Local hoops teams start season with mixed results

Familiarity is the key to success for Brick Memorial's girls basketball team, said senior guard Kathryn Lamastra, who poured in 24 points in a 46-36 season-opening victory over Toms River South in Shore Conference A South action recently.

"Most of the girls have been together since we were 6, so we are all close and know exactly what will be done next and what we can get out of each other," said Lamastra, who said she came into the preseason practices "a little stronger" than in the past. "Although we lost seven seniors, we have a core group of players coming back. Most of us played together, so we know what to expect. We're confident we'll have a good season."

"It was hard for her to break out with Annie [McCarthy], Courtney [Kroeze] and Alyssa [Keating, all graduated], but now she has more freedom and she'll be able to do more this year," said Brick Memorial coach Reyna Post.

"I try to be dangerous anywhere on the court," said Lamastra.

But Lamastra also got scoring support from the teamwork she spoke about as she, Stephanie Fish and Jessica Ball hit double figures in a 47-39 victory over No. 3 seed Hunterdon Central in the Brick Memorial Christmas Tournament. Fish sank 13 points and Ball and Lamastra each added 10. The team came back last Sunday against Neptune, shooting for a spot in the Tuesday finals. Lamastra also made seven steals in what Post called a "huge defensive game" by her team that held Hunterdon Central to two points in the third quarter. Post said it is the team's first 2-0 start in her four seasons.

The team actually has won eight straight, spanning last season when it finished 12-12 and made the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time.

"The key is we have to talk on defense," said Lamastra. "We just have to leave it all on the court. I see us getting better each game."

Brick Township, meanwhile, dropped its first two games under new head coach Kristi McCullough, struggling through slow starts in losses to Toms River North, 49-44, and Neptune, 61-47, in the Brick Memorial Christmas Tournament. Victoria Finelli and Lauren McElroy scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, against Toms River North, and Vicky DeTata fired in 14 points against Neptune while McElroy and Schaniece Hardy put in 10 and nine points, respectively.

"We need to play a solid four quarters. Right now we're really playing two," said McCullough, who was an assistant under Kristy McGovern for four years before getting the head coaching position when Mc- Govern resigned after last season. "We need to come out strong."

But McGovern commended her team for coming back from a 16-point deficit in the first half against Toms River North and a 31-point gap in the first half against Neptune.

"They don't give up," said McCullough. "They could've rolled over and not played well in these two games."

McCullough hopes that attitude leads to her first victory soon.

While new Brick Township head coach Kevin Gardner came up short in his first two games, 80-62 to Toms River North and 70-47 to St. Rose in the WOBM Christmas Classic, with Nick Devereux scoring 31 points in the two games, Brick Memorial got off to a 2-0 start.

The Mustangs rallied behind Matt O'Brien's hot hand in opening the season with a 58-49 victory over Toms River South and a 56-41 triumph over Wall in the WOBM Classic. O'Brien sank 31 in the two games while transfer Steve Zrowka and Christian Lagnese each drilled in 10 points against Toms River South and Jose Ramos dropped in 13 against Wall.

"So far so good," said Brick Memorial coach Ed Sarluca. "Steve Zrowka came through early in the first couple of games. We got strong bench play from Matt Heard and Kyle Cherrick."

Brick Memorial played Lacey in the next round of the WOBM Classic last Saturday.

We've had a very good team effort, and I like the way we are playing defense; that will keep us in a lot of games. And I like the way we pass the ball," said Sarluca. "We did a nice job of moving the ball for good open shots and not forcing that."