With an overall seasonal record of 16-8, Ridgewood girls basketball has experienced an evident improvement from last year’s 5-13 record. The girls are currently ranked third in the Big North Freedom division, just below Bergen County’s powerhouse teams, Ramapo and Northern Highlands. In the state tournament, Ridgewood is seeded second below Morristown High School. As the first round of states approaches on Tuesday, March 1, the team is prepared to face off against Hackensack for the third time this season. Having defeated the Comets twice already, the girls have grasped an understanding of the team’s strengths and weaknesses on the court. Senior Sarah Silvestro commented, “Even though the second time we played Hackensack was harder than the first, we feel pretty confident in beating them in states and hopefully continuing on.”
The sixteen varsity players vary widely in terms of age; with three freshmen, four sophomores, four juniors, and five seniors, each member contributes a unique skillset to the team. Brielle Sharry, a sophomore, is notorious for her three-point shots. So far she has racked up thirteen three-pointers for Ridgewood this season. Another sophomore, Lillie Kloak, brings an aggressive edge to the court that helps the team defensively. Meanwhile, senior Jordan Iannone is the team’s go-to when it comes to scoring points. As for the freshmen, Annie McCarthy has shown a lot of potential during her playing time this year. Although known for her offensive abilities, her teammates are confident that her defensive skills will only grow as she progresses as a player in the years ahead.
This season is Coach Karen Keyes’ second year heading the team, as Coach Palmer stepped down two years ago to care for her two young children. Coming into this season with the ups and downs of last year behind her, Keyes has been able to gear the girls in a positive direction. As a former point guard and shooting guard at the University of Notre Dame, Keyes provides top-notch instruction that stems from prior experience.
Recently, team morale has been high for the girls after several outstanding wins. On February 13, the girls crushed Dumont at their home court with a score of 61-22. On senior night, the girls defeated Indian Hills by nine points. Seniors saw time on the court that night, as well as celebration from their teammates with catchy slogans hung up on posters throughout the gym. Coming off of a tight loss against Holy Angels on Tuesday, February 23 with a score of 44-40, the girls are eager to regain their winner status at the upcoming state game against Hackensack.
Megan Collier
sports editor