Manasquan girls basketball finds playoff hero from off the bench: 'Did everything we needed.'
MANASQUAN — When the Manasquan girls basketball team found itself in an offensive slump, it was an unsung hero in junior Shea Donnelly who stepped up and helped her team advance to the Central Group 2 sectional championship game in the state tournament.
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Finding consistent offense has always been a problem for the Warriors when it comes to facing top opponents. But in Wednesday's 56-39 win over Rumson-Fair Haven, Donnelly came off the bench to score 16 points for the Warriors. Manasquan couldn't buy a shot behind the arc in the first half but Donnelly sunk two in a row in the third quarter to extend the lead.
"I was just really excited," said Donnelly. "Rumson was always a rivalry so hitting a shot in a rivalry game felt really good. And hearing everyone from my town very vocal, and hitting one for my teammates I was just very excited."
"She had an excellent game for us,"said head coach Lisa Kukoda. "Did everything we needed her to do. She went on the floor brought energy on defense, we needed to shift our matchup a little bit, she did a great job defensively. She's really grown into this role - which is step up when we needed her to."
Hope drives Warriors in fourth quarter
All season senior Hope Masonius has been the go-to player when things get tough late in games, and Wednesday was no different. Masonius made big plays in the fourth quarter, including knocking down four free throws. The Bucknell commit finished with 17 points, and had her last home court game in the same fashion she began the season with, a win.
"We win or we're done so that's something that drives me," said Masonius on the mindset in the fourth quarter. "All season, especially now, just get the rebound, get the defensive stop, and the offense will come and that's how we really look at things."
The game was tied at halftime 23-23, but most of the first two quarters favored the Warriors. However, the Bulldogs snuck back into the game after being down seven points at the end of the first quarter. It wasn’t until a Sylvie Notine three-pointer with under a minute left that tied the game up.
Manasquan’s Katie Collins had eight points and was a force in the first half. The turnover battle was close as the Warriors coughed up the ball five times in the half compared to RFH’s seven.
Lisa Kukoda gets 300th win
After the final buzzer rung, Kukoda was gifted with open arms from her family, friends, and players for winning her 300th career game. She was also gifted a ball for the accomplishment - though the 12th-year coach shared the limelight, praising all who've contributed to the program.
"I said to the girls I'm fortunate enough that I've been here for over the course of the 12 years and those wins fall under my name," said Kukoda. "But that's a program accomplishment. Those are players, those are families, those are coaches, I just happen to be the constant through it. That's everybody who has put everything into this program."
Hope and her older sister Faith, who's now at Maryland, contributed to those wins significantly in recent years.
"I couldn't be more happy for her, she's such a great coach," said Hope. "She wants whats best for us. It's never about her, she puts all that she has on the court."
What's next
The Warriors will go on to play New Providence in the section championship game Friday with the time to be announced. Manasquan played New Providence last year in the final round, but lost the game 52-30.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJSIAA girls basketball state tournament: Manasquan, Shea Donnelly advance
