Addy Nyemchek led the Caseys with 22 points in Red Bank Catholic’s 62-51 win at St. John Vianney. Patrick Olivero 
Katie Liggio scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, including two key 3-pointers in the third quarter. Patrick Olivero 
Red Bank Catholic girls basketball coach Joe Montano watches his Caseys put together an outstanding second-half performance. Patrick Olivero 
RBC’s Addy Nyemchek, an Indiana commit, and SJV’s Taylor Sofilkanich, a Duke commit, battle for a rebound. Patrick Olivero
By Rich Chrampanis
HOLMDEL – In a clash between New Jersey’s top-ranked girls basketball programs, No. 1 Red Bank Catholic proved why it sits atop the state rankings, riding a stellar second-half performance to a 62-51 road victory over No. 2 St. John Vianney Tuesday night.
Indiana commit Addy Nyemchek was spectacular for the Caseys, pouring in 22 points while dominating on both ends of the floor. The elite guard showcased her complete skill set, opening the second half with five consecutive points and adding nine more in the pivotal third quarter, as RBC seized control of the game.
“It’s always fun. We’ve been playing against them for four years and we get the same thing, same competitiveness, same environment,” Nyemchek said. “Coming here and getting the win is really cool but we have three more that we have to work on and get, so keep pushing hard on them.”
Katie Liggio provided the spark RBC needed in the second half, exploding for 13 of her 15 points after halftime. The sharpshooter knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter that helped the Caseys open up a 37-33 advantage, putting St. John Vianney on its heels for the remainder of the contest.
“We love it. We love the competition. We love coming here. We love playing them at our house,” Liggio said after the game. “I think it’s a great opportunity for us to get better, for us to prepare for college. It’s a great environment for girls basketball.”
Her twin sister Tessa Liggio chipped in 10 points and four rebounds as part of a complete effort from coach Joe Montano’s squad on both ends of the floor.
St. John Vianney, fresh off an impressive victory over fifth-ranked St. John’s of Washington, D.C., battled throughout and got a strong performance from Madison Kocis. The future Penn Quaker reached a milestone in the loss, connecting on a third-quarter 3-pointer for her 1,000th career point early in the fourth quarter. Kocis led the Lancers with 17 points in the defeat.
Taylor Sofilkanich, limited to just one field goal for SJV, still managed to impact the game with 10 points and nine rebounds by attacking the free-throw line.
The game was tightly contested through two quarters, with RBC holding a slim 12-10 edge after one period before the teams headed to halftime knotted at 22-22. The third quarter proved decisive, as Nyemchek took over with her scoring barrage and elite defensive pressure, creating turnovers and converting them into transition baskets. RBC carried a 41-35 lead into the final frame and never looked back.
With Division 1 talent scattered across both rosters, the matchup lived up to its billing as a premier showcase of New Jersey girls basketball. But the rivalry is far from over, as both programs could meet three more times this season when you factor in the Shore Conference Tournament and state playoffs.
For now, Red Bank Catholic stakes its claim as the state’s best, but there could be more twists and turns between now and March.
The article originally appeared in the January 8 – 14, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
