Lawrence girls set for life after Gregory

Lawrence girls basketball

By: Jim Green
   Many observers will be quick to draw the conclusion that the Lawrence High School girls basketball team — coming off a 6-18 campaign and losing leading-scorer Theresa Gregory to graduation — is going to face a tough road in 2004-05.
   Not so fast.
   While Lawrence certainly will miss Gregory, who averaged 16.7 points a game and led the Cardinals in scoring in all but one game, the loss of such a dominant player should force other members of the team to lift their games to new heights this season.
   "We can’t replace Theresa," Lawrence coach Gregg Zenerovitz said. "Last year, it was evident to anyone who saw us that our whole offense revolved around Theresa. This year, all five girls are going to have to step up. Last year, we relied on her too much sometimes."
   While losing Gregory is huge, the Cardinals will be returning the rest of their starting lineup from last season, including senior guard Brittany Hendricks, senior guard/forward Jerilyn Krawczyk and junior guards Nicole McMullen and Krista Regan. Experienced senior forward Caitlin Grabowski replaces Gregory in the lineup.
   "That’s nice, to have back some experience," Zenerovitz said. "Even though our record wasn’t great, we were in a bunch of games. The girls learned from that experience. I like that. We should have five quick, athletic starters."
   Although Gregory was the focal point of the offense — often scoring more than half the Cardinals’ points in a given game — each of the returning players had their moments to shine last season. Most prominently, Krawczyk led the Cardinals with 10 points in a 39-38 overtime win over Allentown, while McMullen poured in 18 in an overtime loss to Nottingham in the first round of the Mercer County Tournament. Regan and Hendricks were strong ball-handlers with the ability to contribute solid perimeter shooting.
   Now, each of those players will have to become more aggressive offensively if Lawrence is to qualify for the state tournament.
   "I’ve seen in the scrimmages that other girls are looking for their shots," Zenerovitz said. "I kind of expected that. Krista and Nicole haven’t been afraid to shoot. Brittany, Jerilyn and Caitlin are going to be more consistent scorers compared to last year. This year, any of those five girls can lead us in scoring."
   The Cardinals bench will consist of seniors Daniela Bottoni (G), Erin O’Connor (F) and Ashley McNeal (F), junior Reem Bichara (G) and sophomore guards Ashley Weeks and Rachel Regan. Bottoni, who received significant varsity experience the last two years, will be a key contributor.
   "We’re really liking what we’re seeing in our scrimmages from her," Zenerovitz said. "We’re still looking for other girls on our bench to step up."
   With Gregory and forward Ari Brame gone, one area where the Cardinals might be lacking is in the size department. With three guards in the starting lineup, the 5-foot-10 Grabowski will be the tallest player on the floor.
   "Size is a concern," Zenerovitz said. "We’re doing rebounding drills in practice everyday. If we can get good position on rebounds, we’ll be OK. If we don’t rebound well, we’re going to be in trouble."
   The Cardinals will see their first game action when they play host to Princeton at 7 p.m. Friday. They then visit Hamilton on Tuesday and play host to Bordentown on Dec. 23. They also will be participating in Hopewell Valley Central High School’s inaugural John Molinelli Holiday Classic. The tournament will honor John Molinelli — the father of Bulldogs guard Jeff Molinelli — who last March collapsed and died of a heart attack while taking pictures on the sideline during the Hopewell-Lawrence boys basketball state tournament first-round game.
   "I think we could surprise some teams this year," Zenerovitz said. "Our juniors are going to surprise people. They’re going to start looking for their shots."
   Even if the wins aren’t where they would like them to be, the Cardinals still should have an enjoyable season.
   "They’re really nice girls," Zenerovitz said. "They all get along off the court. It makes it fun for us to come to practice. They’re very coachable. They’re putting in a good effort in scrimmages and practices. It’s a nice group."