BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
2007 All-Freehold Regional District Girls Basketball Team The 2006-07 girls basketball season gave the area plenty to cheer about.Freehold Borough, Colts Neck and Howell all had their moments during the season.
The Colonials were the area’s best team throughout the season. Jen Brzucki’s Colonials won the Kuhnert Holiday Tournament and challenged Neptune for the B North Division titles. During the season, they gave powers Rumson-Fair Haven and St. John Vianney a run for their money. They were 20-5.
The future was on display each night in Colts Neck as John Truhan’s Cougars started three freshmen and turned in the second best season in school history, 19-7. The only thing missing was a championship, and they should take care of that next year.
Howell was thought to be back in the pack after losing the bulk of the lineup that had won more than 40 games in the past two years. Instead of falling back, the Rebels made a case for themselves as one of the emerging programs in the Shore. They got hot for coaches Julie Hoebee and Dave Gallacher when it counted most: the state playoffs. From the No. 10 seed, and without playing a game at home, they advanced to the Central Jersey Group IV finals. Along the way, No. 2 seed West Windsor South and No. 3 seed Hillsborough were disposed. They ran into eventual state Group champion Trenton Central in the final. They finished 17-12 for the year.
Freehold Borough’s Alyssa and Shannon Mayrose and Colts Neck’s Brooke Hampton and Lauren Clarke, the stars of the area’s two best teams, top the News Transcript’s 2007 All-Freehold Regional District Girls Basketball Team First Team. Joining them is the Colonials’ Sehmonyeh Allen.
Second Team honors went to Howell’s trio of Michelle Blum, Erin Donahue and Denise Crudup; Marlboro’s Meghan Reilly; Freehold Township’s Kayla Borden; and Colts Neck’s Tiffany DeTulio.
Alyssa and Shannon Mayrose brought the same unbridled quest for winning to the hardwood that they did on the soccer pitch, when they led the Colonials to the Group III state championship in the fall.
The addition of Allen made their jobs a little easier, but they remained the hub of the Colonials on both ends of the floor with their energy.
Shannon, who was the MVP of the Kuhnert Tournament, led the Borough in scoring (16.6) and rebounding (8.1). Alyssa hit for 13.1 points a game and was the only senior in the starting lineup, and was the team leader of a squad that could play with anyone in the Shore.
Brzucki turned the Colonials into a running team this year, and that was perfect for the athletic Mayroses.
Hampton and Clarke began what should be brilliant high school careers. They were the District’s most explosive backcourt, averaging 33 points a game between them, and fueling the team’s full-court defensive pressure.
Hampton averaged 18 points a game, combining three-point range with her ability to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket. At times, she scored at will.
Clarke averaged 15 points and 3.4 assists in her debut year with the Cougars. The three-point shot was a big part of Colts Neck’s arsenal this winter, and it was Clarke who drained the most, 53. Hampton followed with 49 as the backcourt mates knocked down 102.
There is a lot of excitement in the air about Colts Neck girls basketball thanks to this backcourt duo.
It was the Year of the Freshman in the District: the Colonials’ Allen is the third impact frosh to make the First Team
It’s never easy to be a newcomer on a veteran team, let alone be new to the school. But Allen fit in perfectly for the Colonials, complementing the Mayroses. She was the third starter in double figures, averaging 12.3 points a game. She gave the team an additional three-point shooter, leading the team with 36 treys during the season.
Blum was Howell’s most consistent performer this year, raising her level of play. The junior became one of the best players in the area, leading Howell in scoring (11.1) and pulling down 7.1 rebounds a game.
Crudup didn’t put up the numbers – she left that for everyone else. The junior was the ideal point guard with her ball distribution and ability to beat defensive pressure. Her floor generalship was instrumental in Howell’s state playoff run.
Donahue provided the senior leadership as well as solid all-around play. She averaged 9.5 points a game and 10.1 rebounds a contest, leaving the program in good shape.
Reilly is quickly becoming one of the Shore’s best players in the blocks, a true post-up player. The sophomore lost some of her complementary players from last year, but still had a big season for the Mustangs, averaging 14.4 points and 7.3 caroms a game. Her 76.5 percent free throw shooting made it difficult for teams to just foul her when she got the ball inside. Her 3.3 assists a game meant that teams paid for doubling her. What pleased coach Brian Nash the most was the way she took games over late in the season when the young Mustangs began to jell.
Things are looking good for Freehold Township, and Borden is one of the reasons. The sophomore forward really blossomed as the season progressed, and averaged 9.2 points and 5.0 rebounds a game. She also brought attitude to the Pats – someone who would get after it on defense and under the glass.
DeTulio, a forward, was the third of the frosh trio that has everything looking up for Colts Neck. She was part of the Cougars’ long-range attack, knocking down 29 on the season. As a forward, she made teams extend their defense with her range. She played both ends of the floor with equal effectiveness and was a perfect fit for the Cougars’ pressing defense.
Those earning honorable mention are: Jackie Spinella, Nicole Vaccarella, Michele Cordaro and Crystal Butler, Colts Neck; Alexandra Eagle, Freehold Borough; Adj Tepedino, Cristina Barthel and Alexis Stenftennagel, Freehold Township; Margaux Pickell and Jackie Ward, Howell; Amanda McBride, Manalapan; and Jill Kwapick, Stephanie Carlone and Brianna Nicholls, Marlboro.
First Team
Alyssa MayroseFreehold Boroughsenior forward
Shannon MayroseFreehold Boroughsoph. forward
Brooke HamptonColts Neckfrosh guard
Lauren ClarkeColts Neckfrosh guard
Sehmonyeh AllenFreehold Borough froshforward
Second Team
Megan ReillyMarlborosoph. forward
Michelle BlumHowelljunior guard
Erin DonahueHowellsenior forward
Denise CrudupHowelljunior guard
Kayla BordenFreehold Townshipsoph.forward
Tiffany DeTulioColts Neckfroshforward