LAKEWOOD Four years ago, Sacred Heart High School girls basketball coach Steve DiPatri had to wonder how he was going to replace four-year starter and 1,900-point scorer Adrienne Rochetti at point guard.

DiPatri must now find a way to supplant Quinton resident Lauren Howell, whose fabulous four-year career at the point came to an anti-climatic end on Thursday night when the Lions fell to defending champion Trenton Catholic, 74-54, in the NJSIAA South Non-Public B title game at Lakewood.

Howell led Sacred Heart to four consecutive Cape-Atlantic League National Division II championships, a sectional crown and a Non-Public B state title in 2005.

"I can't say enough about her," said DiPatri. "She was a four-year starter at the point and coaches love their point guards. It was one heck of a ride we had with her. You don't replace a kid like Lauren. You just hope to get another player out there that can run your (offense)."

The 5-foot-8 Howell finished with over 1,300 career points and as the school's all-time leader in 3-pointers made. She averaged nearly 13 points, five assists and four steals per game this year as the Lions went 24-5 overall.

"She brought so much, her goofiness, her (outside) shot and her confidence," said the team's leading scorer Ashley Durham, a sophomore. "She kept us calm and controlled the team. That's what a senior is supposed to do and she definitely did that. It's going to be hard losing her."

"They saw me play at AAU last summer and I guess they liked what they saw," said Howell. "They asked me to come for a visit and I fell in love with the school. Everything was great. I loved the coaches and I decided that's where I wanted to go. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones to (get a scholarship). It's definitely a relief."

"Lauren is capable of playing multiple guard positions and has solid ball-handling skills," said Mount St. Mary's coach Vanessa Blair on the team's website. "She has a great IQ for the game and can also shoot well from the outside."

Howell's high school career came to an end on Thursday after much-taller and extremely-talented Trenton Catholic (26-2) broke a halftime tie with a 21-2 third-quarter run.

"We hung as long as we could I guess," said DiPatri. "We just couldn't put the ball in the basket in the third quarter. We only scored two points. That's not indicative of our team."

With 38.5 seconds remaining, Howell came out of the game to a standing ovation from Sacred Heart's student section and a huge hug from DiPatri.

"I'm glad we made the South Jersey finals," said Howell. "It was a great opportunity to come here and play. We just came out a little slow in the third quarter. Nothing was really working for us and they were hitting all their shots."

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