GIRLS BASKETBALL
By Tim Falls, Sports Editor
The playoffs are a possibility.
Unlike last season, The Lawrence High School girls basketball team are in a position to put themselves in the NJSIAA postseason with the deadline for a .500 record just over a week away.
Lawrence junior Ashley Russo scored 26 points to the lead the Cardinals over Robbinsville on Friday.
Russo’s offensive efforts helped Lawrence improve to 5-6 and stay ahead of an energetic Robbinsville squad.
”I thought Robbinsville played with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” said Lawrence coach Gregg Zenerovitz. “That’s something we’ve been playing with a lot this season.”
Lawrence defeated Robbinsville, 56-44.
”Some of the reason we had such a tight game with them was their energy and enthusiasm,” said Zenerovitz, “but we got a W and are one game closer to .500.”
While an extended winless streak kept the Cardinals out of contention for the NJSIAA postseason last year, several strong wins this season have kept their playoff hopes alive.
”We’re fighting for a state playoff birth,” said Zenerovitz. “We’ve got five games left before the cut. If we go 3-2, we can get ourselves in.”
Teams need a .500 record or better by the NJSIAA deadline, Feb. 2.
”We’re 3-2 in our last five games,” said Zenerovitz. “If we can do that in our next five games we’d qualify and that would be a great accomplishment for us.”
Even if the Cardinals fall short, Zenerovitz said the team could be proud of how much Lawrence has improved this season.
”If you look back from last year,” said Zenerovitz, “we have almost everyone returning and next year, almost the entire team comes back as well. The girls are improving on the things we ask them to improve on. As a staff, we challenge them to get better.”
Zenerovitz said assistant coaches Jaime Land and Dana Verdi have helped him craft a team that continues to make progress.
Still, Zenerovitz is aiming higher.
While Russo led Lawrence with an impressive scoring spree against Robbinsville, the Cardinals coach wants a more constant effort from his team.
”Ashley played a great game all around,” said Zenerovitz. “Jen Korngut played a great game for us too. She’s done a great job coming off the bench. In general, though, we’ve got girls playing well at times, but not consistent enough. We need the girls to be consistent.”
Russo had 11 rebounds, five assists and eight steal in addition to her 26 points against the Ravens.
”She basically put the team on her back Friday night and carried us,” said Zenerovitz. “She continues to get better. We see improvement from her each week.”
Korngut had six points and 10 rebounds for Lawrence, while Lauren Raymond scored eight points, Lauri Regan scored seven points, Leronda Aviles had five points and Zainabu Sillah had four points.
Lawrence lost to Hamilton, 55-48, on Tuesday.
The Hornets took a 16-10 lead after the first quarter.
Russo led the Cardinals with 14 points, while Sillah put up 13 points.
Aviles and Raymond both scored six points against the Hornets, while Brittany Shropshire scored five points, and Korngut and Regan had two points each.
Even at 5-7, the Cardinals are still in contention for the playoffs.
”We’re taking it one game at a time,” said Zenerovitz. “We’re in a good situation. We can get ourselves into the playoffs, but it’s easier said than done.”