By Rich Chrampanis
TOMS RIVER – The format was different, but the result was the same: For the second straight year, Red Bank Catholic girls basketball is a WOBM Christmas Classic champion following three wins in Toms River to close out 2022.
The Caseys dominated a talented Manasquan team 59-42 to win the Cervino bracket of the Shore holiday basketball showcase. In previous years, the 16-team field played through to one champion but an adjustment to the basketball calendar this season forced the tourney to switch to two eight-team brackets.
Joe Montano is the architect of one of New Jersey’s great girls basketball programs and he’s got a young nucleus that could have the Caseys challenge Saint John Vianney as the best program in the state in the coming years. The RBC roster features seven freshmen and three sophomores who have jumped right into the fray and contributed to victories. What makes the Caseys so impressive is that they are doing it with balance across the board both in scoring points and helping out with feisty defense. Seniors Casey Prior and Emma Carman provide the leadership and have melded well with the influx of new talent.
Red Bank Catholic steamrolled Lacey (70-12) and Middletown South (74-17) in the first two rounds before scoring a convincing 17-point win in the championship game. Freshman Addy Nyemcheck was the lone scorer in double digits with 11 but the Caseys had eight players who scored at least five points. That’s the formula for a nightmare for opposing coaches; shutting down one player won’t slow down this up-and-coming team.
At one point in the second half of the Manasquan win, the Caseys had five freshmen on the floor, giving a glimpse of what’s to come in the next few years. The biggest challenge RBC had to face was picking an MVP for the tournament. That honor went to sophomore Christina Liggio.
“I think all of us, we all know our role and we all work so hard on and off the court,” Liggio said. “We’re all bonding off the court. To see it all come together it’s so much fun to watch. We’re not going to stop now. We still have so much more work to do. I’m excited.”
The Caseys closed out 2022 with a perfect 7-0 mark and an average margin of victory of 43.2 points. There are greater challenges ahead with a game against New Providence Sunday at Brookdale Community College in the Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase and national power Long Island Lutheran a week later. There’s no question Saint John Vianney is the team to beat both in the Shore Conference and the state title chase, but the Caseys have served notice that they are going to be in the conversation over the next four years.
The article originally appeared in the January 5 – 11, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
