4/10/2011 - GIrls Hoops NJAC Stars
I know that the spring season is under way, but I still have a little housecleaning left over from the winter season.
With all the big news going on in the county the last few weeks I have not had a chance to post the names of the players who were named to the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference girls basketball all-star teams.
In the American Division it was a dream season for High Point as the Wildcats went a school-record 27-1 and won the division with a perfect 14-0 mark for coach Chris Dexter. The Wildcats also won the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament with their impressive win over North Hunterdon.
The Wildcats also had two players named to the all-division first team in outstanding senior center Leanna Tallamy, the Mugs Media Player of the Year, and fellow senior Taylor Smith.
Jefferson (22-4, 12-2) had another great season for coach Jim O’Connor as all four of their losses came to state-ranked teams (High Point twice, Chatham, Ramapo).
The Falcons also had two players make the first quad as junior center Sammy Lapszynski and senior sharpshooter Cassie Flaherty were honored.
Rounding out the first team were senior Casey Cresbaugh of Sparta (14-9, 8-6), junior Alexis Breheny of Pope John (14-12, 7-7) and junior Mallory Costello of Vernon (12-11, 7-7).
Vernon had two players named to the second team in Carrie MacDonald and Brittany Ast. Also honored were Niki Hull of High Point, Sam Greiner of Sparta, Kristen Swerzenski of Jefferson, Alexis Desa of Morris Hills (9-15, 5-9), and Megan Bublitz of Mount Olive (5-17, 3-11).
Receiving Honorable Mention were: Amber Reilly and Steph Peterson of High Point; Dana Castellano and Jenna Chrico of Morris Hills; Ashleigh Mann and Katie O’Reilly of Montville; Lauren Ferguson and Heather Faasse of Jefferson; Brianna Zazzaro and Jackie Pignataro of Mount Olive; Courtney Noone and Kelly Glasson of Sparta; Kellianne Baumann and Jess Mills of Vernon; and Sam Mitchell and Megan Baird of Pope John.
Hackettstown won the Freedom Division as the Tigers (13-12) went 8-2 in league play with their losses coming to Kittatinny (17-9, 5-5) and Wallkill Valley 9-18, 5-5).
Sarah Kayal and Brittany Drake were named to Freedom first team for the Tigers.
Joining them on the first team were Megan Price of Lenape Valley (14-10, 5-5), Kristen Toropiw of Hopatcong (2-17, 1-9), Lexi Homa of Newton (10-15, 6-4), Melissa Conrad of Wallkill Valley and Nicole Calella of Kittatinny.
Named to the second team were: Alaine Slavin and Amanda Aussems of Hackettstown, Devony DiMattia of Lenape Valley, Jenn Casterline and Kelsey Koch of Kittatinny, Nederah Scott of Newton and Kelsey Murray of Wallkill Valley.
Receiving Honorable Mention were: Dzentia Cifric of Hackettstown, Lindsay Sabo of Lenape Valley; Sue Skaleski of Newton, Lindsay Hoffman of Wallkill Valley and Alyse DePaola of Kittatinny.
It was another great season in the Mugs Media area, headlined by High Point’s historic-run. But the resurgence of Kittatinny hoops under Andy Meyers and young, run-and-gun Lenape Valley Patriots also turned some heads.
We also had 1,000-point scorers in Tallamy, Breheny and Murray and with the return of several talented underclassmen next year, the 2011-2012 season should be a good one as well.
FINAL NJAC AMERICAN DIVISION STANDINGS
HIGH POINT 14-0, JEFFERSON 12-2, SPARTA 8-6, VERNON 7-7, POPE JOHN 7-7, MORRIS HILLS 5-9, MOUNT OLIVE 3-11, MONTVILLE 0-14.
FINAL NJAC FREEMON DIVISION STANDINGS
HACKETTSTOWN 8-2, NEWTON 6-4, KITTATINNY 5-5, LENAPE VALLEY 5-5, WALLKILL VALLEY 5-5, HOPATCONG 1-9.
FOND FAREWELL…I consider myself a very lucky guy doing what I do for a living.
Covering sports in the county where I grew is a special thing and what makes it even more fun is the fact that I get along so well with the coaches in the area.
Well, one of those coaches decided to hang up his whistle last month and he will be sorely missed by the staff at Mugs Media.
Newton football coach Tom Brennan stepped down after six seasons with the Braves and will be replaced by Newton assistant Jim Rabbitt.
Brennan had a good run with the Braves and with his spread attack Newton was one of the more enjoyable teams to watch. But Brennan brought more to the table then a fun offense.
Brennan was a father figure to his players as the former Marine doled out tough love and did a great job of motivating his kids despite having low numbers.
He has sent numerous players onto the collegiate level despite the fact the Braves struggled to reach .500.
In fact, William Paterson in Wayne has become “Newton South” with former Newton stars Ryan Gresik, Steven Shawger, Alex Price and Brian Winfield playing for the Pioneers.
Brennan had a knack for molding his players not just into football players but classy men who were a joy to interview after games. They always represented themselves and Newton football well and that was a credit to Brennan.
Brennan was also nothing but good to Mugs Media and a positive guy to be around. In fact, I was talking to someone the other day about how Brennan used to forget he was wearing glasses while demonstrating a blocking drill and he cut his face.
We laughed and he would say let me stop bleeding before I go on camera. He was just a good guy to be around.
So, Tom, we wish you the best of luck and I hope you enjoy your retirement.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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