Eagles have high hopes for hoops season Squad returns plenty of talent from 22-3 team of last year BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer SCOTT PILLING staff Middletown South’s Danielle Pankey shoots over a Ocean Township defender during a scrimmage in Ocean Township on Thursday. The Middletown High School South girls basketball team will once again depend on balanced scoring and tough defense as it seeks to defend its Shore Conference Class A North crown. The Eagles went 22-3 a year ago and made their way to the Shore Con-ference Tourn-ament semifinals before losing to RBC. Middletown South also qualified for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III tourney, where it was eliminated by West Windsor. Eight of the Eagles’ top players return as only forward Michelle Whalen was lost to graduation. “Most of the girls have been together for four years and they want to make this their year,” coach Tom Brennan said. “They really believe in the concept of team basketball and that’s been the key to our success. Last year, not one player averaged scoring in double-figures; different players stepped up every night.” That should be the case again, particularly with Brittany Hoffman distributing the ball from the point. Hoffman set a team record with 125 assists and also averaged four points a year ago. She’ll be joined in the backcourt by Julie Gannon, who averaged seven points. Middletown South has plenty of strength off the bench with junior Jill Gannon, who averaged six points. Jenna McFarland, a solid defender with a nice touch from three-point range; and hard-working Leeanne Thomas. Shea Taggert (8 ppg) and Courtney Herring (6 ppg) are the forwards with 5-foot-11 junior Shawna Hagen in the middle. All three averaged more than seven rebounds last season. Junior Christina Longo, who averaged 6.3 points, and sophomore Danielle Pankey, who scored 22 points in a loss to Neptune last season, will also see plenty of action up front. Colleen Ford gives the Lions added depth in the forecourt. Brennan noted that in order to move deeper into the postseason his team will have to be more focused defense and more adaptable offensively. “Our defense was solid and consistent throughout the season, but we had occasional lapses that cost us; it happened in all three of our losses,” Brennan said. “A couple of times we let down at the end of a quarter and the other team would go on a 4-0 run or get two points they shouldn’t have gotten. That has to change.” With the ball, the Eagles prefer to run and have the depth to maintain a fast pace, but they will need to be more dimensional this year, the coach added. “We have to be able to adjust our tempo to what other teams are doing,” Brennan continued. “While we want to run, the opportunities aren’t always there. Last year, we’d still try and force a running game instead of taking what the other defense gave us.” The Eagles are set to open the campaign at home on Dec. 15 against rival Middletown North and will visit Manalapan on Dec. 18. Freehold Township comes to town on Dec. 21 and then Brennan’s team will compete in the Trenton Central Holiday Classic beginning on Dec. 27. “The girls are ready to go,” Brennan said. “They’re committed and they spent a lot of time preparing in the offseason. Now it’s time.”