Shore Conference Tournament Championship

Friday, Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m.

At the Multipurpose Activities Center, Monmouth University

No. 1 St. Rose (25-0) vs. No. 2 Manasquan (22-2), 6:30 p.m.

Note: Listen to the game live on the radio on WOBM 1160/1310 a.m. or streaming on ShoreSportsNetwork.com. You can also listen on your phone with this free app.

Shore Conference Tournament Championship

Lineups, Scouting Reports and History

St. Rose

Starting Lineup

PositionNo.PlayerYearHeightSSN Scouting Report
SG24Kat PhippsSr.5-9Clutch, versatile scorer with lightning-quick shot release and deep shooting range.
PG20Ellyn StollSo.5-6Knock-down 3-point shooter with quickness off the dribble.
C21Elizabeth MarsicanoFr.6-0Good finisher around the rim and in transition, and length to alter shots on defense.
PF12Jess LouroSr.5-11Guard skills with the ability to play in the post. Also a top rebounder and defender.
SG22Jen LouroSo.5-10Three-point threat, solid ballhandler and passer. Strong complementary scorer to Phipps and Jess Louro.

 

Key Bench Players

PositionNo.PlayerYearHeightSSN Scouting Report
Guard10Makayla MarkhamFr.5-6Active defender, good shooter.
Forward33Alex PendergrassSo.5-10Solid rebounder and defender.

 

Head Coach: Joe Whalen, third season
Road to the Final: Defeated No. 16 Ocean 75-37; No. 8 Holmdel 70-24; No. 5 Middletown South 69-49.
SCT Titles: 3 (2012, 1993, 1986)
SCT Final Appearances: 6 (Runner-up in 2012, 1992)

Kat Phipps and St. Rose are out to win their second SCT title in four seasons and avenge a loss to Manasquan from last year's championship game. (Photo by Ray Richardson)
Kat Phipps and St. Rose are out to win their second SCT title in four seasons and avenge a loss to Manasquan from last year's championship game. (Photo by Ray Richardson)
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Manasquan

Starting Lineup

PositionNo.PlayerYearHeightSSN Scouting Report
PG11Stella ClarkSo.5-3Very quick off the dribble, can get into the lane and score or distribute. Standout 3-point shooter.
SG23Marina MabreySr.5-11One of the top players in the country. Can score from anywhere on the floor, defend multiple positions and dominate on the glass.
C30Victoria GalvanSo.6-0Good finisher in the paint, quality rebounder, defensive presence in the middle.
SG24Courtney HagamanSr.5-9Veteran leader, clutch 3-point shooter. Hard-nosed defender.
SG5Addie MasoniusSo.5-5Similar to Clark. Quick off the dribble and a 3-point threat.

 

Key Bench Players

Guard33Gillian BlackJr.5-6Another shooter with good range and ball-handling ability.

 

Head Coach: Lisa Kukoda, third season
Road to the Final: Defeated No. 19 Manchester 77-25; No. 6 Neptune 49-39; No. 3 St. John Vianney 53-48.
SCT Titles: 3 (2012, 1983, 1981)
SCT Final Appearances: 6 (Runner-up in 2012, 1987)

Marina Mabrey and Manasquan are looking to win back-to-back SCT titles for the first time in program history. (Photo by Ray Richardson)
Marina Mabrey and Manasquan are looking to win back-to-back SCT titles for the first time in program history. (Photo by Ray Richardson)
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Breakdown

This is the rubber match between the two teams after Manasquan beat St. Rose in last year's final and the Purple Roses knocked off the Warriors in the 2012 championship game.

St. Rose enters ranked No. 13 in the nation by MaxPreps, while Manasquan is also ranked in the country at No. 24. The teams are also ranked 1-2 in New Jersey, so this is one of the most high-profile match-ups in recent history in the championship game. St. Rose beat the Warriors during the regular season on their home court thanks to a 3-pointer by Kat Phipps in the final 20 seconds.

Phipps had 34 points in that win, including a 19-point eruption in the fourth quarter, so she will clearly be the focus of Manasquan's defense. The Warriors will look to crowd her at the 3-point line to prevent her from unleashing her split-second 3-point shot that is one of the most deadly in the state. Fellow St. Rose star Jess Louro took a backseat to Phipps' fireworks in the first meeting but will be needed in this game for scoring in the paint and the ability to get into the lane and get Manasquan's frontcourt into foul trouble. Controlling the defensive boards is also crucial against Marina Mabrey, Victoria Galvan and Courtney Hagaman in particular is crucial.

Mabrey, a Notre Dame recruit and McDonald's All-American, poured in 37 points in the regular-season loss to the Purple Roses, and it's hard to imagine that if she does it again the Warriors will lose. Manasquan needs to take advantage of the bigger court at Monmouth University than the one at St. Rose and push the ball to get Mabrey into the open floor where she can finish or get kickouts to Hagaman, Stella Clark, Addie Masonius and others for open 3-point looks. If two of those three can get it going from 3-point range, it could swing the whole game.

Mabrey plays aggressively and has been foul-prone, so St. Rose will want to try to get her on the bench for long stretches where it can get some separation.

Galvan and Mabrey look to seal off the defensive boards and force St. Rose into one-and-done jumpshots on offense, while it will be up to Elizabeth Marsicano, Jess Louro and others to keep Mabrey from killing them on the offensive glass.

The Pick: Manasquan, 66-64.

 

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