RFH’s upset bid of top-ranked Marlboro falls short

FARRAH MAFFAI Marlboro’s Chakhia Cole (r) and Rumson-Fair Haven’s Chrissy Fisher go up for a rebound during the Mustangs’ win in Asbury Park on Saturday.

State’s No. 1 team remains perfect

By tim morris

Staff Writer

Lost in all the flare of the no-look, behind-the-back passes is the Marlboro Mustangs’ suffocating defense.

Yes, the top-ranked Mustangs’ running game is a crowd-pleaser, but they wouldn’t be getting out on the run if their defense didn’t create turnovers, which lead directly to those fastbreak opportunities.

In the snap of a finger, the Mustangs can turn a game around with their full-court press. It is every coach’s worst fear when they play the Mustangs that the team will have trouble with the press, turn the ball over and fuel Marlboro’s lethal running game.

In a big triple-header on Saturday, the Battle on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park’s Convention Hall, which featured five of the top 10 teams in the state and a national power from New York City, Marlboro backed up its No. 1 ranking in New Jersey by using its defense to collar the Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs, 54-40.

RFH entered the game No. 3 in the state and for the first half kept the Mustangs in check, leading 28-24. The Bulldogs went out to a quick 7-0 lead on Marlboro, but the ’Stangs quickly settled down and by halftime had put themselves in a position to strike in the second half.

Craig Uplinger’s Mustangs turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and outscored Rumson-Fair Haven, 30-12.

The Bulldogs, 12-1, who lost for the first time and play a pretty good game of defense themselves, witnessed firsthand how Marlboro’s defense can turn a game around.

Guard Sharnee Zoll led the 13-0 Mustangs with 18 points and was named the game’s most outstanding player. Chakhia Cole was her usual presence on both ends of the floor, netting 13. Brina Pollack added nine and Christie Kastner, eight.

Rumson’s Chrissy Fisher showed why she is one of the state’s premier players, netting a game-high 25 and pulling down 12 rebounds. But the Mustangs held everyone else in check and were able to overcome the University of Maryland-bound Fisher’s big game.

For the Bulldogs, the loss was their first, and provided the team with a good measuring stick in terms of where they stand against the state’s top team.

If nothing else, Rumson came away with some proof that what they’ve been saying all year is accurate.

They can play with anybody in the state, and should be a contender when the postseason tournaments get under way next month.

In the other games in Asbury Park, St. John Vianney, Holmdel, No. 2 in the state and the Shore, opened the triple-header by beating undefeated Toms River South, No. 10 in the state, 45-30.

In the nightcap, Christ the King from New York City, ranked 10th in the country, edged Red Bank Catholic, which is fifth in the state, 57-51.