Analysis: Why Manasquan girls basketball could be this season's top defensive team at the Shore
The new season has already provided a revelation: The Manasquan High School girls basketball team has the potential to lock down any ball club at the Shore this season.
On Thursday's opening night, the Warriors got a 49-27 win over Trinity Hall with Katie Collins leading the way with 19 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Manasquan poured in in 23 points in the third quarter to blow the gates open.
The Warriors' biggest highlight may have been holding Harvard commit Nina Emnace to seven points. However, they struggled to knock down shots and only made 50% of their free throws.
So wanna know where Manasquan stands as a unit? Here’s the scouting report:
Where does Manasquan's strength lie defensively?
Defense was a big point of emphasis for Manasquan. With Penn commit and 6-foot-2 Collins dominating the paint, the opposition has a hard time grabbing boards. Senior and Bucknell commit Hope Masonius also helps out on the glass with high intensity as well. The Warriors play a man-to-man defense with a lot of pressure on the ball handler as soon as the ball passes half court. From there, Warrior perimeter players are good at help defense and contesting everything. Manasquan doesn’t like to change out of this formula much during the game, unless they're guarding full court.
“We always take pride in our defense,” Manasquan head coach Lisa Kukoda said. “Our first three tryout practices are 95% defense because we just take a lot of pride in that and the on-ball stuff absolutely, we do those drills every day. We talk about pride in stopping your girl.”
Juniors Shea Donnelly and Olivia Shaughnessy, sophomores Jordyn Hollawell and Lily Johnson and senior McKenna Karlson all fulfilled their defensive responsibilities.
Where does Manasquan have a weakness?
With so much emphasis on the defensive side from the entire team, the counter is that at times 'Squan struggles to find points. Manasquan has size to create an inside presence but there's a lack of consistency by outside shooters. Although their height advantage creates a mismatch at times, their bigs lacked post moves and mostly found success on second-chance baskets and back cuts. At times, Manasquan players can be passive, but once they find a rhythm, they start rolling.
“The great ball movement and patience really helped us tonight,” Masonius said. “In the beginning we were kind riled up but once we controlled the ball we got great looks, when we were patient we got great looks.”
Who are Manasquan's offensive sparks and what’s their tendencies?
Masonius brings the offensive intensity with her ability to push the ball in transition and drive to the basket. She’ll find herself at the charity stripe a lot of times this season. Expect her to take charge whenever in a shooting slump. Lapinski and Shaughnessy are options to kick out to and knock down an open jumper.
“She’s great to play with, she’s going to Bucknell and is going to be awesome there,” Collins said about Masonius. “I love playing with her. She’s a great passer, and scorer.”
Collins evolved her game over the summer and can knock down 3’s and free throws when needed. Manasquan likes to get a lot of ball movement going on offense with slashers and short passes along the perimeter. Sometimes it forces them in tough spots on the floor when facing a tough defensive team. But when in doubt, they look towards their upperclassmen.
Manasquan: Our takeaway
Manasquan already has an elite defense that can give any team on the Shore problems, plus the duo of Collins and Masonius makes them a deep playoff threat. If they can knock down long range shots more consistently, they might have a chance to claim championships.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Manasquan girls basketball: The Jersey Shore's top defensive team?
