Girls Basketball 2023-2024 Season Preview: Class B Central

Class B Central

In projected order of finish

Ocean

Head Coach: Mike Lazur, 10th Season

Assistant Coaches: Kathryn Mahon

Record Last Year: 23-6 (9-1 Class C South, Division Champion)

Returning Players: Eli Clark (SR. Guard; 12.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG), Gamila Betton (SR. Forward; 8.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG), Jineen Ayyash (SR. Forward; 7.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG), Sofia Chebookjian (SR. Forward; 5.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG), Kayden Clark (JR. Guard; 8 PPG, 3 RPG), Caroline Bariscillo (SO. Guard; 2.8 PPG, 2 RPG), Ava Chebookjian (SO. Forward; 3 PPG, 1.8 RPG)

Team Outlook: Ocean brings back every player from last year’s team that made it to the Central Jersey Group 3 Final. With one of the most experienced teams in the Shore Conference, Ocean will contend with the top teams in the Shore. Everything runs through Eli Clark and she does a great job getting everyone involved. Ocean does a great job of riding the hot hand and is one of the most unselfish teams in the state.

Shore

Head Coach: William Wishart, eighth Season

Assistant Coaches: Emily Olsen, Troy Madison

Record Last Year: 24-7 (8-2 Class C South)

Returning Players:  Conley Smolokoff (SR. Forward; 8.3 PPG, 5 RPG), Antonette Russo (SR. Forward; 2.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG), Jasmin Okuszka (JR. Guard; 1 PPG), Sofia Merten (JR. Guard), Kayla Husar (JR. Forward), Reese Fiore (JR. Guard; 13.5 PPG, 4 RPG), Ava Coyle (SO. Guard; 5 PPG, 1.5 RPG), Angela Christopher (JR. Guard; 1 PPG, 1 RPG)

Newcomers: Kimi Sayson (JR. Guard; Transfer from Long Branch, 12.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG), Lauren Davis (SO. Forward), Aubrey McGrade (SO. Forward), Grace Ascolese (FR. Forward)

Team Outlook: Shore Regional is back-to-back Central Jersey Group 1 champions and has made two straight trips to the Group 1 finals. The Blue Devils brought back a good portion of their roster, but lost Rylee Drahos, who had a major impact on the program. Junior Reese Fiore will become the primary option for the Blue Devils, but she will have help from transfer Kimi Sayson, who was one of Long Branch’s best players. Shore Regional will have its sights set on a third straight sectional title. 

Monmouth

Head Coach: Laura Forbes, seventh Season

Assistant Coaches: Precious Allah, Anthony Guarino

Record Last Year: 13-10 (5-5 Class C South)

Returning Players: Julia Biasi (SR. Guard; 5 PPG, 3,4 RPG), Olivia Gades (SR. Guard; 3.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG),  Kate Hicks (SR. Forward; 5.6 PPG, 3.2 RPG), Kasey Chonko (SR. Guard; 4 PPG, 1.6 RPG), Amaya Harris (JR. Forward, 9.5 PPG, 4.5 RPG), Mia Troese (SR. Guard; 10.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG), Emma Riccardi (SO. Guard; 1 PPG)

Newcomers: Margaret Serghis (FR. Guard), Angela Carter (SO. Guard), Crystal Velez (SR. Guard)

Team Outlook: Monmouth Regional brings back a veteran team that finished over .500 last season. The senior class helped turn the program around, winning over 10 games in each of the last two seasons. Senior Mia Troese, who had a great freshman season, returns from her second ACL injury to help lead Monmouth. The Falcons can cause problems for opposing teams on the boards with the height of Kate Hicks and Amaya Harris, who led the team in scoring last season. 

Donovan Catholic

Head Coach: Glenn Jansen, 11th Season

Record Last Year: 7-18 (4-6 Class C South)

Returning Players: Anais Friedman (SO. Guard; 4.5 PPG, 2.7 RPG), Angela Forese (SO. Guard; 3.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG), Hannah Kelly (JR. Guard; 1.9 PPG, 1 RPG), Lily Kraljic (JR. Forward; 1 PPG, 1.7 RPG), Maddie Kohler (JR. Guard; 1.7 PPG, 1 RPG), Angie Gibbons (JR. Forward)

Newcomers: Amanda Brown (SR. Guard), Isabella Cino (FR. Guard), Audrey Ernst (FR. Guard), Sarah Franks (FR. Guard), Kaelyn Wright (FR. Guard), Kylie DeGraff (SO. Forward)

Team Outlook: Donovan took a step back last season, losing key players from the previous year to graduation and transfers. The Griffins will continue to rebuild this season and will need to replace the scoring Gabby Ross provided the last three seasons. Sophomore Anais Friedman finished second in scoring last season as a freshman and will look to take the next step. Donovan has a young team with returning players and newcomers and Coach Jansen will look to build off that. Donovan will be one of those teams that improves as the season progresses. 

Jackson Liberty

Head Coach: April Szymczyk, First Season

Assistant Coaches: Sarah Porter, Laura Borrelli

Record Last Year: 10-13 (4-6 Class C South)

Returning Players: Emily Tavaska (SR. Forward), Sophia Porter (SO. Guard/Forward), Nyelah Lavarin-Spears (SO. Guard/Forward), McKayla Alby (SR. Guard/Forward)

Newcomers: Julia Kasnowski (JR. Guard), Jules Georgiano (JR. Forward), Jamie White (JR. Guard), Riley Thorne (SO. Forward),  Yana Kelyman  (SO. Forward), Aleksandra Garyaeva (FR. Guard/Forward), Kaylee Cavallo (FR. Guard), Lauren Reagan (FR. Guard/Forward), Emily Bodurka  (FR. Guard/Forward)

Team Outlook: Jackson Liberty has their third coach in three years and coach April Szymczyk will be starting fresh with almost a completely new roster. The Lions only bring back four returning players and will be changing their lineup around to start the season. Look for Jackson Liberty to improve as the season progresses. 

Lakewood

Head Coach: Alexandra Acosta, 1st Season

Assistant Coaches: Harriette Reynoso and Sarah Dragotti

Record Last Year: 0-19 (0-10 Class C South)

Players: Roster not yet provided; check back for updates

Team Outlook: Coach Alexandra Acosta is Lakewood’s third coach in three seasons. Last season they had six freshmen and look to build on their young roster.