Lady Caseys Rebound from Shore Conference Playoff Loss

Powered by Senior Center Sam Guastella's 20 points, the Lady Caseys played a sloppy game but still won in convincing fashion, beating Marlboro 58-35 Tuesday and giving Coach Joe Montano his 450th win.

Substituting freely against 14-10 Marlboro, Montano tested his underclassmen who will have to pick up the load next year from departing seniors Guastella, Kasey Hobbie, and Mary Kate Byrnes.

Red Bank Catholic, 18-5, took a 13-5 lead into the second quarter and was able to maintain the lead, despite Marlboro's best efforts.

Red Bank Catholic struggled to convert most of the game. Marlboro out positioned the Caseys on rebounds for much of the game but could not chip away at the lead. A buzzer shot by the Lady Caseys at the close of the half expanded their lead by eleven for a 29-18 half time lead. 

Guastella finished the half with twelve points, Hobbie with nine points, Corcoran with four points, Alfano with four points and Dunn with two.

Red Bank Catholic opened the second half with a quick two points and lengthened the lead to 46-26 by the end of the third quarter. A strong pass by sophomore Rachel Krauss led to a strong lay-up by Junior Center Kayla Dunn to expand the lead to 34-25 midway through the third quarter.

While the underclassman seemed to struggle at the beginning of the fourth quarter, allowing Marlboro to close the gap, the sophomores and juniors gelled by the end of the game and finished strong for a 23-point victory over Marlboro.   

Despite the struggle converting points and rebounding, the Lady Caseys earned this victory as a team. Guastella led the team with 20 points, Hobbie put in 11, Alex Alfano seven, Caverly six, Kayla Dunn four, Morgan Arnott four, Caroline Corcoran four, and Tara Daniels two.

Red Bank Catholic is clearly a team that is improving even in losses, and in games where team members struggle. 

The Lady Caseys have a strong perimeter game led by Hobbie and a strong inside game led by Guastella, yet Tuesday night Red Bank Catholic’s underclassmen began to extend the floor with strong passes up the court and strong play at the top of the key by freshman Grace Fallon.