Girls Basketball 2023-2024 Season Preview: Class B South

Class B South

In Projected Order of Finish

Manchester

Head Coach: David Beauchemin, 13th Season

Assistant Coaches: Dana Simonelli, Sarah Paturzo

Record Last Year: 17-11 (9-1, Finished First Place in Class B South)

Returning Players: Devyn Quigley (SR, Guard; 34.9 PPG, 11.3 RPG), Zionna Short (SR, Forward; 2.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG), Jade Andrews (JR, Guard; 2.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG), Joliece Reyes (JR, Forward; 1 PPG, 3.6 RPG), Marisiya Goins (SO, Guard;  4 PPG, 2 RPG), Kylie Miller (JR, Guard; 1.5 RPG), Jordyn Felipe (SO, Guard; 3.7 PPG, 4.2 RPG), Sophia Biondi (JR, Forward; 1 PPG, 1.5 RPG)

Newcomers: Madeline Nolan (FR, Guard)

Team Outlook: Manchester surprised everyone by winning the division last season and the Hawks bring all their starters back. North Carolina State commit Devyn Quigley scored 977 points last season and should break Destiny Adams's scoring record at Manchester. With the experience the underclassmen gained last season and the addition of freshman Madeline Nolan, Manchester can compete for the South Jersey Group 2 title. 

Barnegat 

Head Coach: Tammy Nicolini, 11th Season

Assistant Coaches: 

Record Last Year: 12-14 (6-4 Class B South)

Returning Players: Emma Thornton (JR. Forward; 18 PPG, 15 RPG), Riley Fitzpatrick (JR. Guard; 6 PPG, 4 RPG), Sydney Collins (JR. Guard; 2 PPG, 2 RPG), Taylor Soden (JR. Forward), Kasey Saulina (JR.), Madysen Plescho (SO. Guard; 3 PPG, 1.5 RPG), Elizabeth Medina (SO.), Giana Germano (SR. 2.3 RPG), Olivia Carll (JR. Guard; 1.4 PPG, 2 RPG), Rachel Bonhard (SO.)

Team Outlook: Barnegat graduated a big piece of its offense in Cara McCoy, but bring back leading scorer Emma Thornton. Junior Riley Fitzpatrick should have a bigger role on the offensive end this season having been in the system for a full year now after transferring. Barnegat will contend with Manchester for the division title. 

Brick

Head Coach: Kevin Stockhoff, ninth Season

Assistant Coaches: Michael Nausedas, Joseph Smyth, Christine Frazee 

Record Last Year: 5-17 (3-7 B South)

Returning Players: Riley Nausedas (JR, Guard); Madalynn Doughert (JR, Guard); Kiley Groschel (SR, Forward); Jayana Candeleria(SO, Forward); 

Newcomers: Summer Fenwick (So, Guard); Riley O’Brien (So, Guard); Ashley Cali (SO, Guard);  Leighana Murray (SO, Guard), AnnaClaire Staudt (FR, Forward)

Team Outlook: Brick has a ton of experience on the court even though they only have one senior. Junior Riley Nausedas has been leading Brick since her freshman year with her ability to get to the basket and shoot from outside. Junior Madalynn Doughert is a dangerous outside shooter. Freshman AnnaClaire Staudt will get a lot of minutes and will help Brick in the paint. 

Central

Head Coach: Dan Torsiello 

Assistant Coaches: Brianne Allender, Nick Miele

Record Last Year: 15-12 (8-2 Finished in 2nd Place in Class B South)

Returning Players:  Makenna Leszczynski (SR, Guard; 5.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG) Beth Doderer (SR, Forward; 1.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG), Vita Kelyman (JR, Guard; 2.1 PPG, 3 RPG), Brianna Nelson (SO, Guard; 1.7 PPG, 1 RPG), Angelina Dombroski (SR, Guard 1 PPG, 1 RPG), Alyssa Padilla (SR, Guard), Gabriela Londono (SR, Forward)

Newcomers: Ava Schmidhauser (JR, Guard), Mia Treney (JR, Guard), Jaelynn Witte (SO, Forward), Emma Christiansen (SO, Forward)

Team Outlook: Central surprised some teams last season and finished second in the division. The Golden Eagles gave Manchester their only division loss last year. Central graduated their top three scorers from last season and will be looking for someone to help Makenna Leszczynski on the offensive end.

Lacey

Head Coach: Dawn Paget, second Season

Assistant Coaches: Rob Cashin and Monica Brignola

Record Last Year 4-22 (4-6 B South)

Returning Players:  Ava Schmidt (SO, Guard), Marissa Flores (JR, Guard), Reece Paget (JR, Forward), Brooke Schmidt (SR, Guard), Brooklyn Bell (SO, Forward)

Newcomers: Amelia Mazur (SO, Guard, Transfer from Shore Regional), Mia Moore (FR, Forward), Nathale Morals (JR, Guard), Ava Flanagan (SO, Forward), Ava Lingelbach (SO, Forward), Courtney Roeseler (JR, Forward)

Team Outlook: Lacey has only two starters returning and will rely on Reece Paget and Brooke Schmidt to lead the team on the floor. Ava Schmidt and Brooklyn Bell came off the bench last season and gained valuable experience as freshmen. Lacey’s height can cause problems for opposing defenses.

Pinelands

Head Coach: Keith Lowe, 18th Season

Assistant Coaches: Kelly Fleck, Patti Jaworski, Kate Cuzzi

Record Last Year 2-18 (0-10 Class B South)

Returning Players: Ava Slinchak (Sr, Forward); Jade Brayerton (SR, Forward); Hailey Barchetto (JR, Forward);  Gabby LaPorto (JR, Guard); Jayla Kline (SO, Guard);  Brianna McCorry (SO, Guard); Ashleigh Slinchak (SO, Guard)

Newcomers: Kelcy McKenna (JR, Guard)

Team Outlook: Senior Ava Slinchak returns from injury and will lead Pinelands this season. With her leadership, the Wildcats will have more experience to go with their sophomore guards, who gained valuable experience last season.