By Tim Morris
Marlboro High School girls basketball coach Brad Hagensen rolled the dice this year.
With a team he labeled as very young and very inexperienced, he put the Mustangs through a demanding early-season, non-division schedule against state powers like Franklin High School, Rutgers Preparatory School and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. He knew the Mustangs would take some lumps along the way. However, the goal was to make his team better in March.
“It was by design,” he said. “By upgrading the schedule, it would prepare us for the postseason.
“Facing some of the best teams in the state and facing that intensity and competitiveness, I think seeing that has given them confidence we can play at that level.”
Hagensen pointed out that in those games, which includes Shore Conference A North Division rival Middletown High School South (last year’s NJSIAA Group III champion), the Mustangs were able to hang with the best. The difference was playing with that intensity for the entire game.
“We were right there, but we couldn’t sustain it for four quarters,” Hagensen said. “I think we’ve gained a little respect competing with those teams.”
Hagensen said the next step is not just to compete with those teams but begin to beat them.
There was a downside to Hagensen’s plan. If the Mustangs were too beaten up in those games, they could lose confidence and the team could start to fray. That didn’t happen. The schedule made the Mustangs stronger and more confident.
“I was surprised by how well they stuck together,” Hagensen said. “They’ve shown great team unity. They work together well. Everyone is one the same page.”
Thanks to a five-game winning streak, the Mustangs are above .500 with an 8-5 record.
“We weathered the storm early on and have been able to build on that,” Hagensen said.
Although Marlboro won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title last winter and had nine players returning, Hagensen was quick to point out that everyone is playing a different role with added responsibilities this year.
Last year’s team had 1,000-career point scorer Nicole Shatsky, who would step up and make the big plays. She is now playing for Stockton University.
“Nicole Shatsky carried us at times,” Hagensen said.
This year, the leadership mantel has fallen upon a four-year stater: 5-foot-11 center Tatum Evans.
“Tatum has taken on that role as leader on the court,” her coach said. “She’s always been our leader on defense.
“This year, we run a lot of our offense through her. She’s the centerpiece.”
As a true pivot player, as Hagensen described, the Mustangs are utilizing her post play.
While last year’s club was guard-oriented, this year’s team goes more inside-outside. The Mustangs are using Evans’ presence in the paint to open up the 3-point shot, which is still a very important part of Marlboro’s offense.
Evans and Marlboro’s 3-point threats, Molly Weiss and Jessica Broad, complement each other. While Evans can find the open shooter when defenses collapse around her, the shooting of Weiss and Broad keeps defenses from double- and triple-teaming her.
Weiss (22) and Broad (13) have been Marlboro’s top 3-point marksmen. In total, six different players have connected on 3-pointers.
Weiss has new responsibilities as well as the team’s point guard. She’s asked to control the game, according to her head coach.
Forwards Broad and Jessica Iabellis, who were role players last year, have stepped up as starters.
Broad is averaging just fewer than 13 points a game, as is Evans, creating a nice scoring combination. The sophomore leads the team in rebounding, assists and steals as she does things on both sides of the court.
Hagensen pointed out that Iacobellis , a senior, does all the little things that make a difference. She’s been a steady scorer, averaging just fewer than 10 points a game. She ranks among the team leaders in rebounds, assists and steals.
One of the best things about the Mustangs is their balance scoring.
“Everyone knew last year who was taking the last shot,” Hagensen said. “This year, the big shots have come from different players. We have a different go-to player game to game.”
Hagensen has been getting contributions from everyone, including three freshmen who have blended in quite nicely. Guard Gisella Romeo and forwards Theresa Besso and Allie Garcia have added more than quality depth to the team with their contributions.
Sophomore Isabella O’Hare (forward) and juniors Jenn Angelone (guard) and Jillian Krantz (guard) are playing pivotal roles.
Marlboro is 6-1 in A North Division play with a chance to at least get a share of the division title when the Mustangs play their nemesis of recent years, Middletown High School South. The Eagles topped the Mustangs in the first meeting, 59-53, in Middletown. Marlboro would like nothing more than to return the favor at home Jan. 28.
As big as that win would be regarding division play, it would mean more in the overall picture. It would signal that the Mustangs have learned how to beat the top teams — something that would help them even more in the upcoming Shore Conference and NJSIAA Central Jersey tournaments.
