By: Carolyn M. Hartko
It’s a few days late, but the 2003 Greater Middlesex Conference basketball tournaments will finally get underway tonight (Thursday).
Among the first round games, the South Brunswick Lady Vikings will host Piscataway at 6 p.m., followed by the South Brunswick boys against Carteret at 8 p.m.
For once, strength of schedule seems to have played a part in the girls’ seeding. In spite of a 6-13 record, the Lady Vikings, who play most of their games in the top Red Division in the conference, garnered the 14th seed in this year’s tourney.
"I thought we got a great seed, for having six wins," Viking head coach Jaymee Boehmer said. "The top five teams in the county were all Red Division. That’s a good showing. Sayreville tied for their division there was a three-way tie in the White and we beat Sayreville two weeks ago. And we beat Bishop Ahr, and that really held a lot of weight."
The top five seeds went to Old Bridge, East Brunswick, J.P. Stevens, Woodbridge and Bishop Ahr. The Vikings are in the bracket with JPS.
"If we do get past Piscataway, we play Stevens," Boehmer said. "But that’s all right, because I know what to expect and I know what it’s going to be like. So, I think it’s really an advantage."
South Brunswick and Piscataway split during the regular season, with Piscataway winning the first game 67-64 in overtime. But the Vikings took the second one handily, 67-53. According to Boehmer, the first round could go either way.
"It depends (partly) on them," Boehmer said. "If Lauren Guarneri’s having a real good game, it will be more difficult for us. For our part, I need three kids in double figures. We’ll see."
Because of the blizzard that blew into town on President’s Day, schools have been closed for three days this week. That means teams will take the courts today without the benefit of recent practices. Some teams may have had almost a week off, but the Viking squads planned ahead.
"We were lucky to get into the school on Sunday," Boehmer said. "We were supposed to practice Monday morning, but I was afraid of those weather reports. So, the boys and the girls both came in Sunday."
Tonight, the Vikings will learn if that foresight paid off.

