Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 47

ASBURY PARK PRESS I MONDAY, MARCH 15,2004 r3Zr Wf NJSIAA BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL GROUP GHAMPIONSIflPS MM a 51 32E rap Johnson, Calhoun grow together Raritan advances to TOG ism or what he was doing, and you didn't know if he would score 20 points or foul out before he had a basket. A talented artist off the court, the shy kid has finally become a confident and expressive artist on the hardwood. He can now dominate for stretches at a time and has become more consistent after some stretches of passive play during the regular season. Johnson has developed into perhaps Raritan's most important player and one of the fiercest competitors in the state, another shy kid who is driven by those who doubt him. His scoring has exploded in the postseason, thanks to his breathtaking drives off the dribble and that so-called shaky jumpshot that has been consistently going in like it did yesterday.

"I saw some openings and I just took them," Johnson said. "He's shooting the ball a whole lot better," Devaney said. "I think when you do so many things well, people tend to try and nitpick, and for him, that was his jumpshot." The rapid improvement of both of them is no accident, either, as Devaney said both are hard workers in practice. Perhaps the most refreshing part about them is that they are still just kids and the game still looks fun to them. Even when the game was close yesterday, Calhoun couldn't help letting a grin slip out because he wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else.

Raritan coach Sean Devaney congratulates Marques Johnson, who won the MVP award, (staff photo: daryl stone) By SCOTT STUMP STAFF WRITER PISCATAWAY Usually when a team wins an NJSIAA group title, it'r because it has the most talent or has peaked at just the right time. Raritan's boys basketball team looks like it might be a combination of both. Star point guard Marques Johnson GROUP III BOYS RARITAN 71, MANASQUAN 60 had the well-oiled Rockets machine running at full blast from the opening whistle yesterday as Raritan never trailed in an impressive 71-60 win over Manasquan that gave the Rockets (25-5) their first Group III championship in school history. After searching for a stable starting lineup for a large part of the season, the Rockets now have five dangerous players and a fearless bench as they sail into the Tournament of Champions quarterfinals as the No. 4 seed and play No.

5 Haddonfield at 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Ritacco Center. Johnson and 6-foot-6 junior forward Qa'rraan Calhoun have been spectacular in the state playoffs, and yesterday Johnson scored the first seven points of the game to put the Warriors (23-3) on their heels. He went on to finish with 20 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals and was named the team's Most Valuable Player for helping Raritan beat Manasquan for the second time this season. "After that (7-0 start) we all started flying," Johnson said.

"We got out to that big lead and started rolling." "Getting (Johnson) off early was a priority for us," said Raritan coach Sean Devaney. "We ran some plays for him early on." By the fourth quarter, Calhoun was putting on a dunk clinic on his way to a game-high 24 points. While Johnson and Calhoun were busy wowing the crowd at the Louis Brown Athletic Center at Rutgers University, senior forward Joe Reyes was quietly turning in a 14-point, 9-rebound effort. Senior Mike Nunes (4 points) had a tough afternoon, but has been one of Raritan's top scorers all season. would make a run because they are a good team," Johnson said.

"We just kept at it." The junior stole the ball and dribbled behind his back twice in close quarters to lose two defenders and score on a layup to give Raritan a 46-36 lead. He later hit a 3-pointer with 1:20 left in the third quarter to make it 51-38. Lonnay then drew a roar from the crowd with his' third trifecta of the game to balloon the lead to 16 points before White nailed a 3-pointer near the end of the quarter. Raritan then pretty much put the game away with an 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter that featured three dunks by Calhoun, including a reverse slam in the lane in which he was left unguarded. "(Earley) would have to help out (on defense), and we didn't do well on our weakside help, obviously to Calhoun's delight," said Manasquan coach Kurt Fenchel.

Boys Tournament of Champions seeds, page D6 A PISCATAWAY With basketball players being tracked by recruiting services, scouts and reporters seemingly from the second they trade their diapers for a pair of shorts these days, it seems like there are no surprises anymore. Players are stamped for greatness or labeled almost immediately, so it's rare to see ones who were decent a year ago, but improved enough to become dominant now. In an age when precocious players like LeBron James can make an instant impact in the NBA, everything is accelerated. That's why watching the stunning growth of Raritan juniors Marques SCOTT STUMP Johnson and Qa'rraan Calhoun from tantalizing local talents to full-blown, statewide stars during the NJSIAA Tournament has been an exciting experience. They are 17-year-old kids who were almost unknowns until the Rockets' surprising run to the Shore Conference Tournament final last season.

Now they have everyone around the state talking. Anyone who witnessed the performance of Calhoun and Johnson in Raritan's 71-60 win over Manasquan in the Group III final at Rutgers yesterday would be hard-pressed to remember how awkward the 6-foot-6 Calhoun looked at times last season or how much Johnson struggled with turnovers and his jump shot. "They were tremendous (yesterday)," said Manasquan coach Kurt Fenchel. "They were on the same page with everything they wanted to do. When those two guys are playing well, you've got to pick your poison." They've both shown that all some players need is some time to grow and a little freedom, which Raritan coach Sean Devaney has given them.

Calhoun scored 24 points yesterday and Johnson finished with 20 points, 9 assists and 4 steals, and the scary part is that games like that have become par for the course in the state playoffs for the duo. Calhoun capped his afternoon by throwing down four dunks in the fourth quarter that had the crowd at Rutgers University buzzing. "I just drove and took it to the hole," Calhoun said. To think that last season. Calhoun often didn't know where he was going 4' i .4 Ml It C4le dribbles past Nasheema' Johnson.

Also, sophomore guard Dave Lon-nay hit all three of his 3-point attempts and combined with reserve Andrew Mandeville to play hard-nosed defense on Manasquan senior Tom White, who finished with 18 points after having averaged just over 30 per game in the state tournament. Senior Chris Earley was named Man-asquan's MVP after finishing with 15 points and 9 rebounds, and senior Kyle Laird added 16 points. The Rockets held Manasquan to 42.6 percent shooting from the field while converting at a sizzling 60.4 percent on offense. "(Raritan) played excellent defense," White said. "That kid (Lon-nay) just hawked me the whole game.

We dug ourselves into a hole. This time we couldn't get it back." The Rockets had a 31-15 lead in the second quarter after Calhoun dropped in a lob pass off an inbounds play, but the Warriors went on a 14-2 run to end the first half only down by four points. However, Johnson turned it on again in the final three minutes of the third quarter to help put Raritan ahead by 13 points heading into the fourth period. "We anticipated that (Manasquan) GROUP IV GIRLS PATERSON EASTSIDE 43 MARLBORO 36 opened the 3-pointer. during a Marlboro's four-year run comes to an end The tandem, who are cousins and live together, are nearly telepathic on the floor.

Johnson seems to know exactly when and where to lob the ball to Calhoun, while Calhoun can always find Johnson on the floor when he is getting swarmed by defenders. Here's hoping they stay the way they are now, when everything is still pure. Because soon the college recruiting hordes and all types of strangers will descend upon them, and the temptation for ego inflation is always there for anybody in that position. Regardless, no one can take away what they have accomplished in helping Raritan make school history on several occasions. From their demeanor on and off the court to their sudden dominance on it, Johnson and Calhoun have been a pleasant surprise.

Scott Stump is an Asbury Park Press staj)' writer. GIRLS TOG RBC receives fourth seed STAFF REPORT DOVER TOWNSHIP Red Bank Catholic, which defeated Immaculate Heart Academy, 43-38, on Saturday night to win the NJSIAA Parochial A championship, received the No. 4 seed in the Tournament of Champions last night. The Caseys (23-4) will take on Group II champion Haddonfield tomorrow at 8 p.m. in a TOC quarterfinal game at the Ritacco Center.

Defending TOC champion and top-seeded Shabazz awaits the winner, which it will meet in a semifinal on Thursday at 8 p.m., also at the Ritacco Center. Parochial champion Morris Catholic, New Jersey's lone undefeated team, drew the No. 2 seed and also received a bye. The Crusaders will meet the winner of a quarterfinal between No. 3 Paterson Eastside, the Group IV champion, and No.

6 Bloomfield Tech, which won the Group I title. The championship game will be played on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Continental Airlines Arena. Neil Schuman 4 second half with a But Carson took over 7-0 run for the Ghosts, with three consecutive layups. A Pollack steal and dish to Cole led to a pair of Cole free throws' that brought Marlboro within 27-26 with 5:46 to play.

"It's nft really the loss that's so upself jngAit's more that it's over," Pollack said. "I wanted it to go on forever. It's sad to go out with a loss, because this year we really came together as a group. I'm going to miss playing with my best friends and that's what hurts the most." Carson responded with the move of the game, slicing her way through three defenders for a layup. A Cole foul shot and layup knotted the score at 29 midway through the final period but a Lowery putback started a 7-2 run and the Ghosts, who have been playing their best ball of the season during the state playoffs, never surrendered their lead.

"It took us a little while, but we found our chemistry," said Carson, who has committed to Rutgers. "It's the kind of bond that a family has. We stick together on the court and off the court. Everyone has each other's back and we helped each other when we were down." By NEIL SCHUMAN STAFF WRITER DOVER TOWNSHIP When Chakhia Cole drained a 3-pointer with 11 seconds to play, cutting the gap Marlboro faced to three points, the hope that the Mustangs could pull out another of their patented miraculous victories was kept alive. But after Paterson Eastside's Asia Rollins nailed a pair of free throws three seconds later, it became increasingly apparent that the Mustangs had run out of miracles.

The inside presence of 6-2 Sasha Lowery and sheema Johnson kept Marlboro from maintaining any offensive rhythm, while the all-around mastery of All-State guard Essence Carson made things tough for the Mustangs on both ends of the floor. In the end, Marlboro's four-year run of excellence drew to a close yesterday with a 43-36 loss to Eastside in the Group IV championship game at the Ritacco Center. The defending Group IV champion Mustangs' starting senior foursome of Cole, Brina Pollack, Christie Kastner and Jenna Gatto ended their high school careers with a 101-15 record. "When Chakhia hit that 3, I IT Marlboro's Chakhia (STAFF PHOTO: TANYA BHEtN) started to think that maybe the magic would continue and I think the girls started to believe it too," said Marlboro coach Brian Nash. "We made a great run, but to Eastside's credit, they maintained their composure, knocked down some big shots and made free throws at the end." Cole, who sat for a significant stretch of the second quarter with foul trouble, scored 14 points in the final period and finished with 19 points.

"They played one hell of a game, so I have to congratulate them for a great season," Cole said of the Ghosts. "I love the girls on my team and I'll remember them for the rest of my life. We had a lot of fun while it lasted and it's a shame it's over." Pollack's 3-pointer just before the buzzer ending the first quarter gave the Mustangs (23-4) a 12-8 lead. But Johnson had six of her 10 points during the 10-1 second quarter that gave the Ghosts (25-4) an 18-13 halftime edge. Just a she did to open the game, Kaslter (nine points).