Shabazz Beats Point Boro Girls 100-64

Shabazz High School beat the Point Borough girls varsity basketball 100-64 in the  NJSIAA tournament today.

Shabazz clinched the State Group 2 title -- its fifth consecutive championship -- at Toms River North High School. 

Initially, Boro was leading, but Shabazz's strong defense and top scorers whittled down the lead and then flew past it.

With 3:30 remaining in the second quarter, and the Boro down only 34-32, Shabazz went on an 18-1 run to break the game open and claim a 50-33 lead at the intermission.

Lightning-quick senior point guard Aliyyah Handford of Shabazz was instrumental in the burst, driving hard to the rim and finishing or dropping off passes to forwards Zaire O'Neil and DeAisha Jones for easy baskets. 

Boro came out and scored the first five points of the second half to cut its deficit to 12 points, 50-38, but could get no closer.

Handford turned in a sterling performance for the Bulldogs (30-1), recording 33 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds and six steals. O'Neil and Jones added 23 and 20 points, respectively, and used their superior size to control the boards for Shabazz.

Boro's Kelly Hughes, Kerry Malleck, Lauren Hughes and Lindsey Havens were among that squad's scorers.