Brick girls hoops team confident as season nears

Brick Township’s girls basketball team, under new coach Christina DeMarco, is determined to end the dryspell for qualifying for the NJSIAA Tournament.

“That’s one of my goals,” said DeMarco. “We were really competitive in the summer league. It’s been a long time since they made the states, but I told them not to be discouraged and they’ve responded great.”

DeMarco feels she has a strong nucleus to build the team around after it lost graduate Kathy DeTata, one of the top scorers in the Shore the last two years when the Green Dragons finished just under .500 both times. DeTata is on a scholarship package for soccer at Seton Hall University.

Her sister, Alessandra, will look to pick up the slack as a 5-foot-8-inch swing player, while senior Joanne McCabe and junior Michele Harder are experienced guards. Aimee Harmon, a 5-10 senior, can play forward or center.

“I’m really excited,” said DeMarco. “We’ll run a motion offense based on what they did last year. We’ll use different defenses and bring on pressure.”

DeMarco said she still is sorting through good numbers at tryouts to set her varsity and junior varsity rosters. Kristen McCullough is the assistant coach and Bobby Acosta will coach the jayvees.