Cougars’ Comeback Falls Short: Colts Neck drops heartbreaker to Moorestown
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP – For one small moment it appeared that the Shore Conference was going to have three girls basketball teams playing for a state championship this weekend at Rutgers University. Trailing 37-35 to Moorestown (22-9) in the closing seconds of the Group 3 semifinal, Colts Neck (23-7) rushed down the court and sophomore guard Emily Donahue pulled the trigger on a beautifully arcing three-point shot that looked good from the moment the ball the ball left her hands. The ball went halfway through the net but in a cruel twist of fate popped out and went into the hands of a Moorestown player who dribbled the last second off the clock.
The underclassmen-oriented Colts Neck team showed fight all game despite trailing for the majority of the game. Sophomore forward Allison McAndrew helped the Cougars overcome two double-digit deficits by scoring 13 straight points for Colts Neck from the end of the second quarter into the third quarter.
Allison McAndrew knocked down two three-pointers to finish with 15 points in the Group 3 semifinal. 3/11/26 Photo by Patrick Olivero
“I don’t think she [McAndrew] has touched the potential she has,” Colts Neck head coach Nick Russo said. “You see number four [senior guard Analyse Intenzo] for their team. I told her yesterday that is going to be you except even better next season.”
Colts Neck faced their biggest deficit just past the midway point of the second quarter when they went down 23-9. Intenzo, a Fairleigh Dickinson commit, caused problems for the Cougars’ defense. She scored 13 points in the first half and became the all-time leader in three-pointers made in Burlington County history with 243.
After cutting Moorestown’s lead to 23-17 at halftime, Moorestown was able to get it back to 27-17 shortly after the start the third quarter. McAndrew, who scored the last six points of the first half, scored seven straight in the third quarter to make it 27-24.
Allison McAndrew scored 15 points in the Group 3 semifinal game at Central Regional High School. 3/11/26 Photo by Patrick Olivero
“I looked over to Coach [Russo] and he is telling me to take them,” McAndrew said. “He is always giving me this amazing feedback and that is really helping my game grow. My confidence has grown so much this season and I am so lucky to be part of this team.”
Colts Neck was finally able to tie the game 28-28 with one minute left in the third quarter after McAndrew grabbed an offensive rebound and found fellow sophomore forward Julianna Jasina underneath for the basket.
The Cougars then took their first lead since early in the first quarter then they were up 4-3. Jasina, who finished with a 12-point and 12-rebound double-double, received a pass from Donahue and finished in the paint to put Colts Neck up 31-30 with 5:03 remaining in the game.
Julianna Jasina finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the Group 3 semifinal at Central Regional HS. 3/11/26 Photo by Patrick Olivero
“That is the kind of kids they are and they are never going to give up,” Russo said. “We talked about just playing to your standard every possession. One possession at a time.”
Moorestown responded immediately with a basket from junior guard Tess Murphy followed by two foul shots from Intenzo to put the Quakers up 34-31. Colts Neck was able to tie the game again at 35 with 2:04 left to play, but Quakers responded with what would wind up being the game winner with 1:46 left to play.
Intenzo, who finished with a game-high 18 points, was able to drive left down the baseline, but stopped short and finished with a step through in the lane to get the basket and put the Quakers up 37-35.
The Quakers were able to take advantage of the foul trouble Colts Neck was in for majority of the game. Junior guard Mattilyn Caffiero picked up two fouls early in the first quarter. McAndrew, Caffiero and sophomore guard Avery Wallace all picked up three fouls prior to the third quarter. The Cougars lost one of their defensive stars when Wallace fouled out with 3:55 left to go trying to draw a charge.
Avery Wallace driving to the basket for Colts Neck in the Group 3 semifinal. 3/11/26 Photo by Patrick Olivero
“Defense is overlooked for some reason,” Russo said. “She [Wallace] has to guard someone 94 feet every game, every day and she does a tremendous job of wearing them out. Caffiero is another unsung hero who guards the best player no matter what size they are. So that hurt when she got the second foul because I had to put Ally [McAndrew] on her [Intenzo] and that took a little energy out of her.”
Poor free throw shooting and inefficient three-point shooting caused in large part by tight defense from the Cougars defense helped keep Colts Neck in the game. Moorestown went 13-for-22 from the foul line and 1-for-15 from beyond the arc.
The sophomore heavy team took major steps forward this season in the Shore Conference. Colts Neck graduates one senior in Gabby Bryce who played a major role as a contributor off the bench this season. A team that started just one junior and four sophomores beat senior-heavy Trinity Hall to clinch Class B North and a senior-heavy Red Bank team to win the Central Jersey Group 3 title will be potentially be the early favorite to win the sectional title once again pending the new state tournament classifications that will be released at a later date.
“We are going to take this passion that we have right now after this loss and we are going to work and change that into motivation for next season,” McAndrew said. “We are already ready for next season.”
Moorestown will play Old Tappan on Sunday at Rutgers University for the Group 3 Championship. It will be the first time in the program’s history they will playing for a state title.
