Hardwood Notes - Feb. 2010

One surprise for the Owls this season on the hardwood has come so far from senior small forward Lashaun Parkey. He's "our sixth man off the bench . . . (Parkey) changes the tempo of the game and the attitude of the team when he is in there," says Nobles.

Frank Husslein, a 6-6 senior center, transferred from East Brunswick last season and "didn't play at all last year . . . he is trying to be more balanced," said the coach. "He has a lot to learn and he needs to be more aggressive." Husslein leads the squad in rebounds for the season through Jan. 31.

Senior guard David Webb leads the boys' team in scoring, averaging around 18 points per game. "It's been a little bit of struggle for David this season," says Nobles. "There is wear and tear with him having to play point guard. He is the only one that can bring the ball up when other teams press and he is much more effective when he is playing in a different position."

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Ariel Brown leads the girls' team in scoring, averaging almost 15 points and about 8 rebounds per game. Summers is averaging 13 points and also contributes 4 steals and five assists per game. With strong contributions from their other starters, the Owls recently cracked the Star-Ledger's statewide Top Ten for Group 1.

 

"When other teams look to contain Ariel and Jocelyn, the other girls are stepping up," Washington says. Leah Salkin has scored 34 points in the last seven games and "comes awake offensively when January comes around . . . Tali (Petkov) provides us with a spark, always hustles on rebounds and throws her body all over the floor, Niashia (Southerland) has given strong minutes this year."

Jasmin Robertson, a solid rebounder and defender, has also become more of a threat on the court offensively. Senior forward Melanie Smith contributed five points in the final period against the Destroyers to bring the Owls to twelve wins, and also had six points in a big win against Keyport earlier this season.