Manasquan coach Lisa Kukoda has kept an eye on Caldwell throughout this season knowing that there was always a possibility that two of the very best teams in Group 2 could eventually meet at Jersey Mike’s Arena.
“We’ve followed them a bit all year, setting sights on the possibility for this game to eventually happen,” said the Shore Conference power’s 14th-year head coach. “We know that they are a super-talented team that plays at a fast pace and is strong defensively.
“We expect a good battle and I know that our girls are excited about getting back to Rutgers for a state final!”
Two-time defending state champion Manasquan (25-5), which has captured three of the past four Group 2 state titles, meets the Chiefs (27-2) at 4 p.m. Saturday inside the Jersey Mike’s Arena on the Rutgers campus in Piscataway.
The No. 7 ranked Warriors needed a fourth quarter comeback to edge South Jersey champion Cinnaminson, 36-33, in Tuesday night’s group semifinals, while No. 16 Caldwell was rolling past Glen Rock, 68-43, in their semifinal contest.
Caldwell, which has roared past all five of its state tournament opponents by an average of 31 points - with the closest contest being a 23-point margin of victory (67-44) vs. Voorhees in the North 2, Group 2 state sectional semifinals - will be making its first appearance in a group state final since 1996 when current head coach Amanda Keenan was a senior point guard for the Chiefs who lost to Point Pleasant Boro in the championship game played that year at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth.
While Caldwell is making its first-ever appearance in the fairly spacious Rutgers arena, Manasquan as a program is very familiar with the NJSIAA state finals site, defeating Madison there, 47-34, in last year’s Group 2 final in addition to besting the Dodgers, 47-26, in the 2024 title tilt and Jefferson, 65-36, in 2022.
“There is definitely an adjustment to be made in playing on a college-size court, including with depth perception,” continued Kukoda. “It’s hard to simulate so you just have to do your best in trying to make sure that your team is mentally prepared to play in a state championship game.”
For Caldwell, despite entering new territory on Saturday in terms of its first-ever game on the spacious Rutgers hoops setting, there will be the same approach in terms of preparation that has taken place for each game since the season started back in mid-December.
“While we fully realize that the court size is different, our mindset is to prepare the way we always do,” said Keenan. “We’re facing an experienced tournament team and we’re certainly excited by this opportunity.
“We’re going to look to play our game while also enjoying the entire experience of playing in a state championship game in a great setting at Rutgers.
“We’ve had tremendous support from our fans all season and we know they’ll be out for us once again on Saturday!”
While Manasquan as a basketball program is well accustomed to playing in Jersey Mike’s Arena, it’s not as if the cast of characters is the same each season. In fact, the Warriors have routinely had to replace multiple members of their starting lineup the past few seasons, including replacing four starters from last year’s state championship team.
