The first week of the season we saw a few scrimmages and few games. What have I learned from this opening week? A lot and my gut tells me this season is going to be nothing like we expected. So today I will give you thoughts on what I saw last week and what it means. I know the gap between SJV, RBC and the rest of the Shore Conference is not what we expected. Both schools are going to have to grind, just to stay at the top of the conference . It will not be the cake walk I expected.
Manasquan took on Trinity Hall on the road. Now both of these teams are going through big changes. Manasquan lost 4 starters and Trinity Hall lost the best player in the conference. It was clear to me the punch and pace of this game caught Trinity Hall off guard. The Trinity guards had no answer for D1 bound guard Olivia Shaughnessy. The Loyola guard exposed a real weakness in Trinity. Trinity hide a lot of defensive weaknesses with the 1-3-1 last year. The problem Friday night, was that it wasn’t NINA EMNACE on top of the 1-3-1. Shea Donnelly put handcuffs on a very sick GRACE FENEEY who gutted it out for 30 mins. Shea Donnelly was magical on both side of the ball, she scored 16 points and had more assists than an old lady carry bags.
If you really want to know what happen. Look no further than the Manasquan bench with Shannon Looney, Logan McCarthy and Freshman CALISTA VOWTERAS . They were the difference off the bench. Lisa Kukoda had her team prepared and they look like a problem . One side note there were 54 foul calls. That’s unacceptable!
TRINITY, on the other hand is going have to find a way to score consistently. That I’m sure can’t wait to get Tegan Drennan back in the lineup, if for any other reason to give Grace FEENEY a 2nd scorer that can shoot threes.
SJV left the State and traveled to Virginia to play 2 high school power house programs GRANDVIEW AND CARDINAL O’HARA. Madison Kocis was sensational in leading the Lancer in points and 2nd in rebounds. Stella Lockhart was a terror in the lane and on defense. Coach Karpell went 10 deep and had her team once again pressing and trapping. SJV looked as comfortable as a group can be this time of year. Aleena DINKER had it going running the show. SJV looks hungry and focused. Coach Karpell is going to make life hard on everyone. If I learned anything about SJV, it’s this.. SJV is the team to beat right now.
RBC is hoping win its first SCT in a long time. In fact over a decade. They were the heavy favorites entering the season. But to this point they have struggled in two scrimmages. There closeness as a group can be an asset and weakness. This talented group whose trademark defense and playing hard has disappeared. But it’s early but RBC is in a dangerous place right now. That’s because St.ROSE AND MANASQUAN both have been more impressive to this point.
Who knows what RBR is bringing. They have this guy named John Truhan in case you forgot.
Want to know who is the best defensive team I saw the preseason? How about MIDDLETOWN NORTH. If this group finds a way to score. The teams ranked 8th – 10 are in trouble. Junior DANIELLE GONZALEZ may be the answer to Middletown’s problems. She is a most interesting prospect. She may surprise a lot of people. She has excellent size and quickness at 5’10”.
Vicki Gillen has stepped away from TOMS RIVER NORTH who is going to be interesting. They play hard and compete. So let’s see what happens there.
HOWELL drops out of the Top 10 before playing a regular season game. That’s because RFH ran all over them and you have to see the tape to believe it. It not fair to drop a team out based on a scrimmage. But that was pretty hard to ignore. RFH will be back in the Top 10 before the season starts. But they are in the division of death and that’s the biggest problem of all. The good news is Holmdel is in the division. Pt. BORO moves into the Top 10 and they could end up there all season and may even climb up the ladder. But they are going to struggle for power points because of their division. The best teams on there non conference schedule are Jackson Memorial and Neptune.
Tomorrow RBR and BRICK matchup and that is a dangerous game for both teams. I don’t believe Brick has the experience to become a pressing team. So they are going to have to play lots of half court defense. For a young team that could be a problem. But make no mistake if BRICK’s, ARI WISSEN and KENDALL FREDRICKSEN get it going and RILEY NAUSEDAS plays the role of leader. This could make for an interesting night. A upstart crew vs a possible state champion.
It’s so easy to see what players were in the gym. As I predicted Madison Kocis got off to a great start this season. Right now after one weekend she is the POY leader and I believe there is a good chance it will stay that way, she averaged 16 points and 5 rebounds this weekend. But it’s her defense and passing that was impressive. Olivia SHAUGHNESSY clearly is going to have a great year. She made big play after big play in Friday’s win over Trinity . Jada Lynch, has really changed her game the last year and a half. Her shot selection has improved significantly and her passing is starting to become next level and unselfish. There is a bright spot for RBC, Christina Liggio has been excellent on both sides of the ball. Finally, I love kids who play during adversity. Grace Feeney was sick as a dog Friday. She didn’t want to let her teammates down and played. She had 13 points somehow. Folks we call that a winner!!!