RFH girls look to repeat on last season’s success
Bulldogs move up to Group II after winning Group I title last year
JERRY WOLKOWITZ Rumson-Fair Haven’s Jeannie Danowitz tries to get around a St. John VIanney defender during a preseason game last Friday in Rumson.
As it opens the 2000-2001 season Friday night against Shore Regional, the Rumson-Fair Haven High School girls basketball team has to be feeling optimistic about its upcoming campaign.
Last year, Coach George Sorlis’ squad went 23-5 and captured the Central Jersey Group I title.
Although the school has moved up to Group II, almost the entire cast has returned.
And the coach is expecting more success from a team which should compete with every team on its schedule.
"We do have a new transfer, 5-5 junior Amanda DeMartino, who will be stepping in for us and should provide some offense," said Sorlis. "Overall, it’s still a relatively young team."
Certainly the cornerstone of the club is 6-1 junior Chrissy Fisher, whom Sorlis calls "a bona-fide Division I player."
Fisher was Rumson’s leading scorer last year, averaging more than 18 points a game, and made first-team All-Shore Conference.
Senior Jess Geltzeiler (5-7) is another scoring threat, and combines with another 5-7 senior, Jeannie Danowitz to form a potent defensive duo.
"They’re both quick and make a great tandem backcourt," said Sorlis. "They’re our defensive catalysts."
As for the rest of the team, 5-9 junior Jody Robbins is a returning starter, while off the bench, Rumson has sophomore Lauren Pappa, who stands 5-6 and represents a genuine three-point threat.
Other youngsters include 6-1 sophomore Amy Dykstra and freshman Gately Golden, who measures 5-10.
"She’s a very athletic player," Sorlis said of Golden.
Despite the move up to a larger group, Sorlis has high expectations for his team.
"We have more depth than we did last year," he said, "and also more experience, which should help."
Joined by 10-year "co-coach" Jim Wilbur and freshman coach Colleen Ryan, Sorlis doesn’t want to put any limits on this team.
"I always say that if you’re a hockey team you should aim to win the Stanley Cup, and if you’re a baseball team, you should set your sights on winning the World Series," he said. "Our goal is always to reach the Tournament of Champions."
The Bulldogs will have their work cut out for them as their schedule includes some of the Shore’s top teams, such as St. Rose and nationally ranked, and defending state champion, Red Bank Catholic.
The Bulldogs should get their first look at the powerful Caseys when they play in the RBC Casey Holiday Festival later this month. But before they set their sights on knocking off the Caseys, they have a series of tough games they need to win.
Following Friday’s game against Shore, the Bulldogs will travel to Keyport on Tuesday and will host Henry Hudson on Wednesday.
Only after those games will they find out how they match up against RBC.