Kevin Williams Christmas Classic Championship Preview: Ray Cervino Bracket

Ray Cervino Bracket Championship Preview

 

(1) Rumson-Fair Haven vs (2) Howell, 1 p.m.

RWJ Barnabas Health Arena at Toms River North High School

 

Howell

 

Head Coach: Joe Santopietro

Projected Starting Line-up

#1  Olivia Quinones, So., Guard, 5’5″

#13 Payton Smith, Sr., Guard, 5’5″

#25 BellaRose Marino, Sr., Forward, 5’9″

#24 Kendall Bleakley, Sr., Forward, 5’10”

#4 Kylee Beam, Jr., Forward, 5’11”

 

Road to the Final;

First Round: Defeated (7) Central Regional 47-34

Semifinal Round: Defeated (3) Brick Township 40-37

 

Outlook:

Howell had a scare in the opening round, trailing by one at halftime and only leading by one at the end of the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth quarter. Junior Kylee Beam was too much for Brick to handle inside and finished with a game-high 19 points. Payton Smith, the Rebels’ most dangerous three-point threat, knocked down three treys and finished with 14 points. In the semifinal round, BellaRose Marino used her length to hold Brick’s leading scorer Ariana Wissen to 15 points. Howell is always prepared on the defensive side of the floor but will need to get consistent scoring from a second player behind Beam. 

 

Rumson-Fair Haven

 

Head Coach: Dave Callahan

Projected Starting Line-Up

#14 Campbell Skinner, So., Guard, 5’6″

#20 Lauren McBarron, Sr., Guard/Forward

#22 Erin Reid, Sr., Guard/Forward, 5’10”

#11 Chloe Kelly, Jr., Forward, 5’6″

#31 Grace Smith, Jr., Forward, 5’9″

 

 

Road to the Final:

First Round: Defeated (8) Manchester 55-36

Semifinal Round; Defeated (4) Toms River East 50-41

 

Outlook: 

Rumson-Fair Haven faced adversity early in the opening round, trailing Manchester 15-5 at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs came out of halftime and outscored the Hawks 22-6 in the third quarter to pull away. Erin Reid posted a double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds and Grace Smith added 21 points. Reid followed that game with a 27 points, 25 rebounds performance against TRE in the semifinal. Chloe Kelly returned in the semifinal to cause problems on defense against the Raiders. The match-up of Reid vs Beam will be a great battle, but Rumson might have the advantage with a reliable second option on offense in Smith. 

 

Projections:

Nick: Rumson-Fair Haven

Doug: Rumson-Fair Haven