Suburban girls hoops includes new-look Trenton Catholic Prep
After its school was saved from being shut down at the end of last year, one of the most successful girls’ basketball teams in the area returns with a new name — Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy — and a new look on the court after many left the fold.
Trenton Catholic Prep’s program may not be as high profile this season as it was when Bob Fusik was head coach over the last four years, but new coach Sean Smith is hoping to help his roster grow into strong players in their own right.
Only two are back from last season’s 14-1 squad as 5-foot-8 senior guard/forward Gayelle Labissiere and 5-7 sophomore guard Ciani Thompson return. Kayla Oliphant, a 5-7 sophomore guard/forward, transferred in from STEM Civics, where she was that team’s leading scorer with 11.4 points per game. Those are the only players for now with varsity experience playing in Burlington County Scholastic League games.
“There will be a lot of growing pains. We are going back to fundamentals,” said Smith, whose team will still be part of the BCSL’s Liberty Division this winter. “It’s going to be very tough this year, but I know it’s something we can manage.”
Joining TCPA in the Liberty Division once again is Northern Burlington. The Greyhounds will also be young, but with a few more experienced players after many took the floor for the varsity last year. Five-foot-10 junior forward Tanvi Kundur and 5-3 sophomore guard Charlotte Burke are two of the team’s five returnees who will be counted on to lead by example against Liberty foes like Rancocas Valley, Moorestown and Westampton Tech.
“Everything that happened last year was because we were so young,” said Ed Fitzpatrick, who will be Northern’s head coach this season, while Molly Napolitano moves to assistant. “What we’ve talked to the players about this year is trying to improve at least one percent every day.”
After going through a youth movement last winter when they were 6-5, New Egypt will be one of the more experienced teams around as it prepares to do battle in the BCSL’s Freedom Division with Palmyra, Burlington City, Riverside, Doane Academy and Pemberton. Payton Arnold, a 5-6 junior guard who averaged 14.8 ppg, and Michaela Weber, a rare 6-1 guard/forward/center who scored 10.6 ppg, lead the list of the Warriors’ nine returnees.
“We’ve looked pretty good,” said fourth-year girls’ head coach Jay Corby, whose team had won its first three scrimmages. “We don’t have a ton of experience after our first seven players, but everyone’s working hard. We’ll live and die off our defense.”
Florence may still prove to be one of the top teams in the BCSL’s Independence Division, but it will have to do so with a much younger cast than expected. Only five of head coach Gina Smith’s players returned from last year’s 6-4 squad, leaving seniors Chi Chi Nwagbaraji, a six-foot forward, and Yamilka Lazu
Delgado, a 5-8 forward, as the oldest Flashes.
“Right now, we have a lot of moving parts, so we’ll do the best we can,” said Smith, who is in her fifth year at the helm. “The kids are happy. They’ll give you all they have. Some of the returning players worked out over the summer to prepare. We just have to keep working hard.”
Bordentown and STEM Civics will also be part of the Independence Division, which includes Willingboro, Maple Shade and Medford Tech.
The Scotties saw a wave of players depart, leaving 14th-year head coach Bill Lloyd with 5-6 guard Oshynn Cosom (11.3 ppg) and 5-5 guard Kushmit Sidhu as the lone senior returnees.
“I’ve talked to them about taking on a leadership role,” Lloyd said of his upperclassmen. “We’re small and young. Many of these kids are still learning. So it may be more about someone like Oshynn adjusting to them than it is about them adjusting to her.”
The Purple Lightning were young last winter when they picked up two late non-league wins. With most of its lineup back, including 5-5 junior guard Corie Crump and 5-1 sophomore guard Dreona Mc- Daniels, STEM Civics hopes to show a little better in league play as well as out.
“We’re just taking it one day at a time,” said new coach Shaun Doyle, filling in this winter for LaMar Rice, who is helping his wife prepare for the birth of their second baby. “LaMar did a great job of teaching them plays that they remember. They have a good routine down.”
Because of continued COVID-19 concerns, attendance policies may vary from school to school this winter. So it is best to check with home and away sites before you try to show up.