By Jeff Appelblatt
First-year head coach Jenna Anderson knew things would start off tough for the girls’ basketball team at Manalapan High School.
The team had a rough season last year (6-15), and Anderson knew the girls would struggle getting used to her approach early even though the majority of her lineup has played basketball at Manalapan for the last two or three years.
“We have seven seniors. [But] they’ve been running a different type of basketball for the old coach for three years. Then I came in this year and kind of changed everything up on them, so they have to learn everything,” said the coach, who spent time as an assistant at Columbia University, Ithaca College and Longwood University. “It’s a big change from last year. It’s taken us a little while to get adjusted to the change. They’re used to playing a very specific kind of system. And it’s very, very different this year.”
Manalapan picked up only one win in the team’s first eight outings. Behind 17 points from junior Kerry Tanke, the Braves defeated Egg Harbor Township High School, 40-37, Dec. 26. However, the losses have piled on, even with Tanke averaging almost 16 points.
Losses aside, Anderson has liked what she’s seen from her team.
“We’re trying to incorporate a lot of different fundamental skills that they are kind of just learning right now. So far, I think they’re doing a great job. They work hard. They’re great girls. They do everything I ask,” Manalapan’s coach said. “But I think it’s a little bit of a learning curve because it’s my first year with them. It’s their first year with me.”
As both sides start to become more familiar with each other, Anderson expects to fill the win column more frequently.
“I’m hoping as the month goes on, we’re going to make bigger strides and adjust to the system I want run a little bit better,” the coach said at the team’s practice Jan. 6. “Then we’ll pick up some wins.”
Adding some victories to her first year at Manalapan would make the transition from being an assistant at a few spots in New York and one in Virginia to a small one in New Jersey almost perfect. Anderson, who is a chemistry teacher at Holmdel High School, won’t ask for much more than that.
“I really enjoy it as a [coach in Manalapan]. The girls are great. I like this school. I love the neighborhood. The [athletic director, John Hein,] has been wonderful. Everyone at Manalapan has been wonderful,” the coach said. “We’ll adjust, and we’ll get some wins.”
The Braves had a chance for a victory at Neptune High School (6-1) Jan. 10.
