As classical Bruce Springsteen songs blared over the speakers at Marlboro High School, the Mustangs’ girls’ basketball team executed a decidedly new style of play on the court.
On Jan. 3, before a game against Red Bank Catholic High School, the players were standing in three separate lines around the three point arc, firing shot after shot. Each player got her own rebound and then whipped the ball back out to another shooter.
There was no need for layup lines, since layups only count for two points.
This is Marlboro’s new style of play, implemented by coach Brad Hagensen in the offseason. Press opponents, force turnovers, drive the lane and kick out to shooters for open treys.
It has served the Mustangs well so far. They are 7-2 this winter, and they have beaten six opponents by double digits.
Marlboro averaged more than 70 points per game during a 6-0 start, scoring nearly half its points on three pointers.
“We have kids that can shoot the ball,” Hagensen said.
Hagensen is right. Marlboro’s Gisella Romeo, Jessica Riepe, Samantha Nocco, Sammy Jay and Danielle Schlesinger have all drilled at least 10 treys this year.
But the Mustangs met their match on Jan. 3 at home. Red Bank Catholic beat Marlboro, 51-48, using its height and length to cover the Mustangs’ drives and prevent kick outs to open shooters.
Marlboro still made eight threes in the defeat, but it missed a lot more than it sank. The Mustangs also struggled to create open looks down low, a key to opening up passing lanes for kick outs.
“We fought back hard but it wasn’t in our favor, obviously,” Romeo said. “We just have to make everyone play fast. They can’t run with us the whole game, coach says.”
“Definitely,” added freshman forward Samantha Slofkiss. “Speed is the key.”
Even though they lost, the Mustangs showed the power of Hagensen’s new system. Despite trailing for most of the game, Marlboro imposed its breakneck pace on the taller, longer Caseys.
The Mustangs forced 16 turnovers, and the game never slowed down. But Red Bank Catholic did a good job getting back on defense, holding Marlboro to just nine points off turnovers.
After the defeat, the Mustangs were not worried. They felt like they missed a lot of fast break opportunities and open threes. Shots they would make in most games.
The moral victory was a solid one: Marlboro controlled the game. It just didn’t make enough shots.
This is why the Mustangs believe in their new style of play.
“At first I was hesitant, but after a couple practices I learned we could definitely do this. And keep it going in the season,” Romeo said. “It’s fun and rewarding.”
To keep winning, Marlboro will just have to continue imposing its will on opponents. The Mustangs will also have to do what they did in the first six games of the season: make outside shots.
Marlboro has already proved that it can do both on a consistent basis. It even did both in its next game after the Red Bank Catholic loss, a victory, 62-26, over Long Branch High School on Jan. 4. Marlboro drilled 10 three pointers in that bounce back victory.
“The kids have caught onto it and it’s a lot of fun,” Hagensen said.
Marlboro will continue its season on Jan. 10 against Freehold Township High School. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.