Girls Basketball 2023-2024 Season Preview: Class A Coastal

Class A Coastal

In projected order of finish

St. John Vianney

Head Coach: Dawn Karpell, 18th Season

Assistant Coaches: Dan Werner, Brian Muller, Zoe Pero, Riley Kehoe, Missy Repoli

Record Last Year: 31-1 (10-0, Finished 1st Place in Class A Central)

Returning Players: Charlotte Bradley (SO, Guard), Taylor Sofilkanich (SO, Forward), Madison Kocis (SO, Guard), Julia Karpell (SR, Guard), Sofia Russo (JR, Guard), Gwen Bruen (SR, Guard), Aleena Dinker (JR, Guard), Carolyn Lundy (SR, Guard)

Newcomers: Daniella Matus (JR, Guard, Transfer from Morris Catholic), Brooklyn Taylor (SO, Guard, Transfer from Ranney), Stella Lockhart (SO, Forward, Transfer from Gill St. Bernard), Tatum Sharpe (FR, Forward), Lissy Lyons (FR, Guard), Brynn Utter (FR, Guard)

Team Outlook: SJV lost the majority of its starters from last season, including McDonald's All-American Zoe Brooks. Senior Julia Karpell and junior Aleena Dinker have the most experience out of the returning players and will be the leaders on the court. Madison Kocis was the Lancers' third-leading scorer as a freshman and steps into a bigger role as a sophomore. SJV has three transfers, all who will make an immediate impact. Stella Lockhart can be dominant in the paint and Daniella Matus is a threat from outside. 

Holmdel

Head Coach: Jessica Venturelli, fifth Season

Assistant Coaches: Mike DeFazio, Kelsey O’Brien, Scott Cannon

Record Last Year: 20-9 (8-2 Class A Central)

Returning Players: Allison Cannon (SR, Guard), Mackenzie Teevan (JR, Forward), Michelle Steele (JR, Forward), Jamie DiCicco (SR, Guard), Grace Kolbasovsky (SR, Forward)

Newcomers: Maya Houston (SO, Forward), Kaitlyn Ng (FR, Guard), Rachel Yasnowski (SO, Guard)

Team Outlook: The senior leadership from Allison Cannon, Jamie DiCicco and Grace Kolbasovsky has helped gel the team in the offseason and will impact the season. Cannon was Shore Sports Network Most Improved Player last season and will look to continue to grow. Her court vision and passing can help get everyone involved. Mackenzie Teevan will cause problems in the paint against opposing defenses with her size.

Long Branch

Head Coach: Shannon Coyle, 11th Season

Assistant Coaches: Michael Green, Pierre Joseph

Record Last Year: 16-8 (6-4 Class A Central)

Returning Players: Leilani Andrews (SR, Guard), Leomary Diaz (JR, Guard), A’layah Vincent (SR, Forward)

Newcomers: Imani Gillespie (SO, Guard),  Nevaeh Wheeler (FR, Guard/Forward) Jadayah Bowles (FR), Layla Bland (FR), Michayla Bland (FR)

Team Outlook: Long Branch lost last year’s two leading scorers but bring back three players who just missed 200 points each. Leilana Andrews and Leomary Diaz have the quickness to get to the basket and A’layah Vincent, who finished with 269 rebounds, can control the paint. Long Branch will need the freshmen class to help make up for the pieces that left this season.

Freehold Boro

Head Coach: Taryn Scinto

Assistant Coaches: Emily Holtz

Record Last Year: 9-14 (3-7 Class A Central)

Returning Players: Breanna Cies (SR, Forward), Sayuri Penaranda (JR, Guard), Christina Sikaras (JR, Guard), 

Team Outlook: Freehold Boro has improved in the win column every year since Sayuri Penaranda and Christina Sikaras started. They won zero games as freshmen and won nine last season. They combined for 626 out of the teams 868 points last season. Senior Breanna Cies can cause problems inside as she grabbed 245 rebounds last year. 

Raritan 

Head Coach: Nick Mahoney, third season

Assistant Coaches: Ashley Waake, Lauren Christ

Record Last Year: 6-14 (3-7 Class A Central)

Returning Players: Gianna Manfredi (SO, Guard), Angela Peduto (JR, Guard), Brooke Shea (SO, Guard), Moira McCarron (SR, Forward), Brianna Daly (SR, Forward), Isa Geoghan (JR, Guard) Morgan Lee (SR, Forward)

Newcomers: Celia Grecco (JR, Guard), Isabella Aquilone (Guard)

Team Outlook: Raritan brings back three starters and has a mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen to build for the future. They bring back their leading scorers with sophomore Brooke Shea, senior Brianna Daly, and junior Angela Peduto. 

Matawan

Head Coach: Krissy Suckow-Hamlett, first season

Assistant Coaches: Ahniyah Moore 

Record Last Year: 5-19 (0-10 Class A Central)

Returning Players: Sabrina Calcagno (SO, Guard), Emma Kriegstein (SO, Guard), Taylor Nagy (SO, Guard), Zaira Carballo (JR, Guard), Julia Butler (SO, Forward)

Newcomers: A.J. Koromah (FR, Guard), Adriana Euell (JR, Forward)

Team Outlook: Matawan has one of the youngest teams in the Shore Conference with only two juniors and no seniors in the projected rotation. Matawan lacks size, but works hard on the defensive end. Coach Suckow-Hamlett is the team's third coach in three seasons and has the youth to build the culture at Matawan.