Colonials, Cougars, Rebels teams to watch
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Alook back at the 2007 All-Freehold Regional District girls basketball team will tell you all you need to know about the promise that this season holds.

Of the 11 players named top the First and Second teams, nine of them are back.

Freehold Borough was 20-5 last winter and won the Jack Kuhnert Memorial Tournament. The Colonials return four of their five starters, including forward Shannon Mayrose and guard Sehmonyeh Allen, along with point guard Alexandra Eagle.

Mayrose, the Kuhnert MVP, averaged 16.6 points and 8.1 rebounds a contest and benefited from coach Jen Brzucki's up-tempo running game.

Allen was able to step in as a freshman and have an impact on a veteran team. The forward averaged 12.3 points game and knocked down 36 3-pointers.

Ashley Lewis, the fourth returning starter, is a long-range shooter.

Quasonna Moore, a sub last year, completes the starting five. She is a good rebounder and provides an inside game to complement the team's outside shooting.

Having become one of the Shore's best teams by running up and down the floor, Brzucki is not going to mess with something that works.

"We're going to keep the running game going," she said. "We're very fast."

The team opened the season Friday night with a 60-53 win over Neptune in a game that went down to the final minute, only this time it was Freehold that made the plays.

Leading 53-51 with just over a minute to play, Allen stuck the dagger in nailing a three from the corner. Moore sank two clutch free throws to make it 58-51 and the Colonials were on their way to an opening game victory at home.

"It was nice to pull one out like that," said Brzucki. "It was a great feeling."

Colts Neck had a trio of impact freshmen last year led by Brooke Hampton, Lauren Clarke and Tiffany DeTulio, who hardly looked like freshmen. They led the Cougars to the second best record in school history, 19-7.

What coach John Truhan is impressed with the most is that his players are never satisfied. They're always looking to get better.

"I'm proud of their work ethic," he pointed out. "This team has moved it up [from last year]."

Hampton began what could be one of the great careers in District history, averaging 18 points a game. She was fearless driving to the basket and has great shooting range. Clarke was right there with her, averaging 13.4 points per game.

The Cougars have height this year, which will make them tougher to play. Brittany Howes and Emily Laurence, are 6-foot-2 and 6-foot-1.

The Cougars opened the season with an impressive 57-20 win over a good Marlboro five.

Hampton, playing with a facemask to protect a broken nose, was hardly impeded by it. She scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half as the Cougars raced out to an 18- 2 lead in the first quarter.

Clarke led the way with 18. Howes had a big game rebounding and blocking shots. The team's overall defense was suffocating.

Despite the presence of scorers like Hampton and Clarke, the Cougars get everyone involved on the floor.

"This is a very close group," noted Truhan. "They are very unselfish to a fault."

Howell surprised many last winter by reloading rather than rebuilding. Michelle Blum and Denise Crudup, seniors now, led the Rebels to a 17-12 record the year following the graduation of the bulk of its starters. The team got hot in March and advanced to the Central Jersey Group IV title game, falling to eventual state champion Trenton Central.

Blum became one of the area's best players, averaging 11.1 points and 7.1 rebounds a game. Point guard Crudup was the field general distributing the ball and getting everyone involved in the offense.

Center Marquax Pickell could be a big key for the Rebels if she can become a consistent double-double scorer and rebounder.

Norelle Abernathy, Sarah Olsen and Shea Klusewicz are the newcomers providing depth and flexibility to the team, which with Colts Neck should be battling with defending champion Middletown South for top honors in A North.

This could be a breakout year for Brian Nash's Marlboro team. The Mustangs were young last year and should see the benefits of that experience this time around.

Megan Reilly, now a junior, has been established as one of the Shore's best post-up players. She averaged 14.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. She showed her all court game by averaging 3.3 assists a game.

Seniors Nicki Pigliacelli and Amanda LeFante round out the starting five. Another senior, Chiara Sturgill, gives the team a second post presence in the paint.

Freshman guard Niki Popyer will be getting minutes this year.

The rally cry is to qualify at Freehold Township. John Sciarappa's Patriots finished the season surging in February, but, at 12-14, just missed qualifying for the state playoffs, their stated goal this time around.

The veteran Sciarappa (351 career wins) likes what he has in 2007-08. He has his starting five back and a lot of depth to go with them.

"I'm excited," he said. "We can play the type of ball I like to play. We have a lot of athletes."

Adj Tepedino, who could end up starting more games than any Patriot guard save Missy Ellsbree, is the point guard and she brings four years experience to the table. She runs the show distributing the ball and calling the plays. She will be a little more offensive minded this year.

Guards Erin Cordiner and Lindsie Sai bring the outside threat. Look for the 3- pointer to appear in the playbook again for the Pats.

Kayla Borden was the team's most improved player last year (9.2). The 5-11 forward is a presence inside where she gets help from Alexis Stenftennagel.

By having as many interchangeable players as he has, Sciarappa will be able to up the tempo this year and press.

The Pats opened the season positively with a 60-28 win over Manalapan. The 60 points were proof that the scoring the Pats had displayed in preseason scrimmages was for real. Barthel had 12 and Stenftennagel added 11.

At Manalapan, Scott Horton has a player to build his team around in Amanda McBride. She made an impact as a freshman last year and has only gotten better. She is part of a big sophomore class that is the core of this year's club.

Nicole Bruno, Alyssa Cruz, Deanna Daluise, Kylie Murphy and Kristy Rubino complete the big sophomore class.

Seniors Nicole Gurrieri and Jessica Francisco will provide the experience and leadership.

Junior Maggie Dulovitz is a returning varsity player and the newcomer is freshman Kristy Rubino.