Shore Conference Week 5 Girls Basketball Player of the Week (Jan. 21 to Jan. 27)

Previous winners
Week 1: Jac Ward, Southern
Week 2: Shelby Barksdale, Mater Dei
Week 3: Kristina Donza, Jackson Memorial
Week 4: Hannah Orloff, Freehold Twp.

Poll closes Wednesday at 10 pm

A North Player of the Week

Gisella Romeo, Marlboro (Sr. G 5-7)

Gisella Romeo of Marlboro (Photo by Paula Lopez)
Gisella Romeo of Marlboro (Photo by Paula Lopez)
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The elusive guard was the beneficiary of open seams created by the perimeter dominance flexed by the Mustangs. She penetrated inside to supply 11 points in a win over Manalapan but thoroughly seized an opportunity to drive on Saturday, exploiting paths to the rim created by Marlboro’s 17 3-pointers to drop in 21 during a 93-67 decision over Vineland at the 97.3 ESPN Shootout.

Wild Cards

Caitlin Gresko, Howell (So. F 5-10)

Her work under the rim was instrumental in a pair of Howell victories. Gresko picked up 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Rebels’ 58-38 win over Manalapan and followed up with 17 points, six boards and two steals to aid a 61-50 triumph against Wall.

Kayla Richardson, Middletown South (Jr. G/F 5-9)

Locked in over the last six games in which she scored no less than 10 points, Richardson emphasized her versatility for the Eagles. She amassed 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steal and a block in a 64-33 win over Howell, had 10 points, seven boards, three assists, two steals and two blocks as the Eagles downed Trinity Hall, 42-27, and finished with 12 as South bowed to Rumson-Fair Haven, 43-41, to snap a 10-game win streak.  

Honorable Mention: Maddie Bideaux, Freehold; Tanya Elsbree, Freehold Twp.; Kaylie Elsbree, Freehold Twp.; Hannah Orloff, Freehold Twp.; Jessica O’Brien, Howell; Grace Leary, Howell; Anyssa Fields, Long Branch; Lauryn Thomas, Manalapan; Theresa Besso, Marlboro, Sammy Jay, Marlboro; Stephanie Mayerhofer, Middletown South; Eve Pirie, Middletown South.

A Central Player of the Week

Faith Masonius, Manasquan (Sr. G/F 6-1)

Faith Masonius of Manasquan (Photo by Paula Lopez)
Faith Masonius of Manasquan (Photo by Paula Lopez)
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Compensating for the absence of senior sharpshooter Lola Mullaney, Masonius was more than willing to shoulder some of the burden, producing a career-high 34 points and 19 rebounds to go with four steals and two assists as the Warriors outlasted Rumson-Fair Haven, 48-44. She collected 21 points, nine boards, seven assists, four steals and a block during a 72-52 win over Holmdel and wrapped up the week by dropping 19 and ripping 14 rebounds as the Warriors stormed past the Patrick School, 60-32, at the Coaches Choice USA Challenge.

Wild Cards

Katrina Wojtowicz, Raritan (Sr. F 5-9)

Her play along the arc has made the lengthy senior a fueling agent for the Rockets. She canned four treys and totaled a career-high 27 points to power Raritan past Holmdel, 74-48. She has accumulated 40 3-pointers.

Cortland McBarron, Rumson-Fair Haven (So. G 5-9)

With the Dawgs in the midst of a two-game losing skid, McBarron helped avoid a third. Her driving bucket with 3.5 seconds left stamped a career-high 23 point-performance and vaulted Rumson past Middletown South, 43-41.

Brynn Farrell, St. Rose (Jr. G/F 5-11)

Farrell punctuated a productive week on Sunday when St. Rose needed her most. Having lost senior sharpshooter Lauren Lithgow to injury in the first quarter and deadlocked with Albertus Magnus (NY), 38-38, heading into the fourth at the Coaches Choice USA Challenge, Farrell responded accordingly, striking for 14 of her 27 points over the closing eight minutes to lock down a 59-51 victory. She added five rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.

Honorable Mention: Leah Nolan, Holmdel; Lola Mullaney, Manasquan; Sydney Po, Monmouth; Jordan Hyman, Raritan; Sophia Sabino, Red Bank Catholic; Justin Pissott, Red Bank Catholic; Ally Carman, Red Bank Catholic; Lucy Adams, Rumson-Fair Haven; Abby Antognoli, St. Rose; Lauren Lithgow, St. Rose; Madison LaRosa, Shore; Caitlin Donegan, Shore.

A South Player of the Week

Nicole Platten, Toms River East (Jr. G 5-7)

Winners of five straight, the Raiders got a perimeter punch packed in the form of the 5-7 Platten. She drained five triples en route to a season-best 17 points in a 56-41 win over Southern and came back three nights later to net 12 points on the strength of four threes.

Wild Cards

Bianca Giordano, Jackson Memorial (Jr. G 5-5)

The primary facilitator responsible for feeding out to the wealth of options at her disposal, the creative playmaker pays out in a consistent, unselfish manner. For the second year in a row, Giordano surpassed 100 assists in a season, accomplished after dishing out a total of 23 in decisions over Brick Memorial, Point Boro and Central, against whom she handed out 10.

Jenna Paul, Toms River North (Sr. F 5-10)

Having dropped two straight, the Mariners were in need of a stabilizing force. Up stepped Paul, who backed 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in a win against Brick with 28 points and 10 boards as Toms River North topped Toms River South, 41-31.

Honorable Mention: Lauren Washco, Brick; Jenna Schiessl, Brick Memorial; Mercedes Corbin, Central; Bianca Giordano, Jackson Memorial; Dani Evans, Jackson Memorial; Kristina Donza, Jackson Memorial; Jac Ward, Southern; Kaela Curtin, Southern; Sam Del Rio, Southern; Kamryn Lister, Toms River East; Adriana Hart, Toms River East; Kristina Johnson, Toms River North; Shiloh Williams, Toms River South.

B North Player of the Week

Sajada Bonner, St. John Vianney (Sr. F 6-0)

Sajada Bonner of St. John Vianney (Photo by Paula Lopez)
Sajada Bonner of St. John Vianney (Photo by Paula Lopez)
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Bonner has been a picture of consistency for the top-ranked Lady Lancers, clicking for 16.0 points per game over a stretch of the last seven outings, all victories. But no performance better represents her embrace of the marquee matchup more so than what she delivered on Sunday, pumping in a season-high 26 points to vault SJV over Saddle River Day, 67-59, at the Coaches Choice USA Challenge. She went 6 of 6 at the line in the closing period and stepped in to absorb a pivotal late-game charge.

Wild Cards

Eva Gibson, Colts Neck (Sr. F 5-11)

The Cougars notched three more wins to run their win streak to six and Gibson offered an inside presence receptive to entries. She scored in double figures in all three contests, including 15 during a 48-36 triumph against Matawan.

Khoryn Bannis, Matawan (Sr. G 5-10)

The Huskies absorbed a pair of tough losses despite the gripping play of Bannis.She had 22 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and one assist during a 48-36 loss to Colts Neck and came back two nights later to once again drop 22, this time, with nine boards as Holmdel inflicted a 51-49 setback on the Huskies.

Meghan Murray, Red Bank (Sr. G 5-10)

A tireless work ethic was apparent in how efficiently Murray worked both ends of the floor. She averaged 18.0 points and 5.0 steals per game as the Bucs bounced back from a loss to Colts Neck by claiming victory in meetings with Ocean and Egg Harbor.

Honorable Mention: Camryn Foltz, Colts Neck; Jessica Theising, Colts Neck; Gianna Aiello, Matawan; Melissa Golembieski, Middletown North; Gina Palladino, Middletown North; Macy Brackett, Neptune; Amaya Evans, Neptune; Morgan Bartlett, Ocean; Caitlin Decker, Red Bank; Katie Hill, St. John Vianney; Madison St. Rose, St. John Vianney; Nikki Russo, Wall.

B Central Player of the Week

Giana Piccini, Keyport (Sr. G/F 5-7)

Her work under the boards helped the Red Raiders to three triumphs that stretched their win streak to five. After supplying 12 points and seven boards to a 50-21 victory against Ranney, Piccini piled up 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists during a win over Henry Hudson. She capped the week by dropping in 11 and cleaning five boards as Keyport downed Perth Amboy Tech, 54-33.

Wild Card

Carleigh Burns, Point Beach (Sr. G)

The Beach bounced back from a lopsided loss to Trinity Hall with victories against Ranney and Spotswood. Burns played a big part in both, knocking down two threes on her way to 19 points in the former and scoring 18 in the latter.

Honorable Mention: Deyonna Carter, Asbury Park; Kerry Harper, Henry Hudson; Alyssa Castera, Keansburg; Shannan Devlin, Keyport; Alexis Breen, Keyport; Katie Zoda, Mater Dei; Jaylynn Graham, Mater Dei; Brooke Schmelz, Ranney, Lily Blumenkrantz, Ranney; Colleen Cusat, Trinity Hall; Haven Dora, Trinity Hall, Caitlin Wingertzahn, Trinity Hall.

B South Player of the Week

Leilani Correa, Manchester (Sr. G 6-0)

Leilani Correa of Manchester (Photo by Paula Lopez)
Leilani Correa of Manchester (Photo by Paula Lopez)
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Correa is no stranger to the big-game atmosphere having been in her fair share over three years at Rutgers Prep. Now at Manchester, she acquainted the fan base with what she can do opposite high-caliber opposition. She had 22 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block as the Hawks tightened the grip on B South by upending Donovan Catholic, 66-38, and, one night later, accounted for 21 points, nine boards, four assists and three steals in a hard-fought 69-67 decision over South Jersey power Gloucester Catholic. On Sunday, she applied the finishing touches on a stellar week by pouring in 30 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and adding four steals as well as two blocks in an eye-opening 65-59 victory against Long Island Lutheran at the Coaches Choice USA Challenge.

Wild Cards

Jada Baker, Barnegat (Sr. F 5-9)

Baker has crafted a recipe for dominance on the boards for the Bengals. She kicked off the week by securing 13 rebounds, blocking three shots and dispensing three assists in a 39-28 loss to Donovan Catholic. Barnegat came back to edge Jackson Liberty, 41-40, with Baker complementing 13 rebounds with 17 points, including 11 from the charity stripe, and backed that with 18 points, 13 boards, three steals, three blocks and two assists to key a 40-26 win over Monmouth.

Jessica Cannestro, Jackson Liberty (Fr. C)

Cannestro served the Lions in the capacity of Chairwoman of the Boards last week. She registered a double-double in a loss to Lacey, finishing with 14 points and 11 rebounds, tore down 19 boards on Thursday when Liberty fell to Brick and gathered eight more caroms on Friday night in a setback against Barnegat.

Honorable Mention: Sydney Boyer, Barnegat; Nikki Lozito, Barnegat; Paige Slaven, Donovan Catholic; Jordyn Keating, Donovan Catholic; Maura Carney, Jackson Liberty; Allie Toth, Lacey; Hailey Ocskasy, Lacey; Aysha Diawara, Lakewood; Destiny Adams, Manchester; Dakota Adams, Manchester; Bridget Dudas, Pinelands; Allie Delaney, Point Boro; Lila Shaver, Point Boro; Riley Sexton, Point Boro.

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