Rumson D shakes up A Central race
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Candice Green followed her coach's instructions. Rumson-Fair Haven head coach George Sourlis wanted his point guard to be "more aggressive," and she was just that in springing theBulldogs to a 36-24 victory over previously undefeatedRedBankCatholic on Jan. 8 in Rumson.

It was Green's penetrating drives in the lane that broke down the Casey defense and set up open outside shots for her teammate.

"Coach [Sourlis]wanted us to spread the floor and take it to the hole," she pointed out.

While Green was making the difference on offense, the Bulldog defense was one stubborn unit.Mixingman-to-man and zone defenses and collapsing around RBC's Kristina Danella whenever she got the ball, Rumson held the Caseys to just nine points at halftime and 24 for the game. Danella was held to no field goals and three points.

Kate Miller once again proved she can play both ends of the floor by guarding Danella. She gave the Casey star little space to operate.

Danella was without some of her usual supporting cast. The undefeated Caseys werewithout guardKimTalbot and forward Kristina Coppolino (out for the season), and that made Danella more of a defensive target than ever.

"That's two big blows for any team to overcome," Sourlis said of RBC's injuries. "We were fortunate enough to capitalize on it tonight- nothing more, nothing less."

With the Caseys playing their first game without either Talbot or Coppolino, the Bulldogs knew that the Caseys' lineup would be unsettled. That made it extra important to prevent them from getting anything going early.

After Mary Kate Brynes' three-pointer pulled RBC within 8-7 late in the first period, Rumson went on a 10-0 run that turned out to be the decisive point of the game.

Miller contributed six points on three baskets. Green hit a jumper with just three seconds left in the first quarter and Julie Kelly, following Green's script, scored on a driving layup and Rumson had an 11-point lead (18-7) to work with.

A Green basket before the half made it 20-9.

All night, the Bulldogs got solid play from Gabbie DePalo and Kara Abbott, who established themselves as a presence under the basket on both ends.

Four free throws to start the second half byAbbott gave Rumson its biggest lead, 24- 10. With the Caseys struggling to find answers on the offensive end, the lead was too much to overcome.

Miller, who scored a game-high 15, went 7-8 fromthe foul line in the fourth quarter to silence any attempted Casey comeback.

After losing to St. John Vianney in their season-opener and to Colts Neck in the WOMC Classic final, the Bulldogs needed a win like last week's to get themselves back on track.

The Bulldogs followed up their RBC win with a 55-24 romp atManasquan tomove to 9-2 overall and 5-1 inACentral.

Miller (16) and Kristen Cooper (12) combined for 28 points.