Bombers gunning for an upset of top-ranked Bears
E.B.-Sayreville square off in GMCT play as state playoffs approach
Regardless of what happens from here on in, Carrie Corvino’s first season as head coach of the Sayreville War Memorial High School girls’ basketball team has been a rousing success.
The White Division champion Bombers are 15-5 entering tonight’s Greater Middlesex Conference tourney semifinal against top-ranked East Brunswick. That marks the first time in 10 years that the girls’ team has made the semis; if SWMHS advances, it would be the first time in 24 years the club will have appeared in the finals.
"The kids are great," said Corvino, longtime coach of the South River girls’ squad. "I don’t want the season to end. We have a balanced team, with different people scoring and a good bench. We’re consistent on defense, and the girls have shown tremendous desire."
The Bombers, who beat North Brunswick 50-34, in Sunday’s county match, have several seniors showing the way. Sarah Dovidauskus (5-7) is among the county leaders in three-pointers with 55 and actually has a better shooting mark (72 percent) from three-point range than she has from closer in. Overall, she has scored 14 points a game.
Liz Brugnoli, also 5-7 has scored 7 ppg and has shown a fine outside shot, as well as considerable toughness. She’s been playing with a broken finger sustained before a recent game against Perth Amboy, in which Sayreville clinched the White title.
Another senior, Laura Haney (5-8) is contributing 6 ppg and 6 rebounds a contest.
"She’s a team motivator; an enthusiastic player who encourages her teammates constantly," said Corvino.
Among juniors, Meredith Phair (5-7) has averaged 15 ppg. over the past three contest, and has been pulling down about 9 boards a game. Melissa Braun (5-6) is a point guard and floor general.
"She’s taking control, seeing the floor well," observed her coach. "And she’s been getting about 5 assists a game."
Gabby Vargas (5-6) is another team cheerleader, as well as a valuable player who fills in most anywhere. Melissa Jack, another 5-6 junior, has shown aggressiveness in taking the ball to the hoop, while the other junior, 5-10 Kristen Zakzrewski, gives the Bombers some height off the bench.
Corvino is especially high on 5-6 sophomore Daniella Vargas, who has played through an injured ankle.
"She’s an excellent ball handler who needs to be on the floor for us," she said. "The game is much faster-paced when she’s out there, and she makes some unbelievable passes."
Raven Newcombe, a 5-10 sophomore, has chipped in with 6 ppg and 6 rebounds a contest while coming off the bench. To say the least, athletic excellence runs in her family: Raven’s grandfather is former Brooklyn Dodger great Don Newcombe, pitching ace of the fabled "Boys of Summer" teams of the 1950s.
Four other players have come up from the JV ranks to help out: sophomores Jenna LoMastro (5-5) and Shantai Dixon (5-4) and a pair of freshmen, Jessie Sosnowski (5-9) and 5-8 Tina Kelly.
Corvino, who is assisted this winter by Rich Gluchowski and freshman coach Mary Huegenin, hopes to see her girls play well tonight against EB, but knows that even with a loss to the Bears, they still have the upcoming state tournament to look forward to.
The Bombers, seeded ninth in the CJ Group IV tournament, will travel to Middletown North Monday to face the eighth-seeded Lions. North is a very good team, which has always done well at this time of the season. However, the winner of that game will probably have a short-lived celebration, because the state’s top-ranked team, Marlboro will likely be waiting in the second round.
Marlboro will find out who they face in the first round Friday, when the Old Bridge Knights and Howell Rebels square off in a play-in game at Old Bridge. The Knights who faced Edison in last night’s GMCT semifinals, have been playing very well of late, and are hoping to have the opportunity to square off with the state’s elite team.
As for East Brunswick, they received the No. 4 seed in the CJ Group IV bracket, earning them a game with No. 13 North Brunswick Monday. The winner of that contest will get the winner of Monday’s Hamilton East (No. 5)-West Windsor South (No. 12) game.
The only other local girls’ team taking the court next week is the Spotswood Chargers, the No. 3 seed in the CJ Group I tournament. The Chargers, received a first-round bye, and will face No. 6 Bernards Feb. 28. Spotswood ((17-5) should be able to compete with all the teams in the Group I bracket.
— Doug McKenzie contributed to this story