Three members of Brookdale Community College’s undefeated women’s basketball team have been named to the All-Region XIX Team
Vicky DeTata (Brick Township) and Brielle Martinez (Hamilton West) were All- Region First Team picks while Ria Zanetich (Long Branch) was named to the Third Team.
DeTata, a freshman, was twice named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Player of the Week. The former Green Dragon standout averages 11.8 points a game for the Jersey Blues and leads the team in assists, 5.83 apg, a stat that ranks seventh in the country.
DeTata has been the unquestioned leader on the floor for the BCC women.
Martinez is another freshman who had a big impact on the team. She’s been BCC’s double-double maker, averaging 12.96 ppg and 10.39 rebounds a contest. She ranks 20th in the country in rebounding. The forward is Brookdale’s inside presence and a very accurate shooter, knocking down 57 percent of her field goals.
Sophomore Zanetich’s contribution to Brookdale can’t be measured by stats. The 5-11 forward is Brookdale’s top defender. The Blues funnel everything toward her where she stands as the last line of defense. She’s averaging 2.93 blocks a game, which ranked 14th in the country. Brookdale is allowing only 47.5 ppg, the best proof of Zanetich’s contribution. On offense she surprises teams with her shooting range.
The Blues, coached by Marianne Campacci and Joanne Cobb, won the Garden State Athletic Conference championship and finished the regular season undefeated, 24-0. They are ranked No. 2 in the country among Division III junior colleges. They were the No. 1 seed for the Region XIX tournament that was interrupted by last week’s snowstorm.
Brookdale’s men were also represented on the All-Region Team, by sophomore Billy McDonough (St. Rose). The forward was a First Team selection after a huge season in which he registered a double-double in 20 of the Blues’ 24 games. For the season, he averaged 18.8 ppg and 10.65 rpg. Head coach Paul Cisek has called McDonough the best player in the region.
With a freshman-loaded squad, Brookdale went 10-14.