Old Bridge High School girls basketball coach Dan DaMino welcomes back seven key players from a year ago, as the Lady Knights look to improve on last year’s 5-15 mark.
Although the team will be without leading scorer Kaitlyn Johnson, who graduated last June, Old Bridge’s youthful roster gained tons of experience that should pay off this winter, said DaMino, who enters his fourth year at the helm.
The Lady Knights boast solid senior leadership with captains Taylor Torre, Marta Belli and Erin Halstead in the lineup. Torre is coming off of a strong junior season that saw her average 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game.
Belli, a shooting guard, averaged five points, and her ability to find the open player helped her average four assists per-game. Halstead, another guard, is an aggressive defender who can also move the ball around.
“We’re counting on our captains to set the tone,” the coach said. “They all learned a lot last year, and they bring a lot of intensity to the team. We were young and we had a tough year, and they don’t want it to happen again.”
Also back is sophomore point guard Tara Durstewitz, who showed plenty of potential as a freshman last year, when she averaged five points and displayed the ability to find open teammates. Durstewitz is also a tenacious defender. Junior guard Sam Potts is another strong defender who will see plenty of action as DaMino looks to deter opposing scorers.
Up front, the Lady Knights will look to a pair of sophomore centers, Shayla Anderson and Taylor Jones, to provide a presence beneath the basket. Both girls saw varsity playing time a year ago. Senior Erin Burrows gives Old Bridge added depth on the forward line.
DaMino is expecting contributions from two sophomore guards who are coming off strong seasons for the junior varsity team. Madison Kellermueller and Sheridan Casserly add to the crowded, but talented, field in the backcourt. Hardworking freshman Amanda Carney has earned a spot as well.
“We’re not a real big team, and our strength is in the backcourt, so we’ll be going with four guards on the floor a lot,” the coach said. “I’m expecting our athleticism will be a big plus. Seven of our girls are three-sport athletes, and that will give other teams trouble.”
The Lady Knights will open the season at Perth Amboy High School on Dec. 20 before competing at the Green Wave Holiday Tournament in Long Branch over the holiday break. The regular season resumes on Jan. 4, when Old Bridge hosts Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) rival South Brunswick High School.
DaMino said that he expects the Red Division to be very competitive this season, and that the Lady Knights should be in the mix.
“This team is capable of playing better than .500, and I think we’ll do well in the division,” DaMino said. “Our defense should be strong. Our goal is to keep the opposition to one shot. Offensively, we have some girls who can score. The real key for us will be limiting turnovers. We don’t want to be giving any points away.”