SJV defense corrals Cougars in state final

Colts Neck High School's girls basketball players discovered a lot about themselves during their historic 2008-09 season and all of what the Cougars learned was good.

JEFF GRANIT staff Colts Neck High School's Brittany Howes (r) tries to swat the ball away from St. John Vianney's Arron Zimmerman (32) and Missy Repoli (22) during the Tournament of Champions final on March 23 at the Izod Center. The Lancers defeated the Cougars, 56-44. It was a season that took the Cougars (29-4) all the way to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions final at the Izod Center in East Rutherford on March 23.

Along the way, the Cougars won the program's first NJSIAA state group championship (Group IV), made their first appearance in the Tournament of Champions, and defeated Rumson-Fair Haven and defending champion Malcolm X Shabazz High School of Newark to advance to the Tournament of Champions final where they ran into St. John Vianney High School of Holmdel, the winningest program in Tournament of Champions history.

On March 23 the Lancers won their sixth Tournament of Champions crown with a 56-44 victory over the Cougars. The loss stung, but it did not diminish what Colts Neck achieved this winter.

"We accomplished so much this season," said guard Lauren Clarke. "We showed the potential we have. We just have to work harder."

The potential is great considering the team's youth.

"To get this far without a senior on the team says a lot about this team," Coach John Truhan said.

Truhan had his squad run a gauntlet of powerhouse teams during the season, all with the express purpose of having his cagers ready for the state tournament. The Cougars not only survived the gauntlet, but came out stronger for it. They ran over, around and through the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional competition. Their under-rated defense carried them to wins over Washington Township and Columbia and to the Group IV state title.

In the Tournament of Champions, the Cougars held Rumson-Fair Haven to 29 points and then stunned defending champion Shabazz in the semifinals.

Defense would rule the Tournament of Champions final, but it was from the St. John Vianney side.

The Lancers trapped Colts Neck guards Brooke Hampton and Clarke with a fullcourt press and forced them to give up the ball. That took the Cougars out of sync. The Lancers were equally aggressive in the half-court defense as they defended the Cougars' high screens and pick-and-roll plays. The driving lane was not there for Hampton and Clarke.

"Credit their defense," said Truhan. "It put us in spots we weren't accustomed to."

St. John Vianney Coach Dawn Karpell said that in watching film of the Cougars, she noticed that teams had pressed Colts Neck before, but that no opponent had tried to trap them.

"Brooke Hampton is such a key" for Colts Neck, said Karpell. "We wanted to take her out of what she likes to do."

That was no surprise to Truhan, who said that if he was coaching against his team he would want to get the ball out of Hampton and Clarke's hands.

The aggressive defense by the Lancers may have accounted for Colts Neck's 5-21 shooting in the first half of the Tournament of Champions final. The Cougars fell behind 9-0 and did not hit a basket until Emily Laurence drained a three-pointer with :52 left in the first quarter.

Still, despite their poor shooting and 10 turnovers, the Cougars hung around and trailed 21-14 at halftime. Colts Neck's defense

forced eight Lancers turnovers.

Clarke, who was held scoreless in the first half, got on the board right away in the third quarter with a strong drive to the basket and a steal that produced a layup. At that point Colts Neck trailed 23-18.

The momentum, however, changed midway through the third quarter. Not because of defense, but because the Lancers delivered a barrage of three-point field goals. St. John Vianney's sharpshooters hit five three-pointers in a row to end the third quarter and start the fourth quarter. That long-distance blitz extended the Lancers' lead to 42-28.

The Cougars have seen that before, but this time, as Truhan noted, the shoe was on the other foot.

"We're used to doing that," he said. "That's what we do against teams."

The game became a foul shooting contest in the final 2:18, but Jackie Kates and Kateyln Linney went a combined 12-12 from the line to shut down Colts Neck.

Clarke and Brittany Howes shared team-high honors for Colts Neck with 10 points each. Clarke handed out four assists and Howe led the team with four rebounds.

Linney led all scorers with 23 points for the Lancers (31-2).

Linney was named St. John Vianney's Most Valuable Player of the game and Clarke was named Colts Neck's Most Valuable Player.

It was a season of growth as well as learning for Colts Neck, which finished the year at 29-4. The Cougars matured as players both individually and in how they fit into their roles for the team. The Cougars became a more balanced and therefore, more dangerous team.

With Hampton and Clarke, the Cougars are a guard-oriented team and they proved that they are as good as any backcourt tandem in New Jersey. But Colts Neck would not be a state group champion without the contributions from others. Tiffany DeTulio connected on 73 three-point field goals and gave defenses something else to be concerned about.

The Cougars also would not have been at the Izod Center for the Tournament of Champions final without the improved play of their trio of forwards Howes, Laurence and LeeAnn Lanza. They were solid defenders and rebounders and played more of a role in the offense.

"We really have six starters," Truhan said and all six of those players will be back for 2009-10 when the Cougars will try to win one more game — the Tournament of Champions final.