End of an Era: St. Rose ends St. John Vianney’s 5 Year Run in the SCT to advance into the Finals

Nick Lowe|February 19, 2025|Last Updated February 19, 2025

Toms River – For the first time since the 2018 Shore Conference Tournament there will be a new champion after St. Rose put an end to St. John Vianney’s five year win streak with a 51-46 victory in the semifinal round.

The last time these two teams met in the SCT was two seasons ago at the same venue and the same round. SJV won easily, 83-40, on their way to their 4th straight SCT title. St. Rose head coach Christine Hatfield was an assistant coach that season and majority of this year’s team were freshmen and sophomores in that game.

“Some of these girls had been here two years ago in that same locker room playing SJV and we had to be the recipients of the cheering after the game,” Hatfield said. “That was my first comment to them. Who was here, do you remember what you heard, and do you remember how it felt. “

The start did not go as planned for the No. 3 seed St. Rose. The Lancers jumped out to a 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter and led 14-5 at one point. That would be the biggest lead of the game for SJV.

The Purple Roses would battle back and get the game tied at 14 before the first quarter ended. Senior Cassidy Kruesi knocked down her first of four 3-pointers when the score was 8-0 and the St. Rose defense created several turnovers in the last two minutes of the quarter that led to easy baskets.

Cassidy Kruesi scored 17 points in the SCT semifinal round at RW Barnabas Arena on 2/18/25. Photo by Tom Smith

“We have so much faith in ourselves and faith in our teammates,” said Kruesi who finished with 17 points and 4 steals. “We are so close on and off the court and it does not matter if we go down because we know we are going to stay together and know what we have to do.”

St. Rose had the majority of their points scored from Kruesi and Jada Lynch, who have led the team in scoring all season, but every player played a part in the Roses victory. Senior Gianna Rodriguez, who missed last season due to an injury, provided a spark off the bench early and helped change the momentum of the game with her physical defense and rebounding.

“I have been waiting for that,” said Hatfield about Rodriguez. “G is so strong, you try to box that girl out or try to move her. She is solid and strong. For her to come out today and get some buckets for us, we needed bench help and we got it from her today.”

Gianna Rodriguez provided a spark off the bench for St. Rose in SCT semifinal round at RW Barnabas Arena. Photo by Tom Smith

The game stayed close throughout the second quarter, with St. Rose took their first lead of the game in the final minute, but the Lancers went into halftime with a 23-22 lead. Stella Lockhart, who finished with a team-high 18 points, and Madison Kocis each led SJV with 7 points in the first half.

St. Rose was able to get out to a 30-25 midway through the third quarter, but the Lancers were able to capitalize when Belle Alvarado got an injury and spent a couple of minutes on the sideline. SJV was able to force two quick turnovers to make the game 30-29, but Kruesi once again ended their run with a 3-pointer.

“She (Alvarado) is my control person out there,” Hatfield said. “When Belle is on the court I do not worry about the ball. I just scream Belle go get it. She keeps us calm and for her to go out of the game it matters. She just calms the girls down and they feel more comfortable when she is out there. She is only a junior, but she leads us in ways like a senior would.”

Belle Alvarado breaking SJV press in the SCT semifinal round at RW Barnabas Arena on 2/18/25. Photo by Tom Smith

The Roses started the fourth quarter on a 8-0 run to build a 45-38 lead and kept a five point game for majority of the quarter. Junior Jada Lynch, who finished with a game-high 19 points, used her strength to score in the paint to help open the game up for the Roses.

St. Rose was able to take a 50-40 lead, the biggest of the game with 1:12 left, but SJV was able to claw back. A combination of missed foul shots and turnovers made the game 51-46. SJV had a chance to cut it closer, but a missed 3-pointer by Lockhart and rebound by Caroline Conforti sealed the game for the Roses.

Jada Lynch working to score inside the pain against SJV in the SCT semifinal round at RW Barnabas Arena. Photo by Tom Smith

The last time St. Rose played in the SCT championship game was in 2017 when they defeated SJV 56-31. St. Rose will have a rematch with Red Bank Catholic, who they defeated in early January 61-54. Lynch scored a career-high 40 points in that game. RBC is currently on a 17 game win streak after defeating Manasquan 60-41 in the other semifinal game. The championship game is on Friday at 6 p.m. at Monmouth University.