Jaguars End Lady Braves' Season

In a year that began full of promise, the Manalapan Lady Braves concluded their season Monday night with an opening round loss to the Jackson Memorial Jaguars in the NJSIAA state playoffs. 

The defeat marked Manalapan's eleventh in a row, a losing trend that began on Jan. 22.

In their only previous meeting, the Class A South champions handed the Lady Braves their worst loss of the season, a 67-36 drubbing in Manalapan's final home game.  The twelfth seeded Braves thus served as considerable underdogs to the fifth seeded Jags.  But unlike the Feb. 10 matchup, the Lady Braves brought intensity and were able to contend throughout the first half.

Manalapan took an early edge at 5-2 in the first quarter. Jackson's Stephanie Mason answered with a field goal and was fouled in the process.  Mason missed the attempt but Jackson rebounded and the sophmore guard connected on a short jumper to put the Jaguars ahead. 

Later in the frame, Manalapan's Christina Minneci criss-crossed through traffic for a lay in to give the advantage back to the Braves at 12-11.  Christa Evans of Jackson followed with a field goal and a free throw to put her team on top.  With 9.5 seconds remaining, Manalapan's Jasmine McCall knocked down two free throws to even the score at 14.  Then things got confusing.

Six Jaguars were considered to be in play as Jackson attempted to inbound the ball.  The referees huddled and the infraction resulted in a technical foul called on the home team.   Braves coach Scott Horton tapped McCall to attempt the free throws, but the junior was ineligible to take the shots.  Christina Minneci finally went to the line and sank one of two attempts to give Manalapan the lead.  The advantage would not hold, as Jackson's point guard Tiffany Montague dished to Stephanie Mason for a three pointer as time expired.  After a back and forth first quarter, Jackson claimed a 17-15 lead.

Braves coach Scott Horton attempted to counter the inside presence of Jackson's Christa Evans by deploying both his six foot Samanthas.  Horton subbed starting center Sam Meier often in the first quarter with Sam Carlson to keep his freshman out of foul trouble. 

The Rutgers bound Evans missed just two shots in the February 10 blowout.  On this night, Evans managed 9 rebounds and 13 points, though it came on 5 of 18 shooting.

In the second quarter, Manalapan's Debra Razzino eliminated the deficit by knocking down two free throws in the opening minute.  Jackson's Montague countered with a nifty lay up in the paint to give the lead back to the Jaguars. 

With 50 seconds remaining, Razzino connected on a jumper with her foot on the three point line to even the score at 22 where it would remain at halftime.  Stephanie Mason and Christina Minneci paced their respective squads with nine points in the first half.

The second half was an all together different tale as Jackson opened the third quarter on a 10-0 run.  The Jaguars buckled down on the defensive end, forcing Manalapan into sloppy passes that resulted in turnovers and breakaway points.  Jackson Memorial outscored the opposition 21-8 in the third, a deficit that proved too much to overcome.

With the game all but decided, senior point guard Christina Minneci picked up her fifth foul late in the fourth quarter.  Minneci clasped her hands on top of her head, briefly displaying the emotion that results from the realization that a chapter in life has come to an end. 

In her final game as a member of the Manalapan basketball program, Minneci finished with a team high 13 points on 4 of 9 shooting from the field while converting on 5 of 8 attempts from the charity stripe.  The senior added 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals to compliment her scoring effort.  Coach Scott Horton praised his four year starter's play:

"She was physical but never got flustered. She never got out of her game.  She kept playing hard.  I told her after the game that it was one of the better games I've seen her play in her four years.  She was tough, aggressive, and kept control the whole time.  I was happy with her.  It was a good way to end," Horton said.

Though her time on the court was over, her role as team captain was not.  With just over one minute to play in the game, Horton removed his remaining starters in place of reserves and sub varsity members.  Minneci proceded to shout instructions to the offense, displaying unrestrained delight when junior Morgan Mahoney and freshman Kelly McNulty converted on shots from the field.

Junior guards Jasmine McCall and Debra Razzino each contributed eight points in defeat.  Samantha Meier had four points to go along with seven rebounds.

Stephanie Mason had a game high 18 points for Jackson Memorial.  Christa Evans added 13 and Tiffany Montague notched 11 in the victory. 

The Jaguars will travel to Freehold Wednesday for a duel with the fourth seeded Lady Patriots in a battle of 21-6 teams.  Freehold defeated Hillsborough 58-42 in their opening round game.

Braves coach Scott Horton reflected on his team's effort following the game.

 "I thought we played hard.  I thought we were physical.  We wanted to be physical and push the floor, and I thought we did that.  We had to take chances to try to beat this team.  I was very proud of their effort," said Horton.

The Manalapan Lady Braves finished with a 10-14 record during the 2010-2011 season.