Girls basketball team won SJ title, CAL title, finished as state runner-up
TOMS RIVER – The Mainland Regional High School girls basketball team wrapped up its second best season ever Sunday afternoon.
After being the first team in school history to win a South Jersey sectional title and the Cape-Atlantic League crown in the same season, it was only the second team to make it to the state finals.
Four years ago, when the two seniors on the team were freshman, the Mustangs won their first-ever state championship. For the same two seniors, Camryn Dirkes and Kaitlyn Boggs, the 2022 state title game didn’t go as planned.
The Mustangs fell 62-41 to Sparta High School in the Group III championship game at the RJWBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River.
“It’s just a really special group, particularly the seniors,” head coach Scott Betson said after the game. “They’re just really good kids. I would have hoped for a better ending for them, but you can’t measure success based just on that.
“Everything they did this year – we tied a program record for wins, we won South Jersey and the Cape-Atlantic League this year, something we’ve never done – it was just a really special experience. I hope everyone is able to appreciate that.”
The Mustangs’ quest for another state title in Toms River came undone via a decisive second quarter that saw them outscored 22-8 by the Spartans.
“We’ll look at it and beat ourselves up a little because we could have done this or that,” Dirkes said, “but they just had a great day and that’s what happens.”
The Spartans seemed well aware of where Mainland does most of its damage – in the post and in transition – and worked to limit those opportunities.
“They did a good job of both of those things, taking them away,” Dirkes said. “Unfortunately it wasn’t our best day. Things happen like that.”
Time and again, the Mustangs drove the lane to find only heavy traffic or swiping hands.
“I thought when we did go to the rim we rushed it a little,” Betson said. “We were trying to finish over high hands and I would have preferred jump stops and getting to the foul line a bit more than we did. That’s the nature of the game sometimes; they outclassed us today.”
With Mainland’s shooters unable to connect from long range, it all added up to a difficult day for the offense.
“They did a great job,” Betson said of Sparta. “They’re long, they’re athletic, they’re physical, they hit big shots. They were just the better team today, far and away.”
Sparta looked more confident as the game wore on and their lead ballooned.
Mainland, meanwhile, just couldn’t get its offense cooking.
“It happens and unfortunately that’s the kinds of day we had,” Dirkes said. “Sparta had a good day.”
Guard Ally Sweeney led the charge for the Spartans with 12 first-half points on her way to a game-high 17.
Sparta led 30-12 at halftime and never looked back, leading by as much as 30 in the fourth quarter.
Ava Mazur led the Mustangs with 10 points. Boggs and Kasey Bretones scored 8 points each.
Bella Mazur and Dirkes scored 6 each and Ava Sheeran 2.
Boggs had 5 rebounds, Ava Mazur had 4, Dirkes, Bretones and Bella Mazur had 3 each, Sydney Stokes had 2 and Madison Naman had 1.
Alexa Acker led Sparta with 16 rebounds to go with her 8 points. Brynn McCurry had 10 points and 5 rebounds and Bailey Chapman had 11 points and 3 rebounds.
“Especially being a younger group, and all of this being a new experience with last year being the COVID year, I’m so proud and happy for everyone,” Dirkes said. “I wish it ended differently, but I’m super proud of everyone’s effort.”
The future looks bright for the young team.
“I told them it’s really hard,” Betson said. “I told them throughout this whole playoff run that nothing worth doing comes easy. So hopefully this lights a fire under all of them to keep working hard and getting better. Fun experiences are out there if they put a good product on the floor.”
“Having this kind of experience is something many girls don’t get and they were fortunate enough to get it this year,” Dirkes said. “It’s going to carry into next year and the following season for them.”
“We hope this is an investment for the three sophomores we have starting,” Betson said, referring to the Mazur twins and Bretones. “Nothing is a given. If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that you never really know what’s going to happen. You hope it just inspires them to continue to work and compete.”
They’ll look to follow the example set by seniors Dirkes and Boggs.
“They’re just such great kids, beyond being great basketball players,” Betson said. “Everybody loves them and there’s a reason why. They’re just so likable. Obviously I’m disappointed that that was their last experience as Mainland basketball players, but I’m really happy they were able to have a positive experience this season.”
“This was the best group of girls,” Dirkes said. “They’re my best friends. I couldn’t ask for a better group to play with, to be honest.”
Mainland finished with a 28-3 record, including an unbeaten 15-0 record in the CAL. Sparta has a 26-3 record heading in the Tournament of Champions.
By KYLE McCRANE/Sentinel Sports
