WOHS girls' hoop team has successful year

By Steve Carfagna
Staff Writer
After losing five players from last year’s group, which was one-win shy of 20, head coach Kim Wilson knew her West Orange High School girls’ varsity basketball team would certainly go through its shares of struggles this season.
But with a final record of 13-12 and a Super Essex Conference record of 9-5, which was good enough for second place, and with several injuries to the players that did return, Wilson couldn’t have asked for any better results considering the adversity her squad faced.
“Our expectations were met as we knew going into the season it would be a rebuilding time since we lost five players from last year’s 19-6 team,” said Wilson, whose team lost in the State sectional tournament first round to Paterson Kennedy. “On top of that, we also had some unexpected injuries and illnesses this season. I am proud of this year’s team and how much they improved each day. The girls worked hard and improvement was made each day. Overall, I feel the season was very successful. We were ranked in the top 10 in Essex County once again according to the Star Ledger, and made great strides with all the young players making tremendous contributions.”
Undoubtedly, of the team’s 13 triumphs, Wilson said the win at Nutley stood as the biggest highlight this season. “Down by three points with less than three seconds left, Anna Fucci hit a very far three-point shot to put the game into overtime before we then went on to win the game by five in OT,” said the coach, whose squad advanced to the quarterfinals of the Essex County Tournament where it was ousted by perennial powerhouse and eventual champion Shabazz.
Along with Fucci, a four-year starting point guard, Wilson said she would miss each of the four seniors: Ashley Morris, a four-year varsity player; Emily Rich, who was with the program for four years; and Silecia Headley, who was in her first year.
“All our seniors will be missed,” said WOHS coach, noting Fucci and Morris will both continue their careers at the collegiate level.
This season, Fucci recorded an average of eight points, three rebounds and three assists per game, while Morris finished her senior season with an average of 12 points and seven rebounds per game. Looking ahead, the Mountaineer coach said she expected next year’s group to be led by junior forward Kim Reitmeyer, sophomore guards Alyssa Almario and Alissa Mejia sophomore guard and freshman center Chisom Amaefuna.

Worrall Community Newspapers

2009-10 All-Area Girls' Basketball

Name School Pos. Ht. Year
Brianna Thomas Columbia PG 5-5 Senior
Gabby Jackson Columbia F 5-8 Junior
Shaina Earle Columbia G 5-6 Senior
Jade Johnson-Walker Columbia C 5-11 Freshman
Linda Hamilton EO Campus C 6-0 Junior
Delisha Thompson EO Campus G 5-8 Junior
Domonique Herring EO Campus G 5-6 Senior
Ashley Morris West Orange C 5-11 Senior
Anna Fucci West Orange PG 5-0 Senior
Alnisa Hernaiz Irvington F 5-8 Senior
Natasha Walker Irvington PG 5-6 Soph.
Andrea Fraser Glen Ridge C 6-1 Senior
Mary Alati Glen Ridge G 5-2 Soph.
Tahirah Matthews Bloomfield C 6-0 Senior
Nicole Velardi Belleville PG 5-6 Senior
Chassity Sousa Belleville F 5-9 Freshman
Khayriyyah Dawson Bloomfield Tech G 5-7 Junior
Qyidirah Williams Orange G 5-8 Senior
Alissa Tucci Nutley G 5-2 Senior

Players of the Year: Brianna Thomas, Columbia; Delisha Thompson, East Orange Campus
Coaches of the Year: Derrick Johnson, East Orange Campus; Johanna Wright, Columbia
Editor’s note: The All-Area is selected by the Essex County sports staff of Worrall Community Newspapers and consists of schools in the WCN publishing area of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, West Orange and Vailsburg. The athletes chosen also must reside in those municipalities.