By Jim Hintelmann
RUMSON –With a veteran team returning, and defending NJSIAA Meet Of Champions winner Manasquan losing much of its team by graduation, the Rumson-Fair Haven Regional girls basketball team was hoping to avenge three setbacks to the Warriors, one an overtime setback in the finals of the Shore Conference Tournament last year
Unfortunately for the Lady Bulldogs, Manasquan still had enough talent remaining to spoil Rumson’s home opener with 50-44 A Division Central victory Friday night.
“We had a bad start,” said Rumson girls basketball coach George Sourlis, starting his 30th year as head coach of the Lady Bulldogs. “We battled back and outscored them in the last three quarters, but we missed a couple of layups and had a little foul trouble. That hurt us,”
Rumson opened the scoring on a three-pointer by Sydney Sabino, but Manasquan ran off the next 10 points on a pair of three pointers by sophomore Dara Mabrey and five points from Stella Clark, and Rumson spend the rest of the game trying to catching up.
“We just rotated against their big girls,” said Manasquan coach Lisa Kukoda, who starred at Red Bank Catholic recently. “Our guards were very aggressive in getting into the passing lanes.
“Our returning players have the experience in big games,” she said. “That will help the younger girls who have to step in the fill the roles of our graduated players.”
RFH gradually crept back and finally went in front, 26-25, with eight straight points midway through the second quarter. The lead then changed hands until Rumson moved in front for the final time at 37-36, on a drive by Nicole Morris with 3:40 left in the game,
Manasquan freshman Addie Masonius, however drilled a long three-pointer and Mabrey added another three-pointer to give Manasquan lead for good.
“Give credit to Manasquan,” said Sourlis, “They made the big plays when they had to and they have a great team”
Sourlis, however, remained upbeat and expects his team to have another solid season.
“I’m still optimistic,” he said. “We’ll just try to get better and move on.”
