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Coach Billy Lovett and Morris Catholic came together for photos after winning the Non-Public B title.

Crusaders hoist Non-Public B trophy

TOMS RIVER _ Think the Non-Public B final was intense? It certainly was for the fans, whether they were cheering on Morris Catholic or Rutgers Prep. However, for the Pauldo sisters, Mya and Mia, this was routine. Commonplace. Most certainly ho-hum. The Pauldos, sophomores who play for the Crusaders, have played in games like the one that took place on Sunday, March 5 at the RWJBarnabas Health Arena since third or fourth grade. So the effort it took to claim the Non-Public B trophy required little sweat and worry by the Pauldos and Morris Catholic, who rode out several storms…
Randolph coach Pete Torres takes his turn cutting down the net after the Rams clinched the sectional title.

Randolph shakes off Mendham for sectional crown

RANDOLPH _ Allyson Kuridza has an abundance of bruises and wears them proudly, knowing they were acquired while going into battle with the Randolph girls basketball team. Eight days after getting her largest one - a contusion three inches in diameter on her upper right arm - in a first-round game against Rahway, Kuridza, known for her hard-nosed play, gained a few more while putting in a top-notch effort in a 53-43 win over Mendham on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in the North Jersey Section 2, Group III final. The sectional title was the Rams' second in four years. In 2020,…
Beau Braverman of Madison guards Hanover Park's Arianna Allonardo during a North Jersey Section II, Group II semifinal on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.

Reigle recovers, boosts Dodgers

MADISON _ Alex Reigle went to her usual spot in the Madison locker room at halftime and leaned against the wall, just like she does for every home game. This time, though, Reigle, annoyed with herself for, in her words, "missing easy layups right under the basket," closed her eyes and took deep breaths for five minutes before returning to the gym. She was determined to get a subpar first-haf showing, in which she scored three points, out of her head. If Madison was to emerge victorious from the North Jersey Section 2, Group II semifinal and get the opportunity…
Morris Catholic is in celebration mode after claiming its second consecutive MCT title on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

Matus lifts Morris Catholic to 14th MCT crown

RANDOLPH _ Daniella Matus considers Sunday "a day off" but she finds it difficult to take a rest from basketball. Instead, Morris Catholic's Matus spends an hour to 90 minutes in a local gym working on her game. Highly successful from outside the arc, she, of course, fires in 3-pointers and practices layups and pullups. It's a rigorous but necessary workout. The Crusaders are, no doubt, grateful Matus is so diligent. Top-seeded Morris Catholic engaged in a heavyweight bout with second-seeded Montville in the Morris County Tournament final on Friday, Feb. 17 and prevailed, 62-51, with a stirring comeback highlighted…
Morris Catholic's Alexis Rosenfeld, No. 11, played excellent defense in addition to scoring 18 points and grabbing 18 rebounds.

Crusaders, behind Rosenfeld, get chance to defend

RANDOLPH _ Alexis Rosenfeld's presence and involvement on the court, in her own words, "changed the dynamic" for Morris Catholic this season. Rosenfeld, who stands 6 foot 2, is a formidable force on both ends of the hardwood and, apparently, knows her worth. In the second MCT semifinal on Friday, Feb. 10, Rosenfeld, a transfer from Saddle River Day School, dominated, scoring 18 points and taking down 18 rebounds to fuel the Crusaders' 75-44 win over the Rams at County College of Morris. "Alexis is a huge piece of the puzzle," Morris Catholic coach Billy Lovett said. "She protects the…
Montville poses for a photo after Grace Kowalski scored her 1,000th point in a MCT semifinal win.

1,000th point for Montville's Kowalski

RANDOLPH _ Grace Kowalski wasn't going to be deprived of sports during the pandemic. Two and and half weeks after Kowalski, then a freshman, and Montville claimed their first Morris County Girls Basketball Tournament title in February of 2020, New Jersey was shut down by COVID. That didn't stop Kowalski from being active. She kept shooting and took up golf, hitting small Wiffle balls around the yard. Before long, the property was transformed into the most ultimate of Frisbee courses. "We have all woods so Grace set it up," said her mother, Karin. That same determination and drive have led…
MCT quarterfinals: Randolph survives Dodgers' rally

MCT quarterfinals: Randolph survives Dodgers' rally

DENVILLE _ Aliyah Lambo is always willing to do whatever Randolph needs. With 3.1 seconds remaining in the Rams' Morris County Tournament quarterfinal against Madison on Saturday, Feb. 4, she felt that it was an urgent plea. "Watch your girl!" Lambo yelled to her teammates after missing the front end of a one and one in the waning seconds. Randolph led by two points and, to hold on, everyone needed to stay extra close to the player they were defending. Lambo was upset about not making the foul shot but had been thinking ahead. The fifth-seeded Dodgers, well guarded and…
Madison advances to MCT quarterfinals

Madison advances to MCT quarterfinals

MADISON _ Charlotte Tuhy was unstoppable over the last 6:24 of Madison's Morris County Tournament first-round game against Morris Knolls. Tuhy, a sophomore forward, netted 15 of her career-high 30 points during that span to help the fifth-seeded Dodgers to a 58-36 victory over  the No. 12 Golden Eagles on Thursday, Feb. 2. A 3-pointer by Tuhy commenced the impressive showing, which featured an array of shots. Twenty seven seconds after the long-range field goal, Tuhy had a putback. With 2:38 remaining, she drove to the basket and was fouled. In addition, she converted 6-of-7 free throws in the closing…
Hanover Park defeats Mt. Olive

Hanover Park defeats Mt. Olive

EAST HANOVER _ The Hanover Park girls basketball team consists primarily of soccer players, elite athletes well groomed for action on the pitch but not necessarily primed for competing on the hardwood. It's not really a concern, though. Hornets coach Doug Wear wouldn't trade his 2022-23 squad for anything. Hanover Park, which defeated Mount Olive 40-20 in a Morris County Tournament preliminary-round game on Saturday, Jan. 28 behind 13 points by Alyssa Alfano, features attentive, willing-to-learn athletes who are improving every day. "I've got a lot of girls with good feet," said Wear, back for his 18th year after a…
The action, as usual, was intense when Chatham and Montville clashed on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023.

McKenzie, Cougars nip Montville

MONTVILLE _ Cami McKenzie was forced to sit out the state tournament last year with a stress fracture in her right foot. McKenzie, a senior forward, was primed and ready for Charham's 2022-23 season but experienced another setback when she sprained her ankle - her right one - and was sidelined again. The bulk of McKenzie's disappointment was erased on Wednesday, Jan. 4 with the most monumental basket of her career. The 5-foot-11 McKenzie stood tall, making a left-handed layup with 7.2 seconds left, boosting the Cougars over Montville, 63-61, in NJAC-American Division action. "It was getting really nerve wracking…
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