End of the road

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Red Bank Catholic’s Lisa Kuchinski (l) and teammate Ali D’Amico share their frustration with head coach Joe Montano’s son Tommy near the end of last week’s Tournament of Champion semifinal loss to Shabazz in Toms River. in TOC semifinals

Down 18 points at halftime to defending Tournament of Champion winner Malcolm X Shabazz High School of Newark, a lot of teams would pack it in.

Not the Red Bank Catholic Caseys.

This is not your typical group of high school basketball players. This is a group of athletes whose heart and pride make them a worthy opponent for all of the state’s elite teams. And they proved it once again last Thursday in the TOC semifinals.

After falling behind to a Shabazz team that was simply deadly with its shooting in the first half (they shot 80 percent from the field in the first quarter), the Caseys used a furious third-quarter comeback to give the top-ranked Bulldogs quite a scare, pulling within four points following a 17-0 run that answered any questions still lingering about the Caseys’ fortitude.

Above, Red Bank’s Alli D’Amico is stripped of the ball by Shabazz’s Shahida Williams as she goes up for a shot, while below, junior center Kristen Linderoth defends against Williams on the other end of the court.

After senior Heather Westrol (16 points) drilled a three early in the third, the Caseys began using a full-court press, which flustered Shabazz and created numerous scoring opportunities off turnovers for the Caseys. With their senior leaders, Westrol, Ali D’Amico (16 points), Casey Grier (six points) and Lisa Kuchinski (five points) setting the tone, RBC capitalized time and time again on Shabazz’s sloppy play, getting to within 40-36 with just 2:57 remaining in the third.

But just as quickly as the Caseys got back in the game, the Bulldogs responded with the type of run you come to expect from a defending champion, reeling off 10 straight points, while the Caseys’ shooting woes returned.

To their credit, the Bulldogs managed to maintain their composure following the Caseys’ inspired run, and held off the upstart Caseys, 73-59, to earn a return trip to the TOC finals, where they faced and beat Patterson Eastside on Sunday, 55-34.

As for RBC, they left the court at Toms River North’s Ritacco Center with their heads held high, as they proved once again that they can play with anyone in the state. In a battle of character, this team is second to none.

RBC’s Casey Grier shoots over Shabazz’s Al-Niza Harris during the Caseys’ TOC loss on March 18 in Toms River.