Monroe celebrates with the GMC Tournament’s Somogyi Family Pod trophy after a 46-40 win over St. Thomas Aquinas in North Edison, on Friday, March 5, 2021.
There it was, hanging out there: one loss, to the two-time defending GMC Tournament Champions.
Aquinas also beat them in last year’s GMCT final.
Oh, and don’t forget that the Monroe girls’ basketball team, which prides itself on its defense, gave up the most points it had all season in that game, in a 49-41 loss.
Don’t worry, they didn’t forget it either.
While third-seeded Monroe didn’t ever have a lead in the first half, they used a 12-1 early second-half run and a 23-7 third quarter to power past and hold off second-seed St. Thomas Aquinas, 46-40, as heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, powered by Bellamy & Son Paving. The win gave the Falcons (13-1) the Somogyi Family Pod Trophy, given to the winner of the GMC’s top four-team girls’ pod.
St. Thomas Aquinas (9-8) had the game’s leading scorer in 5-4 freshman Amarilis Shubick. She’s the second-leading scorer on the team, but was the only Trojan in double-figures, scoring 16, nearly six over her average. Shubick had four treys, including two in the second half that helped Aquinas’ effort to get back into it.
Senior co-captain Akyia Baker was held to just seven points, all in the second half.
For Monroe, senior forward Rosie Regan led the way with 14 points, eight of which came after intermission.
Click below to hear postgame comments from Monroe head coach Leigh Vogtman and senior forward Rosie Regan:
Rosie Regan for GMC player of the year. No one leads a TEAM effort like her. 20 and 14 in two playoff games, and Monroe is GMC champion.