Rebels Fall in First Round

Coming off a surprising run to the Shore Conference Tournament Quarterfinals, the Howell Rebels boys basketball team was back in action with a Central Jersey Group IV playoff game at Jackson Memorial.

The 12th seeded Rebels took on the 5th seeded Jaguars, who met previously earlier in the season at Howell. The Rebels came away with a 36-33 victory, their lowest scoring game of the year.

Monday night, the Rebels did not have quite the same luck in the 58-48 loss. The Jags advantage in size was a factor in their win, numerous offensive rebounds allowed for a flurry of second-chance points.

"It's been like that all season," said Howell head coach Brian Quick, "We have been outsized at every position throughout the year, we adapted, we're used to it, it certainly is not an excuse."

Senior Ryan Keegan made the most of his final game in blue and gray scoring 21 points.

Howell held a 20-12 lead midway through the second quarter before the wheels appeared to fall off offensively.

"It's hard to pinpoint what went wrong from that point on," said Quick, "part of it has to be their familiarity with us as they really clamped down and prevented (Ryan Keegan) from penetrating."

From the peak of the Howell lead at 20-12, Jackson Memorial went on an 11-0 run throughout the second and third quarters. Howell hung around, but was not able to rip off a signature run of their own to take back control.

Keegan was the only Rebel to score in the third quarter, as his eight points kept the Rebels within two points of Jackson, 30-28, entering the final quarter.

Kendall Simmons added 18 points, including four three pointers, two of which came in the fourth quarter. His first of the period gave the Rebels a short lived one point lead, their last of the game.

Mike Porter hit two three pointers in the fourth as well, to go along with his nine points on the night, as the Rebels desperately tried to save their season late.

The three seniors were the only Rebels to score on the night.

"We'll all be sad tonight, slowly start to feel better in the next couple of days and then remember all the good stuff," said Quick, "we were 3-7, buried, and fought back to make Shore Conference and put together a little run too. We had a great season and I'm proud of the guys."