Colts Neck, Freehold girls are top seeds in CJ
Cougars, Colonials point toward success in state tournament
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
ColtsNeck and Freehold Borough high schools are theNo. 1 seeds in their respective girls basketball state sectional groups. The NJSIAA state tournament will tip off next week with Coach John Truhan's Cougars seeded No. 1 in Central Jersey Group IV and Coach Jen Brzucki's Colonials seeded No. 1 in Central Jersey Group III.

Both teams won Shore Conference division titles and holiday tournament crowns this winter.

The Cougars (22-1) have been playing on a higher level all year thanks to a suffocating defense that is a tribute to the team's tenaciousness and depth. Truhan always has fresh legs on the court to get after the opposition.

Offensively, the team revolves around sophomore point guard Brooke Hampton and her passing and scoring, and the longrange shooting of LaurenClarke and Tiffany DiTulio. BrittanyHowes has been providing an inside presence scoring and rebounding.

Colts Neck's lone loss was to Howell, which shared the A North Division title with the Cougars. Coach Bill Gallacher's Rebels have managed to fly under the radar this year despite their victory over Colts Neck and the Bayshore Tournament title.

The Rebels have been getting after people on defense with Denise Crudup the key. She has been able to corral the opposition's leading scorer.Margaux Pickell can give the team a double-double in the paint.

Experience has been Howell's biggest edge. Leading scorer Michelle Blum and Crudup are three-year starters. Howell is 19-2 and has only lost one game since opening night and that was at Colts Neck.

The top-seeded Cougars drew a firstround bye and will begin play on Feb. 27 against the winner of Monday's No. 8 Freehold Township vs. No. 9 East Brunswick tilt.

Coach John Sciarappa's Patriots (15-9) are more athletic than in recent years and can call players off the bench. Four-year starting point guardAdj Tepedino triggers the offense with Christina Barthel, Stephanie Cardamone and Kayla Borden among the scoring threats.

Howell is the No. 3 seed and, like Colts Neck, received a first-round bye. The Rebels will play on Feb. 27 against the winner of the No. 6 Hamilton East vs. No. 11 Jackson Memorial game.

The Group IV semifinals will be Feb. 29 and the sectional final will be March 4.

Traditional power and defending sectional champion Trenton Central, seeded No. 2, looms as the team that could prevent a Colts Neck-Howell final. The Tornadoes are most likely the team to beat in the section.

In Central Jersey Group III, the Colonials would like to bounce back from their early tournament exit in 2007. As the top seed this year, they drew a bye and will start play on Feb. 28 against No. 8 Willingboro or No. 9WestWindsor-Plainsboro North. Willingboro eliminated Freehold last year and payback would be sweet.

The sectional semifinals will be March 1 and the sectional final will be March 3.

Freehold (19-3) has been a complete team this year with Shannon Mayrose and Sehmonyeh Allen, two very dangerous scorers who can score inside, outside and in transition. Alexandra Eagle runs the show as the point guard. Ashley Lewis, Jackie Sacalgione and Allen can score from the arc, and Quasonna Moore has added an inside game. This team also prides itself in playing defense.

Central Jersey Group III has a distinct Shore Conference flavor with Point Pleasant Borough, Neptune and Middletown South the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. The Colonials beat Neptune twice in the regular season enroute to the Shore Conference B North Division title.

Boys squads set for action

Freehold Township and Colts Neck are the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds in boys Central Jersey Group IV. Both teams earned a bye into the quarterfinals on Feb. 27.

Freehold Township, which won its fifth straight ANorth title, opens at home with No. 6 West Windsor South.

Coach Brian Golub's Patriots have had a different hero each night. Matt Devine has been the team's most consistent scorer, but seniors Corey Cskai and Chris Ballester have been clutch for the young Patriots.

Freehold Township's strength, though, is its balance. Any number of players can lead the team in scoring on a given night.

Coach Lou Piccola's Colts Neck five will host No. 5 Sayreville on Feb. 25. The Cougars sport the Shore Conference's top scorer in Stephen Spinella (23 ppg) and one of the top point guards in Mitchell Kates.

Trenton Central is the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group IV and Rancocas Valley is the No. 2. The semifinals will be Feb. 29 and the final will be March 3.

Ayoung Freehold team may have been ahead of schedule this winter in qualifying for the state tournament. Coach Ben DiBiase's Colonials only have one senior in the rotation. The Colonials (14-9) own a victory over Neptune, theNo. 1 teamin the Shore Conference. Sophomore Christian Garcia has been the best all-around player, with support from Brandon Brown, Gerry Plescia, Andrew Gerbehy and Brandon Carter.As the No. 8 seed in Central Jersey Group III, the Colonials will open at home against No. 9 Hopewell Valley on Feb. 26. If the Colonials win, they will play at No. 1 seed Middletown South on Feb. 28.