Inspired run leads to state title for RFH girls
Bulldogs advance to Tournament of Champions
BY DOUG McKENZIE
Staff Writer

At left, Rumson's Kate Miller gets a shot off in front of River Dell's Alyssa May during Sunday's Group II title game in Toms River. Above, the Bulldogs celebrate their win, while below Rumson's Marissa LeCardi and Miller collapse on Mays to stop her from getting to the basket.

Back in February, Rumson-Fair Haven girls basketball coach George Sourlis was shaking his head at the way his young team was playing.

And he wasn't alone, as the Bulldogs took just about everybody by surprise with their consistently strong play.

"I felt [coming into the season] that we were a top-10 team that was possibly capable of knocking off some top-five teams," Sourlis said following a Feb. 10 win over rival Red Bank Catholic. "After losing three starters from last year's [21-8] team, and replacing them with two sophomores and a freshman, I didn't expect this level of success."

That level of success was just the beginning.

On Sunday, the surprising Bulldogs continued their inspired run through the state by knocking off North Jersey I Group II champion River Dell, 49-42, at the Ritacco Center in Toms River, giving RFH its third state championship under Sourlis. RFH previously won the Group II title in 2002 and the Group I title in 1996.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff

With the win, Rumson advanced to the Tournament of Champions, and a first-round match-up with Group IV champion Absegami last night. The winner gets top-seeded Malcom X Shabazz High School (Newark), who knocked off Monmouth Regional for the Group III title on Sunday in Toms River, tomorrow.

Back in 2002 it was Chrissy Fisher who led the Bulldogs to the Tournament of Champions, seemingly putting her team on her back at times with her clutch shooting and leadership. This year, it's been senior Caitlin Hyduke in that role, as the Harvard-bound guard has saved the best basketball of her brilliant career for this postseason run.

On Sunday, Hyduke poured in 22 points and three assists, and went six-for-six from the foul line down the stretch to help RFH seal the win. But on this day, Hyduke had some help, and from an unexpected source.

Freshman Katie Miller, who spent the entire game guarding River Dell's explosive guard Alyssa May, also found the energy to contribute 11 points for the Bulldogs, the only other RFH player in double figures.

But it was her defensive effort that drew raves from her coach and teammates, as she made May, a 1,000-point career scorer, work hard for every basket. She also made a couple of key stops late in the game when River Dell was doing everything it could to complete a valiant comeback effort.

Rumson took control of the game with an 11-4 second-quarter edge, which gave the Bulldogs a 23-14 lead going into the half. RFH then came out of the break firing on all cylinders, expanding its lead with a 10-2 run to start the third.

River Dell was able to cut into the lead a bit as the quarter wound down, heading into the final stanza trailing just 35-23, and continued to chip away at the lead throughout the fourth.

When Samantha Verrier hit a couple of free throws in the closing minute, that once-comfortable Rumson lead was down to just two, 42-40. But led by Hyduke, the Bulldogs managed to hold on by hitting seven-of-eight free throws down the stretch, claiming the championship.

With the Group II title under their belts, the Rumson girls entered last night's game with nothing to lose. But in truth, they've been playing for weeks now with nothing left to prove.

They have already exceeded all the expectations placed on them entering the season. They have proved that their overall lack of experience was more of an obstacle than a roadblock.

And most importantly, they have proved that sometimes even an esteemed coach like George Sourlis can be surprised by success.