Dominating effort gives RBC girls basketball its first state title since 2017
March 13, 2024 at 1:15 p.m.
It was a stellar example of everyone playing their role to the very best of their ability.
And the result was a dominating performance by the Red Bank Catholic High School girls basketball team leading them to win the NJSIAA Non-Parochial A championship game.
PHOTO GALLERY: RBC Girls win ninth NJSIAA Non-Public A championship
The game was held March 8 in Rutgers’ Jersey Mikes Arena, Piscataway, during which RBC was victorious over Pope John XXIII Regional High School, Sparta, in an 80-23 win. It was RBC’s 10th state title and first since 2017 and it was accomplished with just one senior on the roster.
“Everybody did their job,” coach Joe Montano said. “I feel really good about that. This was one of their best efforts of the season and it came at the right time.”
Tessa Liggio efficiently ran the offense. Her sister Christina Liggio and Addy Nyemchek held high-scoring Addison Platt and Mia Washington to a combined nine points. Nyemchek chipped in offensively with 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Tessa Carman controlled the paint with 15 rebounds; and the third Liggio sister provided offensive firepower as Katie Liggio scored 20 points by shooting 7-8 overall and 6-for-7 from 3-point range.
Coming off the bench, Sophie Smith, Lola Giordano and Daniela Maletsky combined for 26 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
“I don’t think youth matters,” Katie Liggio said. “We’ve all played together for two or three years. When you play together it doesn’t matter how young you are.”
It especially doesn’t matter when you play lockdown defense, which keyed the victory. Pope John XXIII was held to less than half of its 52.5 scoring average. The Lions shot just 24 percent (0-for-9 on 3-pointers) and committed 24 turnovers as RBC had 17 steals. Christina and Tessa Liggio combined for nine swipes and Nyemchek had three.
The Caseys defeated a second straight opponent that was on a 15-game winning streak by limiting it to under 30 points. They topped Paul VI, Haddonfield, 44-26 in the South Jersey A championship game.
It was defense that set the tone both times.
“No doubt,” Montano said. “We gave up 26 in a sectional final and 23 in a state final. It’s not an accident that both of these teams had won 15 in a row, so to hold them down like that really shows you something.”
It shows that the Casey players actually enjoy defending.
“We try to be the best defensive team in the state,” Katie Liggio said. “I think through all the practices and game planning we did it was impossible for them to score.”
For a stretch of eight minutes, 31 seconds in the first half, Pope John XXIII did not score one point. After the Lady Lions hit a layup to pull within 7-6 with 3:19 left in the first quarter, RBC went on a 26-0 run. By the time Pope John XXIII scored again with 2:48 left in the half, RBC held an insurmountable 33-8 lead.
“We got lucky, we hit shots,” Nyemcheck said. “The defensive intensity and getting stops always gives us offense. Katie was really on fire, we had to make sure we could find her. Getting each other open shots and making our shots was a really big thing. We all had each other’s backs. All our intensity and momentum gave us a ton of energy.”
Despite a 45-10 halftime lead, the Caseys were not about to rest on their laurels.
“Some games it’s hard to keep that intensity,” Katie Liggio said, “but this time, it wasn’t because it was such a big game, it was our last game. We just felt there was no choice but to come out harder in the second half.”
One of the big keys to RBC building and expanding its lead was the rebounding of Carman, who had eight offensive and seven defensive boards, and picked up five assists by finding teammates for open looks after grabbing a carom.
“That was a little bit of our Achilles heel at the beginning of the year,” Montano said. “She really goes after it tough, especially offensive boards. Those offensive rebounds get our guys another possession and it kind of demoralizes the other team. You play good defense, you think you’re gonna get the ball and go the other way and she’s grabbing an offensive rebound. Her effort was good. They zoned us a lot so we got a lot more threes than an inside game but Tessa could care less, she just wanted to win.”
Nyemchek added that, “She’s a beast on the boards, gives us extra shots. She’s really important.” The same could be said of subs Smith, Giordano and Maletsky, the top three players who provided a spark. Maletsky came in to hit a 3-pointer that started the 26-0 run, and drained another jumper to make it 13-6.
“They each do it differently,” Montano said. “Sophie does it with her interior defense and she can score for us. Danie’s just Danie, she’s the Energizer Bunny out there and Lola is an outstanding defender. These girls take it to another level."
RBC reached the state’s highest level by playing an extremely challenging schedule that prepared them for the state tournament rigors. Neither coach or players were surprised at winning the title and, with every regular back next year, it’s hard not to think they can pull off a repeat.
“I’m super excited,” Nyemchek said. “Hopefully we get here again and keep winning.”
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It was a stellar example of everyone playing their role to the very best of their ability.
And the result was a dominating performance by the Red Bank Catholic High School girls basketball team leading them to win the NJSIAA Non-Parochial A championship game.
PHOTO GALLERY: RBC Girls win ninth NJSIAA Non-Public A championship
The game was held March 8 in Rutgers’ Jersey Mikes Arena, Piscataway, during which RBC was victorious over Pope John XXIII Regional High School, Sparta, in an 80-23 win. It was RBC’s 10th state title and first since 2017 and it was accomplished with just one senior on the roster.
“Everybody did their job,” coach Joe Montano said. “I feel really good about that. This was one of their best efforts of the season and it came at the right time.”
Tessa Liggio efficiently ran the offense. Her sister Christina Liggio and Addy Nyemchek held high-scoring Addison Platt and Mia Washington to a combined nine points. Nyemchek chipped in offensively with 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Tessa Carman controlled the paint with 15 rebounds; and the third Liggio sister provided offensive firepower as Katie Liggio scored 20 points by shooting 7-8 overall and 6-for-7 from 3-point range.
Coming off the bench, Sophie Smith, Lola Giordano and Daniela Maletsky combined for 26 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
“I don’t think youth matters,” Katie Liggio said. “We’ve all played together for two or three years. When you play together it doesn’t matter how young you are.”
It especially doesn’t matter when you play lockdown defense, which keyed the victory. Pope John XXIII was held to less than half of its 52.5 scoring average. The Lions shot just 24 percent (0-for-9 on 3-pointers) and committed 24 turnovers as RBC had 17 steals. Christina and Tessa Liggio combined for nine swipes and Nyemchek had three.
The Caseys defeated a second straight opponent that was on a 15-game winning streak by limiting it to under 30 points. They topped Paul VI, Haddonfield, 44-26 in the South Jersey A championship game.
It was defense that set the tone both times.
“No doubt,” Montano said. “We gave up 26 in a sectional final and 23 in a state final. It’s not an accident that both of these teams had won 15 in a row, so to hold them down like that really shows you something.”
It shows that the Casey players actually enjoy defending.
“We try to be the best defensive team in the state,” Katie Liggio said. “I think through all the practices and game planning we did it was impossible for them to score.”
For a stretch of eight minutes, 31 seconds in the first half, Pope John XXIII did not score one point. After the Lady Lions hit a layup to pull within 7-6 with 3:19 left in the first quarter, RBC went on a 26-0 run. By the time Pope John XXIII scored again with 2:48 left in the half, RBC held an insurmountable 33-8 lead.
“We got lucky, we hit shots,” Nyemcheck said. “The defensive intensity and getting stops always gives us offense. Katie was really on fire, we had to make sure we could find her. Getting each other open shots and making our shots was a really big thing. We all had each other’s backs. All our intensity and momentum gave us a ton of energy.”
Despite a 45-10 halftime lead, the Caseys were not about to rest on their laurels.
“Some games it’s hard to keep that intensity,” Katie Liggio said, “but this time, it wasn’t because it was such a big game, it was our last game. We just felt there was no choice but to come out harder in the second half.”
One of the big keys to RBC building and expanding its lead was the rebounding of Carman, who had eight offensive and seven defensive boards, and picked up five assists by finding teammates for open looks after grabbing a carom.
“That was a little bit of our Achilles heel at the beginning of the year,” Montano said. “She really goes after it tough, especially offensive boards. Those offensive rebounds get our guys another possession and it kind of demoralizes the other team. You play good defense, you think you’re gonna get the ball and go the other way and she’s grabbing an offensive rebound. Her effort was good. They zoned us a lot so we got a lot more threes than an inside game but Tessa could care less, she just wanted to win.”
Nyemchek added that, “She’s a beast on the boards, gives us extra shots. She’s really important.” The same could be said of subs Smith, Giordano and Maletsky, the top three players who provided a spark. Maletsky came in to hit a 3-pointer that started the 26-0 run, and drained another jumper to make it 13-6.
“They each do it differently,” Montano said. “Sophie does it with her interior defense and she can score for us. Danie’s just Danie, she’s the Energizer Bunny out there and Lola is an outstanding defender. These girls take it to another level."
RBC reached the state’s highest level by playing an extremely challenging schedule that prepared them for the state tournament rigors. Neither coach or players were surprised at winning the title and, with every regular back next year, it’s hard not to think they can pull off a repeat.
“I’m super excited,” Nyemchek said. “Hopefully we get here again and keep winning.”