Women's Basketball Season Preview
Lincroft, NJ- Brookdale must replace its top scorer and top two rebounders from last year’s team that went 23-10 and tied for third in NJCAA Region XIX play.
Article is courtesy of Mike Ready, a journalist for the Jersey Sporting News and Middletown Patch, who covers Brookdale Community College athletics.
Lincroft, NJ- Brookdale must replace its top scorer and top two rebounders from last year's team that went 23-10 and tied for third in NJCAA Region XIX play. However, head coach Bob Dubina feels this year's team has the potential to be as good as or better than that team, which lost in the Region XIX semifinals, 44-42, after leading by 14 at the half.
"I expect us to be in the top four in the region," Dubina said. "That's our goal every year and this year's no different. Our sophomore's goal is to win the regions after last year's disappointing loss in the semifinals and they're on a mission to get there. To get there we need to take care of the ball on offense and avoid careless turnovers. On defense we need to create turnovers with our press and get the easy baskets."
Sophomore center Sam Carlson (Manalapan H.S.) is back at center and Dubina expects her to get better and better. "Last year Sam showed flashes of her potential," Dubina said. "She had games where she had triple-doubles and then other games where she disappeared. I'm expecting a lot more consistency out of her this year." Carlson had 13 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinal loss.
Lauren Bowler (Red Bank Regional) returns at point guard, after just winning a national championship in soccer. "Lauren needs some time to recover physically from soccer season, she's a little beat up," Dubina said. She'll handle the point guard for us in our three-guard system." Bowler averaged 8.8 points/game, 6.3 assists, 3.8 steals and 7.4 rebounds/game last year.
Returner Jazmin Palma (North Bergen H.S.) will be at guard and start or come off the bench depending on the game situation for the Jersey Blues. "Jazmin is instant energy for us," Dubina said. "Sometimes we need that lift coming off the bench." Palma averaged 6.8 points/game, 3.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds/game last season.
Marina Lukianov (Howell H.S.), a third team All-Region XIX selection last season when she averaged 10.1 points/game, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.6 assists/ game is back at shooting guard. "I expect her to take a big jump this year," Dubina said.
Two other new comers that fit into the mix at guard this season are freshmen Paxton Reddigton (Saint John Vianney) and Megan Degrushe (Middletown North H.S.).
"Paxton was the first guard off the bench for two years at Saint John Vianney," Dubina said. "Coming from that type of program she knows how to win. There will be games when she starts as well as coming off the bench."
"Megan will see a lot of playing time at point guard," Dubina said. "She's a very solid point guard that just needs to gain a little confidence at this level of play."
Sophomore Nadya Szaniszlo (Keansburg H.S.) will come off the bench where she averaged 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 points/ game last season. Szaniszlo has the potential to explode off the bench as she had a 20-point game last season.
The other starting big for Brookdale will be freshman Marya Trapp (Red Bank Regional) at forward. "I feel Marya should average a double-double this season," Dubina said. "She may slide over to center when we play four guards, but primarily she'll be at forward."
"Freshman forward/center Jasma Stanback (Keansburg) has really come along Dubina said. "She's probably our most athletic player. She was a top five rebounder for two years in the Shore
Conference, but hasn't played in a couple year's. As the season progresses I think she'll be a big contributor."
Freshmen Kimberly McNelis (Keansburg H.S.) and Victoria Hayes (Manalapan H.S.) along with sophomore first team All-American softball pitcher, Samantha Hosey, will provide valuable depth.
"I'm waiting for someone to step up as the team leader," Dubina said. "We've talked about it in practice and Sam, Paxton and Jazmin have all done it in spurts. Paxton and Marya called an unscheduled practice Saturday and everyone showed up; that showed me leadership."
"There's a ton of potential on this team individually," Dubina added. "If they can buy into the team concept we're trying to teach them and not get down when things don't go their way; we can be a very good team."
By Mike Ready