New attitude, defense led Howell to CJ semifinals
Rebels fall to
second-seeded
Hillsborough
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

HILLSBOROUGH — It’s the attitude, stupid.

Howell High School’s girls basketball team’s success may be a surprise to some, but don’t tell that to the Rebels.

"They’re surprised that people don’t think they’re that good," said coach Julie Hoebee. "Their attitude is that ‘of course we can win.’ "

With a confidence and attitude that has been missing from Rebel teams in the past, this 2003-04 squad has signaled that it’s a new day at Howell.

With a pair of wins last week in the NJSIAA Jersey Group IV playoffs, the Rebels went further in the postseason than any other team in the past, save the one that played for the state sectional title in the late 1980s.

Although second-seeded Hillsborough stopped Howell one game short of the finals on Friday night, scoring a 57-39 win at home, it hardly tarnished what the Rebels had achieved throughout the season.

According to Hoebee, the Rebels have become defensive.

"They generally have begun to understand the concept that defense builds wins," said Hoebee.

Howell’s defense has been a double-edge sword for teams. Led by guard Brianne Lavin, it has produced turnovers that lead to fast-break baskets. Up front, Courtney Krol and Ashley Healy have been dominating rebounders, holding teams to one shot. When teams are running their half-court sets, the defense has been a stopper.

"We’re playing exceptional help-side defense," Hoebee explained. "If someone beats a defender, they run into another Rebel. That’s been real key — the kids have played defense off the ball."

Howell’s defense reached a new level on March 3 when the Rebels caged Middletown North’s Lions, 46-30. They held their A North Division rivals without a point in the first quarter and only seven at the half. By that time, Howell had build a solid 25-7 edge. Colleen Thomas scored 12 of her game-high 14 points in that first half. From the tip-off, the Rebels went after the Lions.

"We turned our rebounds and turnovers into baskets," noted Hoebee. "When we needed to run time off the clock with the lead in the second half, we did."

Howell stated its run to March 1 with a convincing 59-40 win over Rancocas Valley in the final home game of the season, and last time around for seniors Krol and Healy.

Lavin helped break up a close game in the third quarter, coming up with five steals that led to a 21-9 edge for the period that padded a Howell 25-22 lead to 46-31.

Healy led the Rebels with 14 points, while Ali Goldsmith added 11 and Thomas came up with 10.

"They really settled in understanding their roles," said Hoebee. "They’re not doing too much. No one is trying to do it alone.

"We don’t depend on any one player," she added. "Every game, someone else steps up for us."

In her final game for Howell, Healy played big, coming up with 19 points against the Raiders of Hillsborough. The loss ended Howell’s season at 17-10.