Colonials making strides on hardwood
Freehold Borough boys have qualified for postseason play
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Freehold Borough High School's prospects for a winning season did not look all that bright back in December. The Colonials were coming off a 6-17 season and relying on underclassmen to turn things around. Coach Ben DiBiase had just one senior in the rotation. But he knew something no one else knew: the amount of work his players had put into becoming better.

"We put a tremendous emphasis on the weight room in the fall, and during the summer they played a lot of basketball," he pointed out. "We've gotten a lot more physical, which is important in B North."

TheColonials (10-6) opened the season by stunning the ShoreConference'sNo. 1 team, Neptune, on Brandon Brown's three-pointer at the buzzer. The win was no illusion. The Colonials would go from there to fulfill their three goals for the season: contend in the division, and qualify for the state tournament and the Shore Conference Tournament.

"We are certainly going in the right direction for a young team," said DiBiase. "It's a step in the right direction, qualifying to the SCT and the states.

"We've met all three goals, but we can't be satisfied," he added.

The Colonials would lose the rematch with the Scarlet Fliers inNeptune butwould keep pace with them until Jan. 28, when they were beaten in Tinton Falls by Monmouth Regional, 63-52. The loss all but ended their shot at sharing the championshipwithNeptune. But, asDiBiase noted, the teamstill had a lot to play for in 2008.

Sophomore forward Christian Garcia is an example of how far. He played limited minutes last year, yet, at 6-2, he's put in as much work as anyone in the offseason and has blossomed into a budding star. He had 24 points and 15 rebounds in the loss to Monmouth Regional. He's averaging 14 points and eight rebounds a game on the season.

"Christian primarily gets his points inside," said DiBiase. "He scores a lot off put-backs. He has a good nose for the ball.

Brandon Carter is the lone senior and provides the required veteran experience.

"He's the team captain, and the kids respect him," said DiBiase. "He needs to lead on the floor with his attitude."

Carter is the last link to the Colonials' most recent championship team and he brings that experience to the team.

Brown, who hit the game-winner against the Scarlet Fliers, is one of the team's best defenders. He and Gerry Plescia will defend the opposition's best guard. Brown, one of the most electrifying playmakers on the football field, brings that same capability to the hardwood. He is a three-point threat and nearly impossible to guard in the open floor with his speed.

Plescia is the point guard responsible for distributing the ball.

Both Brown and Plescia are juniors, as is Andrew Gerbehy, who is as good an allaround player as the team has.

"He has good awareness on the court," noted DiBiase.

Gerbehy leads the teamin assists (four a game) as well as three-pointersmade (14).

Lance McKenzie is another sophomore with a bright future. He plays both point guard and two guard.

The bench has been important. Will Howarth, a junior, brings offense, especially the three-point shot. Isaiah Ingram and Mike Wang, also juniors, can spell Garcia and Carter if they need rest or get into foul trouble.

Freehold Borough's offense has been a collective effort. After Garcia's 14 points per game, the team has no one else in double figures. Everyone else is averaging between six and eight points and capable on any night of scoring in double figures.

The Colonials are an inside-outside team looking to soften teams up by scoring in the paint, which creates space for its outside shooter.

One thing the team has to work on is playing better on the road. That is where their youth has been most exposed.

"We're still inexperience in difficult games on the road," DiBiase said, pointing out that three of the team's five losses have been on the road and by double-figures.

Still, the Colonials are headed in the right direction, and DiBiase knows that gaining postseason tournament experience this winter is a big plus.

Play in the SCT begins Feb. 13. Freehold Township and Colts Neck are the other Freehold Regional High School District teams who have qualified for the SCT and the state tourney.

Freehold Township is the defending SCT champion.