Team Effort Wins Red Bank Second Straight WOBM Title

TOMS RIVER — In the 40th and final WOBM Christmas Classic, the Red Bank Regional girls basketball team jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, defeating Rumson-Fair Haven 58-49, and hoisting the WOBM championship trophy in the Ray Cervino bracket for the second straight year. 

All five starters scored in the first quarter for Red Bank, with junior Synai Blychanton leading the way with six points.

Blychanton has a habit of having big performances in the WOBM finals. Last year, she finished with 16 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks. Monday, she made big play after big play when Red Bank needed it on her way to Tournament MVP. Blychanton finished with a team-high 17 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and blocked a shot in the closing minutes of the game to seal the victory. 

“She (Blychanton) is on a mission,” Red Bank coach John Truhan said. “Her elevation on the glass, especially the defensive glass, is something that can not be taught. She is a different type of player this season. When things broke down, I put the ball in her hands when they were pressuring (Riley) Wheeler and to give her a rest, Synai brought the ball up and took us on her back.”

Red Bank had four players score in double-digits in this year’s final compared to two players last season. Junior Riley Wheeler scored a season-high 11 points and had five assists running the offense for the Bucs. Similar to the semifinal game against Brick Township, Wheeler started the game strong on the offensive end and knocked down two 3-pointers in both games. 

“It shows how well we play together and how much we trust each other,” Wheeler said about the balanced scoring. “I feel the better I play on defense and the more we play together, it gets me comfortable on offense.”

The Bucs built a 31-18 lead at halftime, but Rumson did not quit. The Bulldogs went on a 8-0 run to cut the lead to four points, 36-32. Sophomore Grace Smith scored nine of her 11 points in the third quarter to help Rumson back into the game. 

The Bulldogs were able to get the game to within three points in the 4th quarter, but that is as close as they would get. After Sylvie Notine, who finished with 12 points, made the game 39-36, Caroline Polloway responded for Red Bank with two of her 10 points. 

Seniors Notine and Polloway both have had success in the WOBM Christmas Classic. Notine emerged as one of the top freshmen four years ago scoring double-digits in back-to-back games and knocking down five 3-pointers and Polloway was named MVP last year in the Ray Cervino bracket.

Red Bank closed out the game going 12-for-16  from the foul line in the fourth quarter, with junior Zoe Gulley shooting 5-for-5, including 3-for-3 after being fouled on a 3-point attempt.

“Everybody did their part,” Truhan said.  “Riley Joyce just defending Slyvie which was nonstop, nonstop energy. We needed her (Notine) to know she was being guarded the whole time. Zoe from the foul line, Wheeler from the foul line, Synai and Caroline controlling the glass. It was a great group effort. Balanced scoring, that is the way you win.”