Top-seeded Point Boro never trailed on Friday as the Panthers (26-2) dismissed fourth-seeded Holmdel, 66-56, in a sectional semifinal meeting.
Point Boro entered halftime leading 33-31 on the back of Kelly Hughes’ 19 first-half points. Hughes would continue her impressive offensive output to lead all scorers with 28 points while filling up the stat sheet with eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
Lauren Hughes followed suit with 16 points of her own, including 10 in the second half, to go along with her four rebounds and five assists, while teammate Kerry Malleck also finished in double figures with 13 points.
Morgan Graziano led all Holmdel scorers with 23 points, 14 of which came in the first half, while Hornets senior Tara Inman added 20 of her own to effort.
Point Boro moves on to the Central Group II finals and will play host to the winner of No. 7 Manasquan and the third-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
ALSO IN GIRLS BASKETBALL
Gill St. Bernards 63, St. Rose 62: Taylor Rooks scored 17 of her team-high 31 points in the second half leading the Knights (23-4) over the Purple Roses (19-8) in a Non-Public South B semifinal match up. Kat Phipps scored 9 of her team-high 17 points in the second half for the Purple Roses.
IN BOYS BASKETBALL
Manasquan 77, Ewing 75: JR Hobbie scored 19 of his team-high 32 points in the first half leading the Warriors (23-3) over the Blue Devils (20-8) in a Group II semifinal game. Jimmy Walsh also scored 22 points and added 18 rebounds for the Warriors, and Tommy Toole had 17 points and dished out 12 assists.
Try Lowe scored 15 of his team-high 27 points in the first half for the Blue Devils.
IN ICE HOCKEY
RED BANK 3, INDIAN HILLS 2 (OT): Drue Amato entered Red Bank’s second round Public B meeting with No. 9 Indian Hills off a first round upset win over No. 8 Glen Rock in which the junior recorded a hat trick, and he continued his offensive onslaught on Wednesday night with a primary assist on Andrei Rjedkin’s first period tone-setting marker before putting the Bucs (11-10-1) up 2-0 in the second period with a goal of his own.
Indian Hills answered late with a pair of third period goals carrying the game into an overtime period cut short at 16 seconds when Red Bank’s senior captain and leading scorer Joe DelSordo forced a turnover and captalized, beating the goalie with a game-winning wrist shot.
Bucs net minder Austin Ostrander preserved the victory by stopping 21 of 23 shots faced, propelling No. 25 Red Bank into a quarterfinals meeting with top-seeded Ramsey on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Ice Vault Arena in Wayne.
