PGH NJ 2021-22 Team Preview: Colts Neck
Colts Neck played in one of the most competitive pods in the Shore Conference this spring, along with teams like Holmdel and St. John Vianney. The Cougars got a rough draw to begin the season, losing back-to-back games against Holmdel.…
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Continue ReadingColts Neck played in one of the most competitive pods in the Shore Conference this spring, along with teams like Holmdel and St. John Vianney.
The Cougars got a rough draw to begin the season, losing back-to-back games against Holmdel. However, this team got back on track in a great way, ending the regular season with eight wins in their last nine games into the Shore Conference Tournament.
As one of the top teams in the C Pod, Colts Neck’s stellar defense was a major factor as the Cougars reached the final. That would unfortunately be the end of their run, losing 31-25 at the hands of Trinity Hall.
The thing about this program that makes it stand out from the rest is that despite losing five key seniors last season including leading scorer Jessica Thesing, most everyone on the roster played.
Of the 13 players on last season’s roster, 11 played in 10 or more games, so there’s been such a balance of playing time that the Cougars will be able to re-group and strike harder this season.
Prep Girls Hoops New Jersey continues its season preview series with a look at Colts Neck, a program that is going to put its roster construction prowess on display this season.
Julianna Gibson and Taryn Jacobs are the big names to focus on coming into the season. The two were the second and third-leading scorers, respectively, for the Cougars last season.
Gibson was also the second-leading rebounder in the spring, but those two are undoubtedly the core of this team and one that head coach Steve Jannarone will build around.
Jacobs was tied for the team lead in made three-point field goals last season, making sense for her to reprise her role, not just as a perimeter specialist, but the main point guard for Colts Neck.
The Cougars didn’t rely on the three-pointer much at all last season, making just 16 total threes in a 14 game season, but having a dual threat who can score from any place on the floor is a great place to start up top.
Gibson, on the other hand, will be down low, attacking the rim on both sides of the ball while being an excellent shot-blocker. She has the ability to really shine in that department this winter.
Those two seniors, along with senior teammate Madison Hunt, have the potential to be a solid trio in the Shore this season. Hunt is a great defensive player and will really excel on that side of the ball.
From there, juniors Katie Finnegan and Lauren Zeltser should have much bigger roles either in the starting lineup or coming off the bench.
Sophomore Savannah Butz was the lone freshman on the roster last season and she’ll be asked to play a lot more. Her minutes are going to dramatically increase, which will give her much more of an opportunity to grow and develop as a guard.
Senior Isabella Marcinkiewicz is a wild card this season, but her experience will be a key factor to her play for Colts Neck. That proves to be incredibly important down the road this season.
This season’s roster will most certainly shrink, but the quality of players that the Cougars are going to put on the floor this season will make this team competitive regardless of roster size.