Marlboro completes circle with fourth title
Mustangs top Colts
to retain Kuhnert title
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY FARRAH MAFFAI staff Above, Marlboro’s Brina Pollack grabs a rebound over Colts Neck’s Meighan Kelly, while at left, Kelly tries to drive around Pollack during the Kuhnert Holiday Tournament final at Freehold Borough High School on Dec. 30.

The Jack Kuhnert Holiday Tournament will always hold a special meaning to Marlboro High School’s girls basketball team.

It was the Mustangs’ coming-out party three years ago when everyone became aware for the first time the unique talents the girls possessed.

On Dec. 30, when the Mustangs took the court to play Colts Neck in the Kuhnert final played at Freehold Borough High School, their goal was to keep their record perfect.

"Winning four in a row means a lot to the girls," said coach Brian Nash. "Before the game the girls remembered their freshman year, when they won it for the first time. They wanted to complete the circle."

They did, becoming the first team to win four straight titles in the history of the tournament, with a hard-fought 50-37 win over an up-and-coming Colts Neck Cougar five.

When Marlboro raced out to a 10-2 lead, it looked like yet another Marlboro romp to the championship. But the Cougars made a stand and would make the Mustangs earn their fourth straight.

Cougar head coach John Truhan said his team showed character in its comeback effort.

"We came out like a team in a big game for the first time and we spotted them 10 points early," he said. "The kids showed a lot of heart and battled back. Marlboro is a great team."

Christie Kastner and Brina Pollack led the early charge as Marlboro went on an 8-0 run to grab a quick 10-2 lead.

Colts Neck battled back behind Caitlin Burton, who played strong inside going up against Chakhia Cole. Burton scored six straight points, helping the Cougars narrow the gap to 12-8 early in the second quarter.

Cole and Pollack then took charge and Marlboro built a 22-10 lead before Colts Neck scored the final five points of the half to trail by just 22-15.

Cole, who led all scorers with 22 points, took charge in the third quarter, dominating the boards on both ends of the floor and netting eight points.

Cole, who was named the tournament’s MVP for the second time, was very much on the mind of the Cougars.

"Keeping Cole off the glass was our biggest concern," said Truhan. "She’s excellent block-to-block. We wanted to take her out to the elbow and close out the middle."

Although the Cougars made Cole work, like everyone else in the Shore over the last four years, they had no answer for the jumping-jack forward.

Colts Neck, though, was still in the game. The girls were down by nine, 36-27, heading into the fourth quarter.

Every time it looked like Marlboro would be able to breath easier, the Cougars would strike back. Three-pointers by Jesselyn Jackson and Burton kept the Cougars within double-figures, but in the final 1:41, Cole was five-of-six from the foul line, sealing the Mustangs’ record fourth-straight title.

"When Colts Neck was coming at us we wanted to keep our composure and run our plays," said Nash. "Brina and Chakhia stepped up as seniors do."

In the end, it was Marlboro’s defense that was the difference. They were a step quicker than the Cougars, and kept them from getting open shots or getting penetration from its guards.

"I’m very pleased with our defense," noted Nash. "We took away a lot of sets from them. Jenna [Gatto] did a good job on [Catherine] Cristino."

Nash was also glad  to see his role players come up with strong games as well. Cici Sibony helped out on the defensive end and contributed some nice assists on offense, while Ilyse Rosenblatt continued her solid all-around play.

Still, it was the reliables everyone knows so well who paved the way for the win. In addition to the 22 points from Cole, Pollack chipped in with 15 and Kastner had nine.

The Mustangs, 4-1 on the season, were a defending champion with something to prove. With all-state point guard Sharnee Zoll having moved, the Mustangs had heard all the rumors that they are not as formidable a team this year. Nash said his girls wanted to make a statement at the Kuhnert Tournament that no one should take them lightly. No one will.

For Colts Neck, the final was a chance for the Cougars to see where they stand against the best teams in the Shore. De­spite giving up years of experience to Marlboro, the Cougars showed they have the heart that will carry them far. The team is a work in progress that promises to keep getting better.

Burton led the Cougars, now 4-1, with 14 points and Kelly had 10. Cristino, av­eraging close to 19 points a game, was held to six points before fouling out.

This was the second-straight year that Colts Neck lost to Marlboro in the cham­pionship final.

Colts Neck beat Freehold Township in the opening round, 26-28, as Kelly came up with 11 steals and Burton scored 21. In the semifinal against Manalapan, the Cougars rolled to a 52-17 win as Cristino connected on three three-pointers and scored 16.

Marlboro had a first-round bye and met Freehold Borough in the semifinal, where the ‘Stangs got double-figures from its quartet of senior stars in beating Freehold Borough, 68-36. Pollack led the way with 18, followed by 16 from Kast­ner, 12 from Gatto and 10 from Cole.Joining MVP Cole on the All-Tourna­ment Team were teammates Pollack and Kastner, and Colts Neck’s Burton and Kelly.

The News Transcript sponsored the All-Tournament Team. This was Cole’s third straight MVP award making her the only three-time MVP in tournament history.

With five Kuhnert titles overall, Marl­boro is second only to Freehold Township for most titles won.

The Pats have col­lected six titles overall. Marlboro, though, is the only team to have won more than two straight.