Lavin’s free throws put Rebels in final
Howell edges Hillsborough, 52-49, in semis
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Above, Howell’s Brianne Lavin dribbles upcourt during the Rebels’ win over East Brunswick in CJGroup IV tournament play on Thursday in Howell. At left, Howell’s Jamie Biddle avoids the pressure of the Bears’ Meghan Mayo.

Howell High School’s finest basketball season continues, thanks to some clutch free-throw shooting by Brianne Lavin.

The Rebels, the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group IV, got by Hillsborough Friday night, 52-49, on the strength of its free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter. Howell did not make a basket in the final quarter, but was 12-for-16 from the foul line, and that was enough to hold off a Raider comeback in the fourth quarter.

With the win, Howell advanced to last night’s state sectional final against Trenton in Sayreville.

“Right now, they’re very relaxed and they’re focused,” coach Julie Hoebee said of the Rebels. “The last two games we had the most unselfish play. Everyone has been distributing the ball.”

Howell began its run to the sectional final Thursday by beating East Brunswick, 65-51. Colleen Thomas had a team-high 20 for the Rebels, and Ali Goldsmith, 16. Christie Novatin added 10 as the balanced Howell offense overcame 26 points from the Bears’ Megan Mayo.

The 21-win Hillsborough Raiders were next on Friday, and after falling behind by 11, 42-31, after three quarters, made the Rebels earn their win.

“Those kids [Hillsborough] came out and played tough,” Hoebee said.

Four foul shots by Goldsmith early in the fourth helped the Rebels protect the lead.

But when Ali DeLuca scored on a putback, the lead was down to five, 46-41.

Lavin’s two free throws with 2:11 left in the game made it 48-41.

But the Raiders kept coming. It was 48-45 after a pair of free throws by Ebony Jones.

With 1:25 left, Erin Donahue went to the line with Howell up by just three. She sank one of two free throws, and the lead was back to four.

Ashley Coheleach’s basket narrowed the lead to a single basket, 49-47. Lavin pushed the lead back to three, 50-47, with a free throw with 23 seconds left.

After a time-out, Hillsborough went for the three and the tie. The Rebels defended Coheleach’s shot from the top of the key well, and the shot fell short. But Kelsey Kutch snatched the air ball and her layup cut the lead to just one, 50-49 with 7.2 seconds left.

Howell in-bounded to Lavin, who was immediately fouled. She gave Howell a three-point cushion by sinking both free throws.

“She [Lavin] came up nice under pressure,” said Hoebee.

Hillsborough could not get a three-point shot off before the buzzer, and Howell was advancing to the final for the fist time since Lily Frejer was patrolling the paint for Howell in the mid-1980s.

Lavin scored a game-high 16 to lead the 22-3 Rebels, who have won 20 games in a season for the first time. Thomas added 11.

Kutch led the 21-5 Raiders with 14.

This was the final home game for the Rebels and Hoebee said the support of the home crowd “huge” for her squad.

A win the CJ IV final would be Howell’s third championship of the season. The Rebels have already won the Kuhnert Holiday Tournament and the Shore Conference A North Division.