1/11/2008 - Dominating the Paint
You probably have heard all the crazy reasons why Sparta’s girls basketball team has been blessed with so many tall and talented players over the years.
There is the always popular, “Something must be in the water in Sparta.” Or the notion that all girls that have the potential to reach six-foot must play hoops in Sparta under penalty of the law. Plus my favorite, that Ungerman Field sits on top of some sort of radioactive site that causes girls to grow tall and have an unquenchable thirst for basketball.
Okay, I made the last one up, but you get the point. Sparta has been the home of the top low post talent in the Sussex County Interscholastic League since the loop formed in the mid 1970s. But there is change in the air (or water) and this season has seen the top inside players residing outside of the Sparta zip code.
For the first time in my memory, the SCIL has three dominant big people, and not one plays for coach Fred Geffken and the Spartans. Chelsea Snyder of Newton is the tallest of the bunch at 6-foot-6 and she is headed to play at Division I Virginia Commonwealth next year. Sam Baranowski of Lenape Valley, a 6-3 forward/center, has signed a letter of intent to play D-I at the University of Maine, while 6-2 junior Vanessa Moore of Pope John has a bright future and is also getting looks from D-I schools.
It is a definite sign that times are changing when it comes to SCIL basketball. Having players like Baranowski and Snyder get D-I scholarships is a big boost for the league. It shows that Sparta is not the only school to have that type of talent and size. There are two things that separate D-I players from the pack: size and speed. It is the old cliché of you can’t coach size and speed. If you have one, most college coaches feel they can teach you the rest.
Snyder and Baranowski are perfect examples of that. Neither are going to score 1,000 career points, but their size, work ethic and potential have gained them free rides and good for them. Snyder and Baranowski are also good buddies and play together in the offseason. They went head-to-head last week with Snyder and the Braves winning, 35-28, as Snyder posted a triple-double.
But it is a good sign for the SCIL that players from outside of Sparta are getting looks from big schools. It is an indication that the county is catching up to Sparta, which can only make the SCIL stronger.
And after getting a chance to see all three star post players compete this season, it got me to thinking. Who are the best centers or inside players in SCIL history? I am far from being the definitive expert on that, but I’ve seen enough hoops in my time, so here it goes. If I left someone off, please do not be offended. It is just my opinion, and believe me, I’ve been wrong before.
So here, in no particular order, are the top 10 big girls in SCIL history.
1. Tara Dilworth of Sparta. The 6-3 inside force grabbed over 1,000 rebounds and scored 1,529 points before graduating in 1999. She could also step out and shoot 3-pointers which helped her land a full ride to Hofstra University. She was also an intimidating presence in the paint and blocked many a shot.
2. Pam Brandell of Jefferson. Brandell was almost unstoppable inside for the Falcons and she helped Jefferson win the Group 2 state title before finishing her career with 1,667 points in 1993. She followed her high school exploits with a fine career at the University of New Hampshire.
3. Lisa Olsen of Sparta. Okay, this one might be a stretch because Olsen was so good, she could, and did, play all five positions on the floor. At 6-1, she could score inside, but she did a lot of her damage from the perimeter and by driving to the basket. She scored 1,952 points, second only to Linda Cordes of Newton (2,172), in SCIL history. She may have broken the record, but Geffken would only play her three quarters in blowouts, which there were many for the Spartans. She went onto a solid career at Manhattan College after graduating from Sparta in 1996.
4. Jamie Douglas of Hopatcong. There has never been a tougher player or competitor in the low post than Douglas. At just 5-10, Douglas was still a physical force and she would impose her will on her taller opponents. She helped the Chiefs win the SCIL Festival and she scored 1,635 points before graduating in 2000. Douglas, who is currently the head coach at Hopatcong, also had an outstanding collegiate career at Adelphi University on Long Island.
5. Lorelei Grosskurth of High Point. The SCIL was only a few years old when Grosskurth took the league by storm and became the first dominant big player in league history. She scored 1,285 points and hauled in over 1,000 rebounds while helping the Wildcats win their only SCIL girls hoops crown—although that may change this season-- before graduating in 1982. The Sussex County Hall of Famer is still active in the community and also had a stellar career at Colgate University.
6. Helene Reigstad of Sparta. Keeping with the old school theme of the 1980s, Reigstad played a key role in Sparta’s first state championship in 1985 when it went 29-0. The 1985 graduate was the first Spartan to score 1,000 points (1,084) and grab 1,000 rebounds (1,129). She helped build the foundation that is Sparta basketball today. Reigstad also left her mark at Catawba College in North Carolina and is a member of the Sussex County Hall of Fame.
7. Keira Haines of Lenape Valley. Haines is the Pats’ all-time leading scorer with 1,182 points, which is very impressive. But what is truly amazing, is that she did it in three years. You see, Haines was a cheerleader her first year and had to be persuaded to hit the hardwood. She definitely made the right choice and after graduating in 1991 she went onto an All-American career at William Paterson University, where she is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame.
8. Stephanie Hern of Wallkill Valley. Hern was undersized at about 5-8, or 5-9, but she would do battle with anyone under the boards. The 1998 graduate held the Wallkill girls record for scoring with 1,397 points before Jami Gagg broke the mark last year with 1,504 points. Hern wasn’t flashy, but she got the job done, especially with her crafty moves under the basket.
9. Jessica Luszcz of Kittatinny. The 1998 graduate wasn’t a true post player, but she did a lot of damage down low and controlled the boards for the Cougars, who made a couple deep runs in the North 1, Group 2 sectional tournament with Luszcz in the middle. She scored a school record 1,327 points and along with Jan Swetnam (1988), is one if top players in Kittatinny history.
10. Adrienne Warner of Sparta. Another one of those Spartan basketball machines that could do it all. The 2000 graduate dominated on both ends of the floor and teamed up Dilworth to form an imposing duo. She scored 1,231 points and also hauled in 1,000 rebounds before going onto a strong career at The College of New Jersey.
As I mentioned before, this is far from the definitive list because you could also make the argument for Rachel Carman, Meghan Jent and Kelly Keil of Sparta, and Jen Ford and Shannon McCarney of Jefferson, as well many others. But it is fun to think about it.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: The atmosphere at the High Point-Kittatinny wrestling match last week at Kittatinny was second to none and was what high school athletics is all about. The gym was filled to capacity and the fans were rowdy, but respectful. Even the junior varsity wrestlers received a taste of the big time with the early crowd watching the J’s and getting full support from their respective fans.
High Point’s 29-25 win was a classic and give John Gill and his Kittatinny wrestlers all the credit in the world for giving High Point all it wanted. John Gardner and his baby brigade of freshmen learned a valuable lesson about taking every opponent seriously without suffering a loss.
High Point can wrap up the SCIL title in a couple weeks and then it is on to the Group 3 state tournament where the Wildcats will be gunning for that elusive first state crown. The Wildcats are ranked No. 1 in the state by the Star-Ledger, but I feel Gardner would trade that ranking now for a state title next month.
And just how good is the SCIL in wrestling, well after its great effort against High Point, Kittatinny was stunned by Lenape Valley 31-29 a few days later. Rich Salmon’s win at heavyweight gave the Pats their biggest win since their glory days in the late 1990s.
That is it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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