Apparently, succeeding in basketball at an early age runs in the Winfree family.
Kate and Allie Winfree are both enjoying their budding basketball careers, playing for championship-caliber AAU teams that will vie for national championships over the next two months.
Older sister Katie, a seventh-grader at Millstone Middle School who will be attending The Peddie School next year, plays center for the Jersey Sting U12 team, which consists of some of the top U12 from Monmouth and Ocean counties. This is Katie’s second year on the team and her second year playing AAU ball.
Last year, her team placed second in the state and went to nationals in Tennessee. This year, the Jersey Sting placed second in the state once again and will compete in nationals in Louisiana starting July 11.
Katie played for the Millstone Middle School team for the past two years and started on the varsity team this year, where she was the high scorer (153 points) and was named Offensive Player of the Year. Her squad finished the season undefeated as the tri-county champs.
Her sister, Allie, is a fifth-grader at Millstone Middle School, and is currently playing first year of AAU basketball as a forward for the Jersey Sting U10 team.
Her squad recently placed first in the state and was crowned the champion at a tournament in Philadelphia, where they beat the top teams from New York and the top two teams from Pennsylvania. The U10 Jersey Sting will compete at nationals starting today at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
Allie is also looking forward to playing for the school team next year, where she hopes to carry on the tradition begun by her older sister.
Both Winfree sisters started playing rec ball in Millstone in second grade. They also play with the Millstone Warriors in the mid-Monmouth and Monmouth Youth leagues
The Jersey Sting teams have been fund-raising for their trips to nationals through dinner/dances, auctions, bagging groceries, canning, etc.
Any businesses or individuals that would like to make a contribution to help make the trips possible for the teams should contact Susan Winfree (the proud mother) at (732) 786-0834.