Lady Rebels See Season End, But Memories Endure

As the third seed in the Central Jersey Group IV bracket, the Howell Lady Rebels were hoping to be competitive with their hosts from Rancocas Valley with a spot in the finals on the line.

And while the 64-44 loss they took kept that hope from becoming a reality, Coach William Gallacher said a loss in the state tournament does not overshadow the success the team enjoyed over the course of the season.

The coach said that when the two teams met last year, the RV squad had not had much success from long range, but that all changed on Friday. "They were on fire," he said. With seven three pointers, including four in the first quarter the home team flew out to an early 18-9 lead. 

In addition, the home team also had the advantage on the inside, as they featured freshman Lauren Moses who the Howell coach said towered over his team at an impressive 6-2 height. Working up close to the basket helped her pitch in 12 points.

For his team, the coach said they were not able to play their regular game which helped them win during the regular season. "We were erratic with our shooting again, especially at the start," he said. While he said the Lady Rebels handled the full court press well, once they got into the opponent's zone they were unable to convert.

In her last game with the squad, Lauren Kolacki led the team with 13 points, while fellow senior Alex Milne was right behind her with 12. Christina Justiniano had eight points while Sarah Olson pitched in with eight.

Looking back on the year the coach said he was proud of the way his team performed overall. "We knew we had a chance for the A North title and were committed to staying focused," he said. They steamrolled through their division rivals to claim the title, but saw their success hit a bump in an overtime loss to Jackson Memorial in the Shore Conference Tournament.

Gallacher said the game against the Jaguars had a definite impact on his squad. "The Jackson loss was disappointing considering we had a convincing win earlier and had a million chances to win that one," he said. "We really didn't play great basketball after that until the second round of states."

The coach said Milne's contributions, especially late in the season were a key for the team's late success. "Alex Milne picked us up with some big inside performances, especially in the states," he noted. "She was brilliant on both ends in the second round of North Brunswick."

That North Brunswick game ended with the Howell squad winning 37-30 last week. Even the games they did lose were competitive ones, or at the very least against some of the top teams in the state which helped to soften the blow according to the coach. Teams like Red Bank Catholic, Point Boro, Jackson Memorial and Rancocas Valley all made a name for themselves in the state tournament.

And while he wished his team had gone farther in the conference and state tournaments, Gallacher said he had little room for complaints. "When you consider our only losses were against high-quality teams, I cannot be disappointed," he said. "We battled to win every game in our division and went as far into states as possible. Rancocas Valley was clearly better- the season has been wonderful!"

The coach said the four seniors on the team will also leave a lasting legacy on the program. Olson spent four years on the varsity roster, while Kolacki, Milne and Kaitlyn Schmid spent three years together playing at the highest level. "They were talented, smart, fierce competitors, not to mention a lot of fun," he said.

While the quartet made their presence felt in every game, a younger group of Lady Rebels also showed that they are learning the ropes in hopes of stepping up their game for next year.