By: Carolyn M. Hartko
The South Brunswick High School varsity girls’ basketball team has won six of their last seven games, and last week’s 59-45 victory over visiting East Brunswick extended SB’s winning streak to four. The outcome avenged a 41-36 loss to the Lady Bears in early January, and put the Lady Vikings in sole possession of second place in the Red Division.
The high scoring game was a result of four different Vikings putting up double digits. Surprisingly, the team’s leading scorer, Jessica Mastronardi (17 ppg), was not one of them.
"It was a nice win, especially after losing the first time," Viking head coach Jaymee Boehmer said. "We had four different kids that had double digits, and I think that was the difference in the game, because they just couldn’t focus on one kid. It makes us hard to defend."
Junior forward Alicia Langone led the team with 14 points. Janelle Payne, Samantha Rene and Indira Morton posted 10 apiece. Morton was 4-for-4 at the free throw line, and Payne had seven rebounds. Senior guard Jessie Harbison led off the boards with 10. Freshman point guard Janay Barnett had seven points and six steals.
The first half of the game was relatively close, with the Vikings up 15-11 after the first quarter, and a scant one point at half-time (26-25). But a 25-8 third quarter put the game out of reach for the Bears. South outscored East Brunswick 11-1 in the final two minutes of that period.
"I think (East Brunswick) had a poor shooting night," Boehmer said. "They average seven three’s a game, and they only had four against us."
While the third quarter had given the Vikings a comfortable 51-33 lead, the Bears did not give up. They came out with an eight point run that cut the deficit to 10, and with 3:45 left in the game, had closed to within eight (53-45).
"But we held it together," Boehmer said. "We stalled for almost four minutes. The girls are really focusing, and they’re really showing some composure, and I’m hoping it’s going to take us a long way in the end."
The Vikings did not have a game until Wednesday of this week when they were due to host Sayreville (after press time). The Vikings (10-2) have a shot at sharing the Red Division title this year, but they will have to win their last two division games of the season.
Next week they host current Red leader J.P. Stevens on Tuesday, and Piscataway on Thursday. Stevens is the other team that has beaten South Brunswick so far this winter. Just to make things interesting, Piscataway scored an upset over JPS, and they will surely be looking to do the same to the Vikings. South Brunswick will have the home court advantage in both of those games, and Boehmer is hoping the stands will be full of Viking supporters.
"I’m glad the second time around we get everybody home," the coach said. "I think that’s a big advantage for us. It’s the second time around, and we’re getting better, and we’re more confident."
FREE THROWS: Payne is currently the team’s top rebounder, averaging 10 boards a game. Langone and Rene are also sparkling on defense…The Vikings have already clinched a berth in this year’s NJSIAA Group IV Tournament, and do not have to be concerned about the cut-off this Friday.

