Bulldogs’ late-season success a familiar story
BY VIN RAPOLLA
Staff Writer

RUMSON — The Rumson-Fair Haven girls basketball team simply loves the month of March.

They must, because it seems like every year, the Bulldogs turn their play up a notch, and as a result, add banners to the gymnasium wall.

This year was no exception.

“Our goal is always to be playing our best basketball in March, and we certainly did,” head coach George Sourlis said. “The team really played their best when it mattered.”

As a result, the Bulldogs won the Central Jersey Group II title, with a 59-31 win over Bordentown on March 8 — their sixth sectional title in the past eight years.

The win also secured the team’s seventh consecutive 20-win season.

“I’m extremely proud of the team. Our seniors walk away as four-time champions,” said Sourlis. “They really deserved it. The team acted and played liked champions.”

The Bulldogs extended their postseason run last Thursday with a 52-44 win over Sterling in the Group II semifinals. That earned them a shot at the overall Group II title against North Jersey Section I, Group II champion Pascack Valley on Sunday in Toms River.

Unfortunately, the Indians, and in particular their 6-foot-1 Rutgers-bound guard Heather Zurich, proved to be too much for the Bulldogs, as Pascack Valley dominated RFH en route to a 64-45 win. Zurich was simply brilliant in pouring in 33 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field (including nine-of-11 in the second half).

Rumson (21-8) managed to keep it close early on, trailing by two after one quarter, but Zurich and Company began to pull away in the second stanza, building a six-point lead by the half. The lead was 12 after three quarters, and while the Bulldogs did their best to make a run in the fourth, Zurich hit big shot after big shot to seal the deal.

Caitlin Hyduke did her best to keep the Bulldogs in it, scoring a team-high 19, but in the end, Rumson had no answer for the Indians’ high-powered offense.

This year’s RFH team didn’t necessarily start its season off as expected, but as the season progressed they steadily improved. With a fine mix of senior leadership and depth off the bench, the Bulldogs once again ended the season as one of the dominant teams in the Shore Conference.

“We were really happy the season ended how it did,” said Sourlis.

Going into the season, Sourlis knew his team had the ability to be successful, with the return of seniors Carly Golden, Ali Folker and Sarah Fetter.

“We knew we had a terrific nucleus,” said the coach. “The girls became a very close-knit unit. They rallied and supported each other, they played hard all season, and that’s all we can ask for.”

Next year’s team should be another title contender, with the return of two key starters in Hyduke, the team’s leading scorer, and sophomore center Paige Armstrong, the team’s third leading scorer. They will also see the return of junior Katie Conner and sophomore Marissa LeCardi, along with a pair of freshmen in Kara Abbott and Rachael Dewyngaert.

“These players all made significant contributions toward the end of the season,” said Sourlis.

The end of the season — when Rumson-Fair Haven shows its true colors.