There are two stories to tell about yesterday’s SCT semi Final. One is about a baby introducting herself to the Shore community and a mega star saying goodbye. The other story is about a coach proving he was ready for the big time. While his team proved size matters.

MANCHESTER had done everything right to get the SCT semi finals. The embraced there new star Lelilani Correa with open arms. They played together as a group as against the best competition they could find in the fall. Then they played the best non conference SCHEDULE they could put together. Finally there coach stepped up in a big way.

Remember when I was criticizing Manchester for only playing five players this year… guess what Coach Dave knew exactly what he was doing he…getting his team ready for the exact moment when he only could play five….THATS WAS TONIGHT..#master https://t.co/i9mlQ5Seh4

— ellonya Tiny Green (@CoachTinyGreen) February 20, 2019

They say coaches earn there reputations in preparation, adjustments, in and outs, of time outs. If that’s the case Dave Beauchemin reputation just took a leap into t the COACH OF THE YEAR converstation. Last night every St. Rose fan and coach felt his presence all night. First his team played with a clamness that surprised everyone. Never did they get rattled early or late . They didn’t overract to the officials and neither did he.

Adams had 11 points but it was her shot blocking and defense which was the key

Next he decided his mega star Destiny Adams defense was more imoptant than her offensive. So he turned her loose on St. Rose’s talented star Brynn Farrell. The result? Farrell who had 16 rebounds according to stats. Scored just 13 points way below her average and spent the night in foul trouble. He then took his press defense and changed the levels on it. Sometimes his 1-2-2 was soft and sometimes 3/4. But Coach Beauchemin was masterful. Because it was after St. Rose took a.time out he, he got downright mid evil on St. Rose. He surprise them by moving his press up going on the ball, with a hard trap on the first pass. St. Rose never saw it comin…the result a steal and easy bucket and St. Rose panicked and the game got fast as in real fast. It’s why what the Brillant Beauchemin did next was sheer ruthless. With 1.50 left in tbe game. It was he who took a time out up by 11. Why? Because St. Rose was not going to give the Purple Roses a chance to go on a run. He wanted to settle his team down and more importantly to rest his players. He did not play one player off the bench all night…why? its called, I know my team better than everyone! The result? Mannchester took a little visit to run out city and went on its second major run in the game…Dave Beauchemn was a beast on the side lines but so was his team.

Leilani just put a stranglehold on St. Rose and POY

If St. Rose fans are wondering what happened last night. They can stop and listen…SIZE MATTERS and SPEED KILLS. Yesterday Leilani Correa vaulted herself into the POY lead pole postion. She was off the charts on both sides of the floor. Her 30 points were electric and her presence overwhelmed everyone wearing a St. Rose uniform. But that was not the story. Last night a high major Division 1 basketball game broke out. First Dakota and Destiny Adams physically were too much for St. Rose below the foul line. The refs called a college game in the paint. The unappreciated Dakota Adams had 6 points and 11 rebounds. She made anyone driving to the basket with a St. Rose uniform understand that this was a different level game inside 10 feet. The paint was not a place for the faint of heart. The the speed and quickness of Manchesters guards made St. Rose play fast and loose with ball.

The Adam sisters made the lane a resemble a high major D1 game

Few noticed Abby Antonigoni sweet pull to end the 1st quarter. It was telling because it was the last one of the evening for St. Rose. In the 2nd quater a St. Rose player didnt learn from talented Abby Antogonli, sweet pull up. They challenged Destiny Adams at the rim, mistake!! Result a message sending block shot.

Farrell and her teammates couldn’t find the range

It made St. Rose gun shy at the rim the remainder of the night. They became a team of one and done, jump shooters for the rest of the night outside of Makaya Andrews, 11 points all in the paint. . Finally length matters. Its matters when you have runs outs and shots are blocked from behind. It matters when you have wide open shots but cannot make them because you feel the lenght coming. But where length really matters most is in passing. St. Rose found out high major players length and speed are brutal at times. They forced ST. ROSE into a unbelievable 20 + turnovers. Not with pressure but rather with size and lenght…have you ever tired passing through a forrest?

Manchester has checked there egos all year

Manchester moves to the finals because of a great coach and a team working as one. Serinty Adams had 11 points and 6 rebounds, that allowed Destiny Adams to do her job on Farrell. Karneri Reynolds was perfectly happy allowing Correa take over the offense, so she focused on closing the door on the St. Rose guards. Manchester has been EGO FREE all season. When they went on a 11-0 run and 9-0 during the game, it was a different player each time. It was so fast Coach Chambers did not see it coming in either case…GUEST WHAT? NOBODY SAW MANCHERSTER COMING EITHER ..they off to there 1st SCT FINAL..

A KISS GOODBYE AND A BABY SAYS HELLO

SJV AND MANASQUAN are two proud programs. Last night if the truth be told. Not many people gave Manasquan much of a chance last night. They wobbled into the SCT semi final. Teams had found the foulma, take either FAITH MASONIOUS or Lola Mullaney out of the game. SJV has been SJV all season. They just do what they have to do to win. It could be any number of players that step up. But last night it was a baby and a so called defensive player. Then there teamnates kicked in the added spices to created another SJV tasty FINISH.

Yesterday SJV threw everything and there mama’s at Faith Masonious. They doubled her and gave her multiple looks on defense. To no matter, because last night. “The best player in the Shore Conference” According to SJV head Coach Dawn Karpell, was giving the Shore fans a big kiss goodbye. She was off the charts yesterday. She hit jumpers, scored in transition and got to the rim. They were no answers for her. Her fellow star Lola Mullaney who once again got not credit for as RBR coach JT said “saved Manasquan” in the semi finals was held to 12 points. But together that adds up to 45 points. But it wasnt enough.

SJV hounded Lola Mullaney all night

On just about any occasion when the dynamic duo of Msonious and Mullaney get 45 points Manasquan likes there chances. The problem is Rahmena Henderson and Sarah Karpell are the best defensive backcourt in New Jersey. The two chased Lola Mullaney all night. Leaving the rest of the Manasquan role players a chance to do damage. It wasnt there night because Henderson and Karpell ability to cover ground is next level D1 stuff. Karpell had 10 points and Henderson 2 points and 5 rebounds. Combined they had the exact same stats as Lola Mullaney. The rest of Mansquan team 6 points total. There is another player who just may disagree with her coach about who the best player is in the Shore.

Bellamy proved again she loves the big light

JADA BONNER, who had 11 points and while not dominant, did just enough to help her team get over the top. But it was Bre Bellamy who surprised everyone. Known as a defensive stopper. She had the job of guarding Masionous. She was in foul trouble during the night. But she found enough time to drop 17 huge points. Just like last years semi final, there she was making big shot after big shot from beyond the arc. She took some of the stream out of Masonious 33 points.

Madison St. Rose introduced herself to the Shore basketball fans

If Faith Masonious was saying goodbye to the SHORE CONFERENCE in a magical way. Then baby MADISON ST. ROSE was saying hello. ST. ROSE had what only can be called a coming out party. She had 11 points and 6 rebounds.off the bench. But that was not the story. Her 5 straight points as she did against Saddle River Day, put Manasquan in a hole to start the 4th QUARTER. It gave SJV a cushion when Super Woman Faith Masonious went wild. But it was the 2nd charge she drew on Faith Masonious to end the game, which made everyone sing .. “there goes my baby” Dawn Karpell and SJV has more finished business and her Superstar baby has a lot to do with that business….SJV will try to pick up another SHORE CONFERENCE TITLE Saturday.

TODAY….BE SMART AND GET BETTER…EXCUSES NOT ACCEPTED

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