By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop
Team: Manasquan
Ranking: 2
Record Last season: 32-3, 14-0 in conference play
Key players: Dara Mabrey, senior
Faith Masonius, junior
Potential emerging stars: Lola Mullaney, Junior
Team analysis: Make no mistake about it, Manasquan is one of the titans of Girls High School Basketball in New Jersey.
Many teams have talent, but few consistently get that talent to translate into deep tournament runs every year. Much credit is due to their coach which has The Warriors ready night in and night out. In regards to playing style, Manasquan can play any game flow needed to dominate their opponent. They can dissect you in the half court or play a run and gun style. As a result, it's very hard to make them uncomfortable.
So what makes Manasquan tick? The answer is simple: Dara Mabrey. The 2017 P.O.Y. is unstoppable when she gets it going. Mabrey can dominate a game with her savvy ball handling. The floor general gets to any spot on the floor at will. Mabrey can light a scoreboard up in a heartbeat, but her willingness to hit open teammates keeps opposing defenses on their heels. Forward Faith Masonius is a blue chip talent that is ready to take over N.J. She can play inside and out. She has a soft shooting touch and non-stop motor on the glass.
While the team has seen great success, they fell short the past two years in the championship game. The Warriors come into this season with plenty of motivation. With Mabrey running the point and Masonius dominating the glass, Manasquan is an early favorite to go all the way in 2018.
Stat to know: Dara Mabrey was last year. NJ.Com Girls Basketball Player of the Year.