Scoring will be key to team’s success
by John E. Powers, Sports Writer
Larisa Donis-Jeppson, the new head coach of the Manville High School girls’ basketball team, knows something about small schools.
Donis-Jeppson graduated from a class of 16 at Sulphur Rock High School in Arkansas and was the head coach of the Dunellen High girls between 1996 and 2003. Now she takes over another Group 1 program. She replaces Kyle Rehrig, who coached the Lady Mustangs for the past four years.
Manville, which finished 5-16 last season in its first year in the Skyland Conference, returns senior guards Samantha Aichele and Rhianna Lebedz, sophomore forward Amy Evanylo, junior forwards Amanda Furka and Kimberly Jones and sophomore guard Dana Mortensen.
”We have to create opportunities to score,” said Donis-Jeppson, an Arkansas State graduate who also has two degrees from Rutgers University. “Sam (Aichele) led the team last year with 10 points a game, but we need a second scorer. I’m looking at finding that person, and building our confidence.
”I think (the top scorer) will play out from game to game,” she added. “Having Rhianna and Sam back is so important because they have basketball smarts.”
Aichele has been out and missed both of the team’s scrimmages with Perth Amboy Tech and North Plainfield as she had her wisdom teeth pulled, Donis-Jeppson said. But she’ll be in the lineup when the Lady Mustangs open the season at Bound Brook Friday night.
While playmaker Lebedz and Aichele are the only two returning starters, the rest of the team is something of a puzzle. Donis-Jeppson said she’s been impressed with Furka in scrimmages, and sees her as a scoring threat.
”I think she has a great shot, it’s just a matter of her getting open and finding the strength in shooting,” Donis-Jeppson said.
Evanylo will be another offensive option.
”For her height (5-foot-7), she has a really nice outside shot,” the coach said.
Left-handed shooter Mortensen showed some promise last year.
”I like a faster pace and I like to push it,” Donis-Jeppson said. “I really like our guards to push it.”
Freshman forward Kate Pornovets and freshman guard/forward Cara Alpaugh will get plenty of minutes, the coach said.
”Kate gives us some size (5-foot-6),” said Donis-Jeppson, who has also experience of being a graduate assistant coach at Western Michigan University.
The coach said she is keeping her offensive sets simple.
”We’re focusing on defense and getting stuff off the fast break,” she said. “It’s really nothing complicated. We’re trying to get open on offense.”
Other players who’ll get time are junior guard Rebecca Burke, senior guard Natalie Chiribao, freshman guard Rebecca Giamotto and sophomore guard Erin Lipot.
”The team has no fear and it’s the easiest team I’ve coached they play with a lot of heart,” said Donis-Jeppson, who’ll be assisted by Carrianne Yachimovicz. “They really have no fear. That’s nice to see.”

