20-02-2025
Shore Conference Boys Basketball Tourney: CBA tops Rumson, reaches first final in 9 years
The program that spent three decades as the dominant player on the Shore Conference boys basketball stage is a win away from rising to the top once again.
Christian Brothers Academy, which won 16 Shore Conference Tournament championships between 1984 and 2010, looks to end a 15-year drought in Friday's final. The Colts punched their ticket to their first appearance in the title game in nine years with a 46-34 victory over Rumson-Fair Haven Wednesday at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena.
In winning their 14th straight, the Colts got 10 points from junior guard Charlie Marcoullier, while junior Gavin Marlin added nine points.
CBA (19-3) advances to its first SCT final since losing to Mater Dei Prep in 2016, and will face the winner of the semifinal between No. 1 Manasquan and No. 4 St. Rose at OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch at 8 p.m. The girls final is at 6 p.m.
Rumson (17-7) got 12 points from junior Luke Cruz.
As the second half got underway, the Bulldogs' defensive pressure began to pay big dividends in the third quarter, pulling to within 20-18.
But CBA rallied, with Kevin Pikiell scoring on a drive and Justin Fuerbacher sinking a tough baseline fadeaway. Then Fuerbacher scored on a dunk in transition after the Colts beat the press, before a Gavin Marlin 3-pointer with two seconds left gave CBA a 29-19 lead after three quarters.
Rumson refused to go quietly, getting a 3-point play from David Carr to trim the deficit to 31-24. David Buley hit a pair of free throws for CBA as the Colts took the air out of the ball, making it a nine-point lead.
After a pair of Cruz free throws made it a five-point game, a pair of free throws by Marcoullier and a score inside by Conor Andree with less than two minutes left all but sealed the win.
The opening half was a tough one shooting-wise for both teams, with CBA building a 17-12 halftime lead on the strength of a pair of Marcoullier 3-points, while a score inside by David Buley gave them a seven-point lead with two minutes left in the second quarter.
This is a breaking news story, so check back shortly for more on CBA's win over Rumson-Fair Haven.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore Conference Boys Basketball Tourney: CBA tops Rumson in semis
