Defense, Barry Key Rumson-Fair Haven's Win Over Manchester in SCT

Photo above courtesy of the Jersey Sporting New: Elijah McAllister and Brendan Barry both starred in Tuesday’s game

RUMSON – Eleventh-seeded Manchester Township came into Tuesday nights Shore Conference Tournament second-round game against sixth-seeded Rumson averaging close to 60 points a game with three of the top-scoring guards in the Shore Conference routinely lighting up the scoreboard.

Fresh off a first-round win which saw them score 76 points, the Hawks (16-6) offense ran into a different kind of animal Tuesday night – the Bulldogs defense.

Led by sophomore center Elijah McAllister’s 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots, the Bulldogs (19-4) completely stifled Manchester’s attack holding the Hawks to four first-quarter points and 14 total in the first-half en route to a 72-35 round of 16 win.

“We play tough D. Last year we only allowed 34 points a game in the Shore Conference Tournament, that’s how we won it,” said McAllister. “Our defense is not set in stone. It depends on what teams we play and what kind of players they have; we just play tough D, get after it, and that’s how we win games.”

Last season’s Shore Conference Player of the Year, Brendan Barry, held Manchester’s leading scorer L.J. Robinson (16.2) to two points before exiting the game midway through the fourth quarter with 29 points – 18 in the first half - four rebounds and four assists. He went 5-for-10 from beyond the three-point arc, including his 55th three-pointer of the season.

With multiple college scouts in the stands looking on, Barry proved his worth as a defender revealing he’s not just a scoring machine but a tremendous all-around player that can get it done at both ends of the floor.

“People think of Rumson as run-and-gun and three’s,” Rumson head coach Chris Champeau said. “In reality we got some tough kids that play defense. Brendan is sneaky long with great anticipation. He’s got a basketball IQ and takes as much pride in his defense as he does his offense and he shows that night in and night out. He’s a humble kid that all people think about is him hitting three’s, but he locks down their best player, that’s what we do, we put him on their best player.”

Junior forward Michael O’Connor – the Bulldogs outstanding dual-threat quarterback - had a game-high seven steals and a block with nine points and junior Tyler Pierson chipped in with six rebounds while scoring seven points. Senior Mickey Schluter was also outstanding on defense especially in the first half when he pulled down three boards, blocked a shot and had a steal.

“Our game plan was to come out and play tough D like we always do,” Pierson said. “They’ve got three great players and we just came out and were up in them and frustrated them and did exactly what we wanted to do. People don’t know how good Elijah is, he just keeps getting better-and-better.”

Combined, Manchester’s big three, L.J. Robinson (16.2), Shavar Reynolds (15.0) and Jordan Troney (14.3) average 45.5 points per game; Tuesday night Rumson held them to 27 points total.

“I wrote on the board (before the game) 34.6 because that was the average number of points we gave up in our Shore Conference Championship run last year. I said if we hold them under 35 we’ll win this game.”

The Bulldogs jumped out of the gate with a 13-0 run before Manchester could even get on the board at 2:10 of the first quarter that ended with Rumson leading 15-4. Barry set the tone of the night nailing a three-pointer 15 seconds into the game and finished with 11 first-quarter points. Schluter’s three and Barry’s Jordan-esque drive through the paint for two at the buzzer left the Bulldogs up 29-14 at the half.

The lead swelled to 22 points, 50-28, after three quarters and Champeau eventually pulled all of his starters at 4:09 after a 13-0 run to start the fourth pushed the lead to 63-28. Barry had three straight buckets to start the fourth.

Rumson – the Shore Conference Tournament defending champions after a Cinderella run last year which saw them trounce CBA in the championship game - now moves on to the quarterfinals this Sunday at Brookdale against division foe and third-seeded Manasquan.

The two teams split their series this season with Manasquan winning the first meeting on opening night in a game which Barry sat out with a broken hand, then Rumson took the second game 53-48 in January.

“Here we go again “The Hatfields and McCoys”, Champeau said. “We have a lot of respect for them. They’re tough, five kids who know how to play and they’re well coached. It’s going to be a great basketball game and we’re looking forward to it, but we know it will be a battle.”

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