Everyone chasing Notre Dame in Colonial Division
Things may not be all that new, but they should be interesting in Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division girls basketball.
Notre Dame still looks to be the jewel of this division with Trenton leading the chase under new head coach Khaliq Lewis-El.
The Irish have nine players returning, led by senior guards Hailee Jantorno and Eve Crawford and 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Erika Porter, all of whom averaged more than nine points per game last season.
“Last year was a little bit of a transition year for us,” said seventh-season head coach James Martinos, whose 2016-17 team uncharacteristically fell in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals and first round of states. “There were some goals we didn’t achieve that we’d like to get this season.”
The Tornadoes will have a junior-oriented squad, guided by guard N’Dia Stepps, who averaged 10.3 points per game last year.
“They are all athletic, but I want them to realize their potential,” Lewis-El said.
Princeton will also have a new coach in Dave Kosa, who has seven returning players with whom to work, including junior forward tandem Erin Devine and Catherine Dyvitch.
“I want to bring stability, consistency and a positive attitude to these girls,” Kosa said. “I want us to be able to establish a really good foundation going forward.”
In its fourth season under head coach Andrew Guy, Hightstown hopes to continue its growth with almost everyone back, including senior forward Emma Huntzinger and sophomore guard Delaney Slattery.
“We have to limit turnovers,” Guy said. “The girls have more experience, so continuity should be there.”
West Windsor-Plainsboro South was hit hard by departures, which could make head coach Mike Hussong’s second year more challenging than his first.
“We just want to make as much progress as we can,” said Hussong, who will only have one senior, Chelsea McLean, this season. “We’ll be looking for a lot of younger players to contribute. So far, they’ve all been giving everything we’ve asked them to do.”
Player
Nina Mason 5-2 Sr. G Emma Huntzinger 5-9 Sr. F Lisa Cohen 5-5 Sr. G Maya Kenny 5-7 Sr. F Victoria Velez 5-5 Jr. G Alexea Russo 5-5 Jr. G Raya Mount 5-6 Jr. G Alex Morris 5-4 Jr. G Sanaa Artis 5-7 Jr. F Delaney Slattery 5-6 So. G Andrew Guy (fourth season).
Daniel Martucci, Erin
Head Coach — Assistant Coaches —
Scheno.
Last Season — Outlook —
7-19 overall, 1-7 CVC Colonial. The Rams graduated two players from last season’s team, so this team has much more varsity experience. Undersized Hightstown will need to box out and spread around its scoring.
Player
Hailee Jantorno 5-7 Sr. G
Eve Crawford 5-8 Sr. G Maryam Crawford 5-6 Sr. G Brittiney Seymour 6-1 Sr. F Natalie Smith 5-9 Jr. G Kayla Burnett 5-8 Jr. G Amy Jones 5-9 Jr. G Leah Johnson 5-5 Jr. G Natalie Wright 5-11 Jr. F Melanie Flowers 5-8 Jr. G Madyson Kaczorowski 5-6 Jr. G Erika Porter 6-2 So. F Cassidy Mahle 6-2 So. F James Martinos (seventh season).
Krystina Maloney, Dawn Pintinalli, Carla Macaroni.
21-6 overall, 8-0 CVC Colonial, Colonial Division champion.
The Irish graduated three players, leaving them very battle tested again this winter. With size, talent and depth, Notre Dame will once again be one of the CVC’s toughest opponents.
Head Coach — Assistant Coaches — Last Season — Outlook — Height Height Yr. Yr. Pos Pos Player
Taylor Stone Zoe Alcott Olivia Harrison Sofia Manekia Erin Devine Catherine Dyvitch Anna Intartaglia Olivia Intartaglia Ella Kotsen Kelly Yeung Shaylah Marciano Eva Petrone
Head Coach — Assistant Coaches —
Hemingway.
Last Season — Outlook — Height Yr. Pos
5-9 Sr. F 5-6 Sr. G 5-11 Sr. F/C 5-10 Sr. C 5-10 Jr. F 5-11 Jr. F 5-2 Jr. G 5-5 Jr. G 5-7 Jr. G 5-6 Jr. G 5-8 So. G 5-6 So. G Dave Kosa (first season). Clarence White, Tannya
6-20 overall, 2-6 CVC Colonial. Kosa returns to the sidelines, where he had been boys coach from 2002-2007, to take over for Steve Hennessy after one season. The Little Tigers graduated four, but have talent back, which should help them grow as a team.
Player
Jada White 5-6 Sr. G Taylor Beckford 5-8 Sr. F N’Dia Stepps 5-7 Jr. G Shaneka Poole 5-8 Jr. G Donaisha Daley 5-7 Jr. G Maliajah Robinson 5-4 Jr. G Quashauna Dixon 5-9 Jr. F Jamiya Watkins 5-7 Jr. G/F Yazmin Ellis 5-5 Jr. G Ishuana Hunter 6-0 So. F Nevaeh Pickett 5-6 So. G Khaliq Lewis-El (first season).
Cintella Spotwood, Treasure Moultrie, Dana Jeter.
9-16 overall, 5-3 CVC Colonial. Former Trenton Catholic Academy head coach Lewis-El Four replaces Reggie Murray after 32 years and 600 wins at the helm. The Tornadoes only graduated two players and had another transfer, but will still need to adjust to their new coach’s style quickly.
Head Coach — Assistant Coaches — Last Season — Outlook — Height Yr. Pos Player
Chelsea McLean 5-5 Sr. G Anvi Agarwal 5-8 Jr. G Reva Grover 5-8 Jr. F Kayla Athey 5-9 Jr. F Olivia Lluberes 5-9 Jr. F Abigail Carlson 5-8 Jr. F Varsha Balaji 5-4 Jr. G Lasyasree Tenneti 5-6 So. G Meghana Tera 5-7 So. G Emma Gartenberg 5-7 Fr. G/F
Mike Hussong (second season).
Head Coach — Assistant Coaches —
Hutchinson.
Last Season — Outlook — Height Yr. Pos
Shannon Hughes, Don 7-18 overall, 4-4 CVC Colonial.
The Pirates graduated five and had two more not return, forcing more adjustments this season. WW-P South will be inexperienced and rely on its junior returnees for leadership.