Shore Sports Insider 2025-26 Girls Basketball Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team
Shore Sports Insider 2025-26 All-Defensive Team
Defensive Player of the Year
Daniela Maletsky, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
RBC’s Daniela Maletsky (Photo by Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
“Defense wins championships,” is the old adage coaches use to motivate their players. Coaches spend hours watching film and creating game plans to give their team the best chance of winning. Having a versatile, lock-down defender that works whistle to whistle, baseline to baseline that can make life difficult for the opposing team’s top scorer makes the game planning process significantly easier. It is no surprise that New Jersey’s top team, Red Bank Catholic, had perhaps the best team defense in the state. The Caseys had one player who drew the toughest assignment from game-to-game and worked hard on every possession to shut opposing teams down and that was Daniela Maletsky. Her tenacity, technique, and defensive IQ has earned her the Shore Sports Insider Defensive Player of the Year.
Defense gets overlooked by most, especially if you are just looking at box scores. The numbers do not tell you the full story. Even if you look at steals, Maletsky had 54 which was just the third highest total for the Caseys. If you were able to watch her play, you would see what she really meant to the Red Bank Catholic defense and why she was one of the biggest reasons they won back-to-back Shore Conference championships and this year’s Non-Public A state title.
“Our defensive game plan started with using Dani’s versatility to our advantage,” RBC head coach Joe Montano said. “She was a weapon that fired up our team on a nightly basis. Her teammates appreciated and drew energy from her performance.”
Red Bank Catholic senior Daniela Maletsky drives against Morris Catholic’s Anastasia Bonfante. (Photo: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
With the difficult schedule that RBC plays, Maletsky was challenged every game. They are constantly playing ranked teams either in the Shore Conference, New Jersey, or nationally. Every game she would matchup with the toughest assignment.
“There were so many games she made a big difference,” Montano said. “Lenape and Paul VI were games where she took elite scorers out of the game. I would say the sectional final vs St. John Vianney was her best effort.”
Maletsky had the unenviable task of covering Madison Kocis, who was one of the Lancers leading scorers and one of the best guards in the state. Maletsky had to fight through screens, chase Kocis around the court, and prevent her from getting to the basket. She held Kocis to just five points, her lowest total in a non-lopsided game.
It takes a special person to fight day in and day out on the defensive side of the floor knowing you do not get the recognition that leading scorers do. The mental game is just as important as the physical part. Being able to forget about a mistake earlier in the game is what makes elite defenders stand out.
“Mental toughness and determination are her greatest gifts,” Montano said. “Her ability to block out everything and stay focused on her assignment is elite. Defense is effort and determination. That is who Dani is as a person and player. She has no ego and her competitive nature is second to none.”
Daniella Maletsky at the foul line in the SCT Quarterfinal Round at Holmdel HS. Photo by Patrick Olivero
After Maletsky graduates from RBC she will be joining the United States Military Academy at West Point and will be playing basketball for Army in the winter. It takes a special person, athlete or not, to join any of the military academies. Playing at RBC helped prepare her because the team comes above the individual.
“Army will get a player who puts the success of the team first and cares about her teammates,” Montano said. “Dani will help create a culture of winning and a positive environment. There is no better teammate than Dani Maletsky.”
All-Defensive Team
Brooke Gathman, So., Toms River East
Brooke Gathman going for a block in the opening round of the KWCC against Middletown South. 12/26/25 Photo by Patrick Olivero
Gathman is the only true center on this list, making her presence felt inside the paint. Her ability to control the paint in the Raiders’ zone defense helped make the zone that much more effective and was why they are one of toughest defensive teams to attack. Gathman’s height and ability to block and alter shots makes it hard for opposing teams to get to the basket. She finished on top of the Shore Conference leaderboard with 118 blocks this season which was 4.2 blocks per game. She set a career-high with 10 blocks against Point Boro during the season.
Brooke Jaenicke, Jr., St. Rose
Brooke Jaenicke grabbed seven rebounds against Teaneck in the KWCC Showcase. 12/29/25 Photo by Patrick Olivero
Transferring from Rumson-Fair Haven, Jaenicke came to St. Rose and immediately established herself as one of their top defenders. Jaenicke had no days off with the highly-competitive schedule that they played. She would draw the toughest assignments no matter the size of her opponent. Jaenicke used her strength to avoid being pushed around and was never afraid of playing physical. She set the tone in the first game in the St. Rose uniform, holding Trinity Hall’s leading scorer to just 10 points, with half of them coming from the foul line.
Riley Joyce, Sr., Red Bank Regional
Riley Joyce running the offense against Brick Twp on opening night at Red Bank. 12/16/25 Photo by Tom Smith
Last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Joyce might not be the biggest player on this list, but she has a motor that does not quit. Having to cover the opposing team’s best guard, Joyce relies on her speed and determination to wear down her opponents. If you check the box score you find the players that Joyce guarded did not have an easy time reaching double-digits, if they did so at all.
Chloe Kelly, Jr., Rumson-Fair Haven
RFH junior guard Chloe Kelly (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
The lacrosse star played a vital role in Rumson’s success this season on both sides of the floor. Committed to Ohio State for lacrosse, Kelly was a lock-down defender for the Bulldogs. Kelly had the ability to cover both guards and forwards with her size. She helped set the tone early in the season for Rumson when they played Colts Neck with a career-high 8 steals in a 47-44 victory. That win set the tone for the Kevin Williams Christmas Classic for the Bulldogs. After missing the opening round game, Kelly played a big role in Rumson’s holiday tournament championship run.
BellaRose Marino, Sr., Howell
BellaRose Marino going for a lay-up in the KWCC Final at RW Barnabas Arena. 12/30/25 Photo by Tom Smith
Marino has been a major part of Howell’s defense for the last two seasons. Using her long wingspan to her advantage, she made it difficult for opponents not only to get by her but to even get the ball in the half court offense. In the biggest game of the season, the South Jersey Group 4 final, Marino drew the tough assignment of covering one of the state’s top scorers in El Anita Joe-Samuel from Lenape. Marino caused problems all game for Joe-Samuel and held her to just six points through the first three quarters.
