Veteran cast leads SB girls

By: Rich Fisher
   If the pieces fit, this could be quite an attractive puzzle that Jaymee Boehmer puts together this winter.
   Entering her 10th season as South Brunswick High’s girls basketball coach, Boehmer has a senior-laden team filled with talented veterans who are coming off a 16-6 season.
   "We are definitely optimistic," said Boehmer, whose squad opens at home against Edison tonight. "I have everybody back, we should contend for the Red Division with East Brunswick and Piscataway.
   "The girls are definitely excited. We have a lot of seniors who have been playing together for a long time. They know that this is the time to do it. It all depends on us."
   Boehmer’s biggest concern is getting the frontcourt to mesh. The Vikings have a top-notch point guard returning in sophomore Janay Barnett, and lost just one starter from last year.
   But the all-senior front line of 5-foot-10 Alicia Langone, 5-11 Janelle Payne and 6-0 Sam Rene’ are in their first season of playing together. Rene’ is the new starter in the lineup.
   "I’m starting a big lineup," Boehmer said. "I’m trying to find out the best offense to play them in, because we’re big. It’s good, but we’ll have to see how they come together. We don’t know just yet. But we can take control of a game if they start to play together."
   Payne averaged 10.5 rebounds and 10.5 points for last year’s team, which had its highest finish (second) since moving into the Greater Middlesex Conference’s Red Division. The Vikings won their own holiday tournament for the first time, and had their highest seed (third) ever under Boehmer for the GMC tournament.
   Barnett averaged 8.7 points and led the team in steals and assists, and was named the Vikings best defensive player.
   Also returning is senior guard Jess Mastronardi, who led South in scoring with a 15-point average and earned All-GMC and team MVP honors last year.
   Seniors Jackie Nimon and Stephanie Zucker also return after seeing time as juniors, while junior Indira Morton is back after getting injured midway through the season. Senior Steph Negrotti and junior Jordan Confessore are up from the JV team. "We have nearly the same team back, but a lot will depend on if we can press and run or not," Boehmer said. "Alicia will have to be a guard and she’s used to being a forward. We’re not fluid yet, they’re not used to playing all together.
   "I like to press and run. Sometimes we can, sometimes we have to slow it down and run a more deliberate offense. It all depends on if we can really take advantage of the big kids."
   If they can, it should be quite an interesting season.