By: Carolyn M. Hartko
The South Brunswick High School girls’ basketball program is developing a new star.
Sophomore Janelle Payne led the Lady Vikings to a 51-35 victory at East Brunswick Tuesday night with a game-high 17 points. In Monday night’s 51-46 win at Old Bridge, Payne contributed 10, going 8-for-8 at the foul line. The back-to-back wins pushed the Vikings to 14-5 going into tonight’s game at J.P. Stevens.
For the Vikings, beating East Brunswick was the more exciting game. That’s because South has not been able to top the Lady Bears in recent memory. Even though EB (9-10) is not as strong as in previous years, the Vikings took nothing for granted going into that game.
"They’re doing really well, and we haven’t played them at all yet," Viking head coach Jaymee Boehmer said before the game. "So, we’re expecting them to be good, and playing a lot of man. We’re trying to prepare for that, but it’s hard when you have a game the night before."
Tuesday night’s game was the regularly scheduled one for these two Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division rivals. The squads will face off again at South Brunswick this coming Saturday in a snow-make up.
The Old Bridge game was another one that had Boehmer a little nervous before hand, even though the Vikings had beaten the Lady Knights (11-6) the first time around. Now that the Vikings are number two in that division, everyone else is trying to take them down a peg or two.
"It was a close game the whole way," Boehmer said. "We were always ahead, but never by more than four or five. (Late in the game) they came within one."
South Brunswick had three players in double digits Monday night. Jess Mastronardi and Heather Domotor paced the Viking offense with 11 points apiece, and Payne added her 10, which included two crucial free throws in the last minute.
There are just two games left on the regular schedule for South Brunswick: Stevens and EB. At this point, the Vikings only have three losses in their division, and no other losses in the conference. There is only one team in the Red that has beaten South twice this winter, and that’s first place Woodbridge. So, the outcome of this week’s games will determine the seeding for the GMC Tournament, which begins this coming Monday. Depending on how the Vikings do this week, Boehmer feels they should be looking at a top five spot this year.
"I think we’re all coming together, and when the games are tight now, we’re really poised," said Boehmer, who has over half a roster of sophomores. "Last year we couldn’t hold it together, and now we are. We’re able to play with a lead."
