Stevens girls hoops looking to brighter days BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer It was a season rife in growing pains for the J.P. Stevens High School girls basketball team. A program accustomed to winning endured one of its toughest seasons in recent memory that resulted in a 3-20 showing. "We are a very young team, and we definitely took some lumps," Stevens head coach John Spiess said. "We always started at least three freshmen and sometimes had four on the floor. It was a difficult season, but the next couple of years look bright for us." With the end of the season, Stevens said goodbye to senior captains Lauren Fellner and Adrienne Dzema. Both saw significant action this season off the Stevens' bench. Junior Gabrielle Freeman was the lone upperclassman to crack the starting lineup this year and is expected to be a force to reckon with for another season. "Gabby shoulderedmuch of the load this season," Spiess said. "She was very consistent for us, andwe'll be looking for a big senior season from her next year." Fortunately for Stevens, the experience the younger players gained this season should have themready to collectmorewins next year. "We ended the season with 14 players on the varsity team," Spiess said. "We had some injuries, and this gave some other players the opportunity to get some varsity experience." The Hawks lost sophomore point guard Andrea Alvarez to a high ankle sprain, which opened the door for freshman Shannon LaFrano to log minutes. "Losing Andrea was devastating for us," Spiess said. "We're excited for her to come back next year and add stability to the floor. She had high expectations, and her injury was a blow to all of us." With Alvarez on the shelf, LaFrano ended up starting 18 games this season, and the experience should bode well for the team's future. "It was definitely trial by fire for Shannon," Spiess said. "She's a nice little scorer and it's always nice to get that first year of varsity basketball under your belt." Classmates Samantha Vale and Jessica Goldbach are also players towatch out for in the next couple of seasons. While Vale's action was limited due to an injury, Goldbach gave a sneak preview of the kind of career she is likely to have at Stevens. She finished her freshman campaign averaging just short of a double-doublewith nine points and nine rebounds per game. She tallied 216 points and 247 rebounds on the season. "Once she gets some additional upperbody strength, shewill be a real inside force," Spiess said. "She had a nice year for anybody, let alone a freshman, and she played against some real tough players in the Red Division." In the team's two losses to Edison, Goldbach scored a combined 37 points and collected 25 rebounds. She should be a thorn in Stevens' crosstown rival for years to come. Also expected back for next season is junior Wonu Ogunfowora and sophomore Meaghan Callender.