2014-15 Rumson-Fair Haven Girls Basketball Preview

Photo above: Emma Miller, Sam Sabino, Grace Stant and Janae Mayfield

RUMSON – Winning the Class A Central title this season just may be the most difficult task the Bulldogs face this year.

Division foes Saint John Vianney and Manasquan are ranked No.1 and No.2 in the state respectively while the Bulldogs are ranked fourth in the state. The three teams will face each other twice in the regular season before most likely meeting up again in the postseason.

Not often is a team ranked fourth in the state and picked third in their division, but that’s the reality the Bulldogs are facing entering the upcoming season.

Right out of the gate the Bulldogs will find out just how good they are when they travel to Manasquan for their first game of the season then host St. John Vianney three days later.

Many experts feel the Bulldogs should be the one ranked No.1 and are the deepest and most talented team in the state. After winning 20 games last season they return all five starters plus they bring back their best rebounder and post defender who averaged 8-10 points a night for them two seasons ago.

“Last year we didn’t have any seniors so we didn’t lose anyone,” said Rumson guard/forward Grace Stant. “We have all of our stating five coming back so we actually didn’t lose anyone and we have Emma back and she’s a really good player.”

Senior forward Emma Miller was one of the best freshmen in the Shore Conference and started every game her freshman and sophomore year before deciding to devote her time to rowing last fall. As a sophomore she led the upset in the Group II title game vs. No.2 ranked Point Boro that had All-State player Kelly Hughes running the show. And it was her home that the players turned into a meeting place that helped develop the team chemistry that fostered their success.

Miller and Stant have grown up their entire lives playing on the same teams and the two have won everything at every level together.

The 6-foot-0 Villanova-bound Stant is arguably one of the top three players in the Shore. She was a second-team All-Shore selection averaging 12.3 points and 7.7 rebounds all the while fighting off a number of nagging injuries.

“We’ve been working really hard in practice,” Stant said. “Our younger players have really looked good and seem to be much improved. I think we’re going to be a really good team.”

Stephanie Lesko had a breakout season as a sophomore in her first year as a starter last season. The 6-foot-2 junior forward was an All-Division pick when she averaged 11.9 points per game for the Bulldogs. She has a huge upside and is considered a definite DI recruit.

Senior Sam Sabino – a 5-foot-9 guard – has committed to the University of New Hampshire and like Stant played injured most of last season. She’s healthy now and you can expect the player she was as a sophomore to make a return appearance.

Nicole Morris has the ability to score in the lane and can bury three’s. The versatile Morris – a 5-foot-8 guard - has numerous DI offers and can be counted on to score when it’s crunch time.

Senior guard Janea Mayfield is the fifth returning starter and is the Bulldogs best on ball defender. She’s an underrated scorer that can finish at the rim and plays much bigger than her 5-foot-6 height. She also is considered a sure DI recruit.

The Bulldogs bench is loaded with talent and is led by sophomore Lindsey Morris. She was the sixth man last year as a freshman providing defense and a lot of hustle. Expect more offense out of Morris this season as she puts the ball on the floor and hits the open three-point shot. Sophomore forward Hannah Scanlan saw a lot of minutes last season and has the potential to be one of the best young post players in the Shore. She runs the floor well and rebounds in traffic.

Sophomore Katie Foos is a 5-foot-10 swing player who also saw playing time as a freshman. She’s a hard-nosed player that would be a starter on most teams in the Shore as would be another sophomore forward, Megan Volker.

As if Rumson isn’t loaded enough, they added one of the best freshmen in the entire state in Tori Hyduke. She is considered a major impact freshman who can break opponents down off the dribble and explode on the offensive end.

The Bulldogs main problem this year may be finding enough minutes for everyone on this incredibly deep team. They could easily end up No.1 in the state depending on “how the ball bounces.”

“We’re going to try to speed up the game this year,” Stant said. “We’ll run on offense and go with a fast pace defense to get the other team running. We’ll try to tire them out because with the depth we have we can sub and not lose anything while the starters catch their breaths.”

The Bulldogs lost to the Warriors 64-52 in the season opener for both teams Friday night at Manasquan. Lesko was the leading scorer and rebounder for the Bulldogs with 16 points and six boards in the loss. Stant finished with six points, four assists and six rebounds. Hyduke added 10 points and four boards.

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