday's win, led by freshman Sophia Sabino with 12 points.

 

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