A new year starts today. Everyone is undefeated and it’s a fresh start for everyone in some many way. But as we close 2023 that start of the season has been full of surprises. So today I will take a look at the first Month of the season.
WHAT TEAMS HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST SURPRISES?
There is no doubt anyone saw what was coming out of WALL. They made it to the WOBM finals and knocked off State Top 20 RFH. Shayne Eldridge has been sensational in leading her team to such a wonderful start this season
RFH Coach Dave Callahan has done it again. Despite playing another rough and tumble schedule. He has his team most again in the Top 20. Erin Reid is quietly becoming a star.
What more can you say about Lisa Kukoda and her MANASQUAN team. They have far exceeded all expectations. They clearly are doing things no one expected this season. Olivia Shaughnessy has stepped up her game and Katie Collins looks like a POY candidate. The MVP is Coach Kukoda herself .
WHO ARE THE LEADING CANDIDATES FOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR
NINA EMNACE has put Trinity Hall in her back. While Trinity has played the most demanding opening 7 games maybe in recent history. She has seen every defense known to man and still has found a way to get her numbers while still being the best defensive player in the state
KATIE COLLINS has been a force for Manasquan in every area of the game. She has been a dominant scorer, rebounder, shot blocker and passer. She has been the total package
STELLA LOCKHART of SJV we knew was going to be good. But who could’ve have predicted this the first month. Stellar Lockhart has done it all and she has done it against some of the very best. Coach Karpell has turned her loose on the state and she is responding like a mega star.
ADDY NYEMCHECK of RBC is simply Miss consistent. She continues to be the Larry Bird of girls basketball. This year she has even surpassed expectations for even herself. That’s because she has delivered all season. She scores, passes, rebounds, blocks shots and plays hard every night.
WHAT FRESHMAN ARE LOOKING LIKE PRIME TIME PLAYERS.
CALI BROWN of Jackson Memorial has been better than advertised. She is averaging 15 points a game. But it her defense and confidence that is so shocking. She is the club house leader for FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
ASHLEY KREIGER of WALL has shown flashes of true greatness. She is averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds. She had a 18 rebound game this season. She clearly has a chance to be a mega star before the season ends
KAELYN GIBSON of MIDDLETOWN NORTH has been given the keys to the car. Right now it looks like a wise move. The baby is averaging 7 points a game with 3 dimes and steals a night. Gibson while was expected to have an impact. Nobody expected it to be this big so early.
WHAT PLAYERS HAVE STEPPED UP THERE GAMES
CHRISTINA LIGGIO of RBC has a case that it is she that has been their Most Valuable Player. She won MVP in the Delaware Christmas Tournament and has been lights out to this point this season. Her improvement while impressive was suspected due to her work ethic and commitment
MACKENIZE TEEVAN of HOLMDEL. Is proving high major and P5 recruiters right. She has been nothing short of outstanding to start the season. She is averaging close to 14 points and 7 rebounds a game. She is on track to totally dwarf her stats from a pervious years. If you want to know how far she has come. Go look at her stats in the Holmdel Christmas tournament… and she didn’t make the All Tournament team. That’s because now she has elevated expectations.
CHRISTA RAMOS of NEPTUNE has not been good. She has been off the charts good this season. She already has 146 points on the season and 69 rebounds. She is giving Neptune something to cheer about. She is also on the Most Improved Player short list right now.
JADA LYNCH of ST ROSE is having an outstanding year. That because she has made teammates better and made real sacrifices in her game for the better of the team. While her scoring is down. Her performance and game are way up. She has become a defensive force and true leader. We just may beginning to see the superstar that so many predicted she would become.
HAYLEY POSER of RANNEY has been a walking bucket. She has over 20 points in every game except one. Her defense is starting to look like 1st Team All Defense. She has led RANNEY to a nice start of the season. She is the leading candidate for MOST IMPROVED PLAYER RIGHT NOW
CAROLINE POLLOWAY of RBR is basically a walking double/double and defensive force. She also was the WOBM MVP in her trophy case. She finished the year on a roll racking up double figure scoring games including a season high 21 points. Her improvement has been dynamic and the New Year may bring more surprises .
WHAT DOES THE WAY TOO EARLY ALL SHORE TEAM LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW
PLAYER OF THE YEAR – NINA EMNACE- Sr- TRINITY HALL/ KATIE COLLINS- Sr- MANASQUAN
ADDY NYEMCHECK- SOPH- RBC
STELLA LOCKHART- SOPH- SJV
SHAYNE ELDRIDGE- SR- WALL
CHRISTINA LIGGIO- JR- RBC
DEYVN QUIGLEY- SR- MANCHESTER
THE NEW YEAR TOP 10
SJV– they played the best competition and lived to talk about it
RBC– we’re on there way to a National ranking and then Westtown exposed there front court in a big way.
MANASQUAN– they are gaining confidence and the big two would be wise to be careful
TRINITY HALL– the game vs Mainland you ask? Shame on the officials a total disgrace.
OCEAN TWP– They get RBC next and another chance to prove they can play with the big dogs
RFH– when you play there schedule. It catches up to you at some point. It did vs WALL
RBR– no Camryn Gardner and the WOBM CHIP. But they have the same issue… what to do against PRESSURE!
WALL– There were 3 points away from being ranked. They also have a strong case to say they should be ranked higher
St. ROSE– They got a few solid wins and are showing a never die attitude. Coach of the Year?
HOLMDEL- Holding on to this spot by the hair of their little chin chin
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