Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Jackson Memorial pulls away in second half in 57-36 win over Manalapan; Jaguars advance to second round in NJSIAA tournament
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 …
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Pregame Ceremony Celebrates Varsity Duo
With the season nearing its conclusion, the Manalapan hoops program took time to celebrate two of their own. Prior to Thursday's game, seniors Alli Luttrell and Christina Minneci were honored at center court for the culmination of four years as members of the Lady Braves basketball program. Coach Scott Horton spoke to the crowd about his seniors and their future plans upon graduating in the spring. Each was presented with a bouquet of flowers as their parents met them on the court for a series of photos. Alli Luttrell earned her second varsity letter this season. The senior has made a steady progression through the ranks of Manalapan High School basketball. "I liked the fact that I went through the whole program. I played freshman, …
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Free Throws the Difference as Marbloro Sends Manalapan to Sixth Straight Defeat
The spirit of Senior Night was unable to propel Manalapan to victory. On a night which commemorated seniors Alli Luttrell and Christina Minneci for their four years as members of the Lady Braves basketball program, it was the Marlboro Lady Mustangs that exited the hardwood in celebration. Marlboro was able to overcome an early deficit and avenge a January 10 loss against their Class A North rival. Manalapan raced to a first quarter advantage behind the long distance shooting of Debra Razzino. The junior guard converted on three shots from beyond the arc, the last coming on a feed from Christina Minneci as time expired in the frame. After eight minutes, the Lady Braves claimed a 14-9 lead. It proved to be the only quarter in which they …
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Manalapan Forfeits 11 Point Advantage in Second Half, Drop Fifth Straight
The fortunes of the Manalapan Lady Braves basketball team appeared to be changing for the better. Coming into Wednesday night's matchup against the Brick Green Dragons, Manalapan had lost four consecutive games by a margin of ten points or greater. Staked to an early lead against a team with a losing record, it seemed the Lady Braves were destined to end the anguish. Manalapan never trailed in the first half, sprinting to a 14-6 advantage in the first quarter behind senior Christina Minneci's six points. The Braves outscored the Lady Dragons six to four in the second to claim a 20-9 lead at the break. With an eleven point cushion, Manalapan coach Scott Horton knew the game was at an important juncture. "We talked about it at the half. …
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Lady Braves Fall 30-19; Offense Shutout in Fourth Quarter
"It was bordering on dangerous." Such was the opinion of Manalapan coach Scott Horton following Monday night's Class A North throwdown in Middletown. The Lady Braves brought intensity but the offense continued to struggle as Manalapan dropped its fourth consecutive contest. The Lady Braves dashed to an early lead behind Christina Minneci's eight first quarter points. The senior point guard knocked down two three pointers and added a field goal to put Manalapan ahead 11-6 after eight minutes. In the second, Horton voiced his displeasure to the officials regarding contact the Braves were encountering at the hands of Lady Eagles defenders. Manalapan's coach felt the physical tone of the game was established early by the men in stripes. "…
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Freehold completes season sweep of Manalapan with 47-33 win
Freehold Township took the lead and ran with it. Sprinting out of the gate for the game's first seven points, the Lady Patriots never trailed in Friday night's Class A North clash in Manalapan. Freehold's experienced starting lineup proved too much for a short-handed Manalapan squad. Freehold held a six point advantage after the first quarter. The opponents matched baskets in the second, temporarily keeping the margin at six going into the half. It proved to be the closest Manalapan would get on this night. The Lady Patriots doubled the Braves' output in the third to take a 38-26 lead. With the game effectively decided late in the fourth, Manalapan coach Scott Horton pulled his starting five for the remainder of the contest. With …
Monday, January 24, 2011
Plagued by fouls and lacking offense, the Lady Braves fall to Rams 42-22
Coming off a victory that clinched the team a spot in the state playoffs, Manalapan was unable to adjust to a plodding but highly efficient Southern Regional offense that controlled the ball for much of the game. Saturday night's 20 point loss in Manahawkin marked the Lady Braves (10-4) worst margin of defeat on the season. The first quarter ended in a tie at six, punctuated by the Rams' Amanda Holloway taking the ball cross court and converting a three pointer as time expired. Southern Regional's guard stole the show in the first half, accounting for the Rams' first 11 points on her way to 14 before the break. Manalapan was forced to work without two of its starting five at the end of the second quarter. Jasmine McCall's second personal …
