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 …
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. "…
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Kim Dana Dominates with 31 for Colonials
The town of Freehold has exasperated the ladies of Manalapan basketball. Coming off a Friday night loss to the Patriots of Freehold Township, the Lady Braves were unable to dig out of a first quarter hole versus the Freehold Boro Lady Colonials. Manalapan's offense came out sluggish while the defense was unable to put a stop to the one woman offense of Kim Dana. Saturday's 51-41 defeat in Freehold marked the Lady Braves' third in as many tries. Freehold jumped out to an early 14-7 advantage after the first quarter. Dana hit one of her six three pointers as time expired to push the lead to seven. The Colonials extended the lead in the second before a surge of offense by the Braves in the quarter's waning seconds. Debra Razzino knocked …
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 …
Thursday, January 20, 2011
McCall scores 27 as trio of Braves land in double digits
When on a given night, a team can display speed, size, and talent on the court, the opposition will have their hands full. Wednesday night Manalapan unleashed all three, their names being Minneci, Meier, and McCall. The Lady Braves (9-3, 2-3) three pronged attack proved too strong to counter in the 61-49 home win over the Brick Memorial Lady Mustangs (3-9, 2-3). Jasmine McCall erupted for 18 of her game high 27 points in the first half, pacing the Braves to a 34-27 lead at the break. Senior Tina Reilly led the Mustang offensive and drove the paint for a score as time expired in the second to bring the deficit to seven. In the third, point guard Christina Minneci used her quickness to lead the fast break attack. The senior captain twice …
