Girls win nail biter against Monmouth

The Middletown South girl's team held off a late push by Tia Curtis and the Monmouth Regional Falcons to win 59-55.

After South led 26-19 at the half, the Eagles came out flying in the third quarter, extending the lead to 42-31 headed into the final period.

But Monmouth would not go down without a fight. In the fourth, South led by as much as 12, but Monmouth fought back to bring that within 4 points with a minute and thirty seconds left on the game clock. At the one minute mark, South held a slim lead of 53-51. Monmouth took the ball down the scored again, which tied the game with 40 seconds left in regulation.

Brittany Hoffman took the ball down the court and dribbled her way through the Falcon defenders. She scored on a layup and was fouled. She missed the foul shot, but Danielle Pankey was there to get the rebound and lay it in for two, which brought the game to the final of 59-55.

Pankey was the leading scorer for the Eagles, with 17. Shealyn Taggart scored 13 and teammate Courtney Herring chipped in 10.

Tia Curtis had a game-high 21 points for Monmouth in the loss. Brittany Powell netted 15 and Caitlin Shaw scored 11 for the Falcons.

The Eagles secured the 5th seed and will play the 12th ranked team, Holmdel, at home next Tuesday the 27th. Monmouth has a bye in the first round after earning the 4th seed in the Central Group 3 Bracket.