Girls hoops team has reasons for optimism
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

After coping with frustration over much of the season, the struggling Brick Township and Brick Memorial girls basketball teams found themselves at the end, and hope they carry over to better things next season when all but one player returns to the two teams.

With a rebuilding lineup from a 12-13 season a year earlier when Brick Township made the NJSIAA and Shore Conference tournaments, this season's team won most of its games over the final days to finish 6-14. Four starters return, although the other, Amy Nelson, relocated with her family to Connecticut.

She shared the team's offensive award at the team's banquet earlier this week with junior point guard Vicki DeTata, the top scorer with a 10.7 ppg average.

"I think they know this is a whole group of young kids who gained confidence," said coach Christy DeMarco.

Brick Memorial likewise finished with a flourish with a 6-20 season that marked its most victories in recent years, although all of them were outside Shore Conference A South. The Lady Mustangs won five of six games down the stretch.

"We finally got over the hump," said coach Rayna Petach.

Along with DeTata, Brick Township also has set to return junior guard Kaci Brannick and inside players Jana MCabe, the tallest starter at 5 feet 11 inches, and Victoria Finelli, who showed nice moves inside with her 5-10 frame and earned the team's Most Improved Award. Finelli jumped from playing on the freshman team the previous season to a starting spot on the varsity.

"She's not afraid to post up and is a top rebounder," said DeMarco. Lauren McElroy, a freshman, saw a lot of time as a solid 5-9 forward.

"A lot of teams in the conference [Shore Conference A South] are losing their best players," said DeMarco. "Foot speed is the most important thing. We have to get quicker and we have to play defense stronger. But I'm excited for the girls coming back."

That includes juniors Kim Harder, who played good minutes at times, guard Michele Colantoni and sophomore guard Genna Wrobleski, who "impressed" DeMarco when she earned a move up from junior varsity.

"I hope other guards step up and fill the shoes of Amy Nelson," said DeMarco.

Many of those players were on the junior varsity that finished around .500.

Brick Township will not compete in the WOBM Classic over the Christmas holidays next season as in the past and is looking for another tournament. But out-of-conference opponents Freehold Township, Wall, Central and Long Branch are back on the schedule as the second part of a home-and-home game contract commitment.

"I'm happy with how the season ended but disappointed we did not get a conference win," said Brick Memorial's Petach. "This season is a preparation for the next one. We have young players in one of the hardest conferences in the Shore. With the players we have coming back, we have more chances to become like a team."

No one graduates as Petach is especially proud of an 85-65 victory over Point Pleasant Borough that set a school record for points scored for the second time this season as Annie McCarthy, Courtney Kroeze and Jess Ball played well. Ball scored 31 in a victory over Pinelands in which the team again hit the 80-point mark.

"Ball is just a great overall player and I expect big things from her next season," said Petach. "I see her as a 1,000-point scorer as our go-to player."

Two other freshman forwards - Stephanie Fish and Bethany Butka - also did very well, but Petach said that at times they were "taken aback by the competitiveness of varsity basketball.

"McCarthy was the team's top defensive player and also showed good leadership," said Petach. Kroeze likewise showed resolve, and Sam Mannen's strength makes her a "force to be reckoned with when she boxes out and she needs to work on that."

In contrast, lanky sophomore guard Catherine LaMastra at times was muscled around and slumped in midseason before bouncing back to have some scoring games in the midteens.

"Those girls did a good job," said Petach. "If not for their leadership and willingness to do what was needed, we would not do well."

It made Petach realize toward the end of the season when the team caught fire that she needed to tighten her rotation from 15 to eight players.

She moved Lauren Pickowicz into the starting lineup and the 5-9 junior forward responded well.

Petach also is looking to junior varsity player Kristen Brown, who "can be a factor at the guard position."

Both teams will participate in spring leagues starting next week, with Brick Memorial playing in the Brick Recreation Spring League. The Lady Mustangs also will participate in the University of Maryland position camp in late June.

Off the court, Brick Memorial players again will participate in the Relay for Life cancer benefit in early June at Brick Township as they did last year, which helped foster team unity.