By Jimmy Allinder
Things have radically changed in the space of three seasons for Sydney Greenspan and Allie Warren, a pair of seniors on the East Brunswick High School girls basketball team.
As freshmen, Greenspan and Warren played for a team that finished 5-20 and were anxiously looking forward to the spring and softball season.
Now, basketball is squarely on the minds of Greenspan, Warren and a host of talented sophomores that propelled East Brunswick to a 20-3 record as it prepped for the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV sectional as the top-seeded team. The Bears met 16th-seeded Old Bridge High School in the first round March 1.
East Brunswick comes off a sterling performance in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament, which culminated in a 42-31 victory over Monroe Township High School (22-3) Feb. 25 in the championship game. In that contest, the Bears, as has been the case all season, relied on balanced scoring from its starting five and relentless defense that resulted in game-changing turnovers, especially in the fourth quarter. The victory is unquestionably East Brunswick’s high-water mark since Keith Lane became coach three years ago.
In addition to Greenspan (7.8 points per game) and Warren (8.7 points per game), the Bears have received contributions from the sophomore trio of leading scorer Sabria Glasgow (9.5 points per game), Nicole Johnson (8.3 points per game) and Shanelle Coleman (6.0 points per game). In addition, senior Kim Anderson, the team’s top 3-point shooter, has contributed six points per game.
East Brunswick hopes to build on its success in the state tournament and if it does, defense will again be the reason.
“Some players are better defenders than others, but we approach defense as a team concept,” Lane said. “Defense is a key in any sport and it will be what ultimately enables our team to move forward.”
A scenario could develop with the Bears and Monroe (second seed) meeting again, but it would be in the sectional championship game and both teams need to wade through three tough rounds before that can happen.
East Brunswick defeated Old Bridge twice by an average margin of 30 points, so the Bears were confident of winning their state tournament game against the Knights. If so, East Brunswick hosted the winner of eighth-seeded Marlboro High School and ninth-seeded Middletown High School North March 3.
Monroe needed to get past 15th-seeded Princeton High School (7-16) in its first-round game to host the winner of seventh-seeded West Windsor Plainsboro High School North and 10th-seeded Trenton Central High School, also March 3.
“This is now our second season and we have to make the most of it,” Falcons head coach Leigh Vogtman said. “We cannot dwell on the past and be satisfied by our regular-season accomplishments. We have to move forward and perform our very best.”
South River High School (22-4) is the top-seeded team in Central Jersey, Group I and hopes to capitalize on home-court advantage throughout the sectional. Based on recent victories against Group IV teams J.P. Stevens High School, 72-67, and Edison High School, 86-78, the Rams appeared ready to defend their sectional title.
Senior Gabrielle Harris (21 points per game) will provide much of the offense as she has all season and will be supported by junior Aleah Bass (13.3 points per game).
South River received a bye before hosting eighth-seeded Keansburg High School March 2.
In Central Jersey, Group II, 16th-seeded Spotswood High School (8-17) traveled to top-seeded New Providence High School March 1 in the first round.