Sports Shorts

Brick Memorial's tennis team battled hard before it was eliminated from the state tournament with a 4-1 opening-round loss at Steinert, its fourth-straight trip to that showcase.

"We were playing a senior, veteran team and I thought our kids competed well and I liked how our doubles played and they continue to improve," said coach Ron Gerlufsen. "Colin [Przybylowski in first singles] was playing a guy who was No. 1 in Mercer County and had some really close games. If you could have a positive loss, this was and I think it helped the kids for next year."

Przybylowski (12-6) heads to Bey Lea Park in Toms River for the Ocean County Singles Tournament, where he finished fifth last season. Nick Cittadino (13-5) lost in second singles. All three players are juniors. The Mustangs clinched a fourth straight winning season last week at 11-7 with two matches left going into this week with victories over Jackson, 4-1, on Monday and 5-0 over Henry Hudson on Wednesday before Friday's loss. The Mustangs played Colts Neck on Tuesday and close the regular season today at home against Pinelands.

Brick Memorial's golf team finished ninth out of 12 qualifiers in the Shore Conference Tournament at Howell, as Mike Dickinson and Sean Daly finished tied for 13th place with rounds of 83. Dave Thibaut followed with an 84 on the par-72 course.

"It's not bad. I can't complain. I feel happy we qualified," said coach Rick Hanchen. In fact, Handchen said Daly would have finished even better but he struggled at the end. Dickinson was consistent, says Handchen, who also was pleased about Thibaut "who has been up and down. You don't know what to expect."

And with a late season surge of four consecutive victories, Brick Memorial at 7-7 was going for a second straight winning season on Tuesday when it concluded its schedule at home against Toms River South.