Back-to-Back: RBC defeats SJV to win second straight SCT Championship

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(1) Red Bank Catholic 53, (2) St. John Vianney 49

Senior Tessa Liggio scored 18 of her game-high 21 points in the first half while shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the three-point line and the Caseys (26-2) withstood a furious comeback by the Lancers (23-3) to win their second straight Shore Conference Tournament championship.

Senior and McDonald’s All-American Addy Nyemchek scored nine of her 13 points in the fourth quarter to help RBC respond after St. John Vianney took its first lead of the game early in the fourth quarter. Nyemchek also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out six assists and picked off a pair of steals.

Senior Stella Lockhart led St. John Vianney back from a 17-point first-quarter deficit and gave the Lancers their first lead with a basket on the first possession of the fourth quarter, 42-40. Lockhart later hit a three-pointer to put SJV up, 47-45, after Nyemchek converted a three-point play to give the Caseys a one-point lead. Lockhart finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Lancers.

St. John Vianney’s largest lead in the fourth was three points, which Nyemchek cut to 49-48 with a basket in the paint with just under two minutes left. Senior Katie Liggio then banked in a leaner near the left block to give the Caseys a 50-49 lead with 1:12 left.

Nyemchek hit a pair of free throws to stretch the lead to 52-49 with 22.7 seconds left and Tessa Liggio sealed the victory by hitting the second of two free throws with 5.9 seconds left.

Senior Sophie Smith scored eight of her 11 points in the first quarter to help stake RBC to a 22-5 lead. After Tessa Liggio’s third three of the half made it 27-12, St. John Vianney hit four consecutive three-pointers by four different players — Lockhart, senior Madison Kocis, senior Charlotte Bradley and sophomore Gianna Sano — to pull within 27-24. Liggio then stopped the run with her fourth three of the half to send the Caseys to the break with a 30-24 lead.

Kocis and senior Taylor Sofilkanich each added 11 points for St. John Vianney, with Kocis also handing out three assists.