2014-15 Manasquan Girls Basketball Preview

Photo above: Marina Mabrey and Courtney Hagaman

MANASQUAN – Last year the Manasquan Warriors girls basketball team fell one-game short of winning the overall state championship losing to Shabazz in the Tournament of Champions final.

In March of 2012 the Warriors defeated Gill St. Bernard to win the Tournament of Champions and were declared the No.1 team in the state of New Jersey. On that team was a senior All-State guard named Michaela Mabrey who scored 26 points in the championship game. Her younger sister Marina – a freshman guard on the team – chipped in with 12 points and three rebounds. Michaela is now at Notre Dame playing for the Fighting Irish while Marina – now a senior and a Notre Dame commit – is the undeniable leader of the state’s No.2 ranked team.

Marina – a two-time first-team All-State selection - would love nothing more than to cap off her remarkable high school career by following in her sisters footsteps and winning this year’s Tournament of Champions. And in a rare twist of fate that has a definite déjà vu feel to it, Marina and Michaela’s younger sister Dara is expected to contribute immediately on this year’s team as a freshman; sound familiar.

“When I was a freshman Michaela was a big influence and helped me get comfortable,” Marina said. “That’s pretty much going to be my role with (Dara) this year. I don’t see myself as someone who leads by words. I try to lead by example and let my game send whatever message it needs to.”

The Warriors won 27 games last season and 17 of the last 18 after Mabrey transferred back to Manasquan and began playing with the team in early February. They won the Central Jersey Group II title, the overall Group II title and arguably the most difficult of them all; the Shore Conference Tournament championship.

This season, with the graduation of Sam Sullivan, Bridget Ford and Eva Hart the Warriors will have to rely on some younger players who saw extended playing time last season to step into some bigger roles. Fortunately for them they will again benefit from the strong leadership a Mabrey and fellow senior Courtney Hagaman to smooth the transition.

Mabrey was named the Shore Conference Player of the Year last season after averaging 20.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.7 steals a game. She also blocked 22 shots and had 38 three-pointers. Hagaman averaged 10 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals with 34 three-point buckets.

Sophomore guards Stella Clark, Addie Masonius and forward Victoria Glaven along with junior forward Alex Kurtz and junior guard Gilliam Black all saw playing time last season and will either start or be in the rotation. Dara Marbrey will be in that mix as well and is also a potential starter.

Clark’s main role as a freshman last season was off the bench where she has the uncanny ability to ignite rallies and change the complexion of any game. Her boundless energy and enthusiasm for the game can’t help but rub off on her teammates and many see her sliding into a leadership role; a rare occurrence for a sophomore. In limited action last season she scored 206 points, had 99 rebounds, 53 assists and 57 steals.

Masonius saw action in 31 games last season scoring 67 points, with 32 steals, 34 assists and 72 rebounds while Galven added 31 points and 46 rebounds in 21 games. Kurtz appeared in 14 games and Black 24.

Manasquan plays in the Shore Conference Class A Central along with Rumson-Fair Haven, Saint John Vianney and Holmdel. This is unquestionably one of the toughest divisions in the state to win with SJV ranked No.1, Manasquan No.2 and RFH No.4 in the Star Ledger preseason top 20. In all, the Shore Conference placed five teams in the top 20 with St. Rose at No.11 and Middletown South coming in at No.12 while Holmdel is ranked seventh in the Shore Conference.

“The Shore Conference is one of the best in the state,” Mabrey said. “I think the winner of the Tournament of Champions will come from the Shore and I think we’ll win it all.”

“Like any team, we have our goals that we want to achieve,” Manaquan coach Lisa Kukoda said. “We have to go through the entire process step-by-step and just focus on today.”

The Warriors defeated the Bulldogs 64-52 in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Manasquan for a statement making win. Marina Mabrey led the Warriors with 25 points, 14 rebounds, two steals, a blocked shot and four assists. Her sister Dara – who got the start - made an auspicious debut scoring 11 points with six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Clark finished with 12 points and six rebounds while Hagaman and Glavin both had six points.

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