Sports
Saint John Vianney Upends Red Bank Catholic For Return Trip To Shore Conference Tournament Final
Madison Doring's three-pointer breaks 44-44 tie and Lancers go on to beat Caseys 54-48
Photo's by Tom Smith: Doring, Bonner, Karpell and Ramos
TOMS RIVER – Almost a month to the day Saint John Vianney saw a 41-32 lead over Red Bank Catholic entering the fourth quarter evaporate into thin air as the Caseys went on to outscore the Lancers 22-4 in fourth for a stunning 54-45 loss.
That was third-seeded Saint John Vianney’s only loss to a Shore Conference opponent this season and they haven't lost since. The Lancers (22-3) have reeled off 12 wins in a row including last night's 54-48 victory over that same Red Bank Catholic team at the Pine Belt Arena in Toms River. The win avenged last month’s collapse against the Caseys and handed the Lancers a return trip to the Shore Conference Tournament finals.
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The Lancers held a 44-39 lead with 4:13 left in the game before a three-point play from Casey guard Josie Larkin and bucket by Katie Rice deadlocked the game at 44-44 with 2:20 remaining.
With the memory of their loss to the Caseys still fresh in her mind, junior swing Madison Doring took matters into her own hands nailing a pivotal 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:53 left on the clock for a crucial trey that led to a 10-4 St. John Vianney run to close out the game.
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The Lancers secured the win at the line, shaking off a 10-for-21 showing at the foul line in the first 30 minutes of the game before knocking down 7 of 11 in the final 1:11.
“We watched the highlights from that game (RBC) like so many times,” said Doring, who finished with 12 points on four three’s. “Because it really killed us to let them win that game, especially (since we were) up 12 points in the fourth quarter.
“Before the game, coach said to us ‘it’s okay to be nervous, just don’t be scared’ because we were ready for this moment. We originally went to the left side. We said if Jada (Bonner) had the lane, take the lane, but if they cut you off, look for Maddie for the kick out. So, she saw me and I let it fly. To be able to hit a shot like that was awesome.”
After winning the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time since 2005 last season, the Lancers returned only one starter from that team and many considered this year’s team an afterthought with the returning talent other top Shore Conference teams possessed.
However, with Seton Hall commit Kimi Evans back, along with senior Julia Ramos, Doring and sophomore’s Sajada Bonner and Sarah Karpell leading the way the Lancers are one game away from repeating as Shore Conference Tournament champions.
Monday night, with Evans being double and tripled teamed all night and in foul trouble, all four played significant roles as the Lady Lancers overcame long stretches of play without Evans, who was held without a field goal for the first time since her freshman season and finished with just four points.
“We know that every game teams are going to double team or even triple-team her,” Boner said. “Kim always told us in practice that we had to perfect our shooting because we’re going to get feed from her. We had to step up when she wasn’t able to be there because basically the whole opposing team plays Kim.”
In Evans absence the quartet certainly stepped it up with Bonner finishing with a game-high 16 points – six in the fourth quarter, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals while Ramos added 12 points and three rebounds and Karpell contributed nine points, five boards, two assists and two steals. Senior guard Courtney Dobrzynski chipped in with four rebounds and two assists.
“The kids we have just grew so much this year and we’ve really started to hit our stride,” Saint John Vianney coach Dawn Karpell said. “At the beginning of the year, I knew we had the talent and the ability to match up with all the high quality teams around here. It was going to be a matter of, could we grow up fast enough? We’re excited to be going back (SCT).”
“It’s really exciting to go back to the championship,” Doring said. “I didn’t play last year, so to be playing in it this year is really exciting and I’m just happy to do it for my team, honestly. We worked so hard this season and we’re just really excited to be there on Saturday.”
Josie Larkins finished with a team-high 12 points for Red Bank Catholic while Tia Montagne added eight.
“Last game, losing to them (RBC) really stung a lot and we kept it in our brain,” Sarah Karpell said. “We said we are not going to let them beat us (again).”
