DOES YOUR TEAM HAVE THE SCT KEYS?

Masonious is a bonafide star

DO YOU HAVE A STAR THAT CAN CARRY YOUR TEAM–   There is no question a the Shore Conference is loaded with stars that can take a team out by themselves. Manasquan has 2 mega stars, Lola Mullaney and Faith Masonious  who on any night can carry their teams. Brynn Farrell has proven all year she can carry a team and now has help in Makayla Andrews. Both can save your team on a night things may be slipping away. Both can send a team home single handily. Jenna Paul can take out a team all by herself in the early rounds. Destiny Adams and Leilani Correa are  Stars that can get on extreme runs and not just carry teams, but take out super powers.. The real question is  can your star take over games with her defense, passing or rebounding as well.  Can your star put your team on her back and carry your team home from this point forward.  Can your star carry you? More importantly does you team believe in its star? Because if they don’t believe in them…you better hope you don’t need them.

Can your team go to its bench and still win? When it comes to using the bench, Dawn Karpell is the gold standard. She creates roles for all of her players. They all play big in big games and their roles don’t change based on the opponent. All are battle tested and play their roles to a “T” and are ALWAYS READY. The SJV bench, is not as deep as in past years. But Madison St. Rose and Christina Whitehead can give SJV a serious shot in the arm. They are talented, but more importantly, Dawn Karpell is not afraid to use it them in any spot.…THEY ALL KNOW THIS. Who do you have coming off the bench to change the game? St. Rose has the most lethal weapon in the event coming off the bench in Makayla Andrews. She is capable of carrying St. Rose in games from the bench. Somebody is going to run into foul trouble or an injury. Somebody is going to have a bad shooting night, somebody is going to get be sick. When this happens, your teams bench is either going to shine or be exposed. Has your bench been used in big spots this year? The SCT is not a place to start finding out if they are ready…that ship has long sailed!

St. Rose has the best Stopper in the business

DO YOU HAVE A STOPPER? This is the most underrated player in this event. History has shown a stopper can change this entire event.  Do you have a player to cool down a hot  Lauren Lithgow or Jada Bonner? Do you have a defender that can shut down a  Mullaney, Correa or Jenna Paul. What about in the post, can you cool off a Faith Masonious or a  Dakota Adams. You think you have a matchup for them, when they gets rolling.  You better have answer because somebody is going to get rolling against your team…the questions is can you shut the door on them, when they do? Sam Mikos is the ultimate stopper,  Sarah Karpell and Rahmena Henderson are the dark hole. They destroy elite guards. Bri Bellany is a classic stopper because she can close the door on big’s and guards. Baby Sophia Sabino is already a serious stopper. But the best stopper in the state plays at St. Rose…her name is Sam Mikos! Who is your stopper? If you don’t have one, forget winning this event…you have NO CHANCE.

DO YOU HAVE A CLOSER? Nobody is sailing though the tournament, closers close quarters and games. Manasquan may has the best in this years event in Lola Mullaney.   Now here is something, I learned a long time ago. Throw out shooting and free throw shooting percentage until the last 2 minutes OF A CLOSE GAME. If they missed the big ones in big games, during the season…they are missing in the SCT.  Closer’s don’t turn the ball over or make bad decisions late. You have a closer? Now be honest, do you trust your closer? Because if you don’t, secretly your team does not trust them either. Does your closer know when to pass and when to shoot? Do you have a player who thinks they are a closer, they take the shot but can’t make it. You know guts don’t matter unless they can make the shot. Don’t tell me your closer is your best player. Remember your closer is not always your best player or even a player. The list of so called best players failing to deliver late is longer than a football field. A closer can be a coach, Right now  Beth Chambers, is proving to be one of the best closer’s in the business. Her teams have been shockingly great at the end of games and quarters. Joe Montano forget it, if he gets a chance to close…its a wrap.  Now here is something everyone forgets…sometimes your closer never gets the chance to close, because in order to close you need to be in the game late with a lead. The SCT is not the place to try and find a closer….

RBC has the most dangerous baby in the event

THE BABY FACTOR, ARE THEY READY?  Now don’t tell me how good your babies played this year. I don’t care about their stats. I want to know what your babies did against the real teams. Did they see real time in the games that determined your season and seeding. No baby had more responsibility than JUSTINE PISSOTT against real competition. Don’t tell me about a play or shot a baby made in a game. Tell me what you babies did in the heat of big games.  Now is your baby are a big part of the team, can you count on them to WIN IT,  if need be?  SJV has a baby, the has proven she can play in big settings.  If your babies have put up good numbers in blow-outs, but have zero numbers in the big games…don’t expect them to all of a sudden blow up in this event, this event has real killers. What’s the status of your babies? If they have to go from role player to prime time player can they do it?…can your baby do this? 

Seniors win Chips and St. Rose has three!

SENIORS, ARE YOUR READY? If your team is not loaded with seniors your team’s job just got a little harder.  But if you have  seniors, they must have experienced and success in  big spots along the way. Winning a big game or tournament can’t be new to them. SJV has 4 seniors and they’re good…as in real good, and they have rings.  St Rose has 3 of the best  seniors in the state and they got rings too. Manchester has two battle tested seniors, who have been trying to get over the hump for years, this is their last chance. The TRN two seniors stars, Bisogno and Paul have seen and this is there last go round.  Manasquan has the best s two senior in the event, because they have won everything over the years.  Having battle tested seniors is something that gives you a real edge in these events. Seniors don’t panic and they play with a passion when they know the end is in sight… What about your seniors…Are they ready?

CAN YOU TEAM HANDLE THE PRESSURE? SJV, may be the favorite but they know all eyes are on them, anything but the title will be disappointing. MANCHESTER  has had a monster season, but now they will have to step up a level.  St. Rose knows that anything less than a title will be disappointing. Sophia Sabino and RBC are playing with house money. But a early exit would take any shine off their season. Middletown South knows anything less than two wins and the season is disappointing finish.  RFH needs to get to the quarter finals or  the season just won’t feel right. Manasquan knows people only expect one thing and that’s a SCT title. TRN must make a deep run or they will know the season has not ended correctly. All this adds up to pressure, can you team handle that pressure that comes with trying to win the SCT?

Lisa Kukoda has a unmatched Track record these days

Does your coach have a track record of success? These games are going to be tight and somebody is going to win it or lose it, based on a decision from the sidelines. Will your coach give your team and edge with the officials? Your coach better not panic and they better have those new offensive sets, out of bounds plays and new trapping defenses all ready to go for the SCT.

Your coach better have some new stuff to throw at opponent’s, because everyone knows everyone right now. You coach got some new stuff? Your coach better not start over coaching and trying to be the star. Your coach better be prepared coming out of time outs and last second situations. Now possessions really matter, because these games are going to be close. How are your rotations? They better be set and everyone better know, when they are playing. Too late to start changing now folks…you are who you are.  In the end these games are going to come down to how your coach handles the pressure at the end of the games…they will need to make all the right moves! Your coach ready to do this? Your coach ready for the surprises, bad calls and the heat of the spotlight? 

TRN must be feeling good these days!

HOW IS YOUR TEAM PLAYING GOING INTO THE SCT? How is your team playing these days? Are all the players on your team on the same page? Do you have players who think this is their chance to shine?You know trying to steal the spotlight, taking shots they have not taken all year. Somebody is going to try and make a name for themselves are your teams expense, bank on it.  Does you team feel good about themselves going into the SCT? Manchester  is red hot, TRN and Colts Neck are feeling good…. Don’t team me who you beat or who you lost to…tell me HOW IS YOUR TEAM PLAYING RIGHT NOW…because now is not the time to find yourself. 

WHO WILL BE #1?

The bottom line is that nobody is the overwhelming favorite going into the SCT. But somebody is going to face every one of these obstacles before a champion is crowned. The team that handles these challenges the best is going to be our winner. Right now I BELIEVE the TOP 4 TEAMS HAVE  the best chance to pull it off. But know this, each of those teams will face a real challenge trying to make it to the SCT FINAL.