Lady Mustangs fare well at North Carolina camp

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Brick Memorial's girls basketball players are gearing up for an improved season this winter after a hectic and productive off-season schedule.

Rayna Petach, who just completed her first season as head coach, took a dozen players from her team to the Sylvia Hatchell Team Camp at the University of North Carolina, where it won seven of nine games against teams from North Carolina, Florida and Ohio, and was named the Best Offensive Team in its division. It was a welcome improvement from last season when the Mustangs had trouble scoring points at times.

"We were highly commended with our boxing out and working as a team," said Petach. "They never backed down against these teams and saw they could do things. They saw they could win and have confidence in themselves, especially with what they accomplished at the camp."

A dozen junior varsity players also went to the North Carolina camp and did well, winning four of nine games.

The varsity team, which also is competing well in the Freehold Township Summer League, playing two games a week, went through fundraising for the North Carolina trip, with much money gathered up from concession stand sales at games. Players also are in a structured weight-lifting program over the summer to prepare for the season.

Players who went to camp included Annie McCarthy, Kathryn Lamastra, Carly Egbert, Sam Mammen, Dawn Lenneper, Megan Bransky, Savannah DeFelice, Courtney Kroeze, Michelle Esten, Nikki Nelson, Lauren Pickowitz and Lauren Hasselhofer. McCarthy also is training with the soccer team to prepare for the fall season and defense of its Shore Conference championship as one of the team's top returning players.

Many players are also helping with the Lady Mustangs Girls Basketball Camp for girls in grades 1-8, which began on Monday and runs through Friday. The camp takes place at Brick Memorial from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Petach will be assisted by Maria Sarluca, Laura Rounds and Crystal Petracorro from her staff. They provide individual attention, skills stations, shooting techniques and 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 games.