But so what?
As it has so many times, RV found another gear in the fourth quarter. The Red Devils were causing turnovers at will. And they were 8 of 9 from the line in the final period of a 46-43 win at Kingsway.
"Playing in these games, against these great teams, so many times, you know it's always going to come down to the fourth quarter and it's always going to come down to foul shots," said Natalya Lee, who was named tournament MVP for the second year in a row as RV, ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, won its second straight SJIBT. "So that actually helps take the pressure off a little bit. We always feel like we know what to expect and we're ready for these types of situations."
Lee was named MVP after scoring just two points against No. 2 Willingboro (19-4). But it's never been about big numbers for RV (20-2). It's the timely steals that Lee, a senior guard, came up with. It's her ability to grab tough rebounds in the final minutes of close games.
"We showed a lot of character today," RV coach Anthony Corrado said. "This game was a war; there was a big crowd. But the girls got stops when they needed to. They made their foul shots down the stretch. That was the difference."
"We're resilient, we don't give up, we don't put our heads down."
A 6-0 run to end the third quarter allowed RV to enter the final period ahead by 34-33.
By that point, Willingboro was saddled by foul trouble and showing the effects of nagging injuries.
The Chimeras were without starting point guard Nola Henry, who sat with an ankle injury that could keep her out until the playoffs. And though she gutted it out through an entire game, guard Kara Cezar (13 points) was visibly slowed by a lower-back injury she suffered in Friday's win over Holy Cross.
