EAST ORANGE, – The East Orange sixth grade and eighth grade girls’ basketball teams, under head coach Janice Walker and assistant head coach Gregory Johnson, enjoyed successful seasons this winter.
For the first time this season, the teams competed in the Jersey Basketball Association.
The sixth grade team, with girls in the fifth and sixth grades, finished third in its division at 10-4. The team lost in the semifinals to Long Hill, which won the league tournament. There were 20 teams in the White Division from towns along the Route 78 and 24 corridor. (Mendham, Phillipsburg and Flemington).
The eighth grade team, comprising seventh- and eighth-graders, finished 11th during the season with only three girls who had previously played team ball. The team lost to Plainfield in the first round.
East Orange also participated in the Selena Fulmore Memorial Tournament. They have participated in this tournament since 1995 and now have won 11 times.
The sixth grade team played teams from Parsippany, Montville and West Milford and finished 3-1, losing to West Milford to become tournament champs.
Zahaisha Nevius was the team’s leading scorer and Myjanae Isaacs was the leading rebounding during the tournament.
The eighth grade team played teams from Parsippany, Midland Park, and Franklin Lakes, and finished with a 4-0 record to become tournament champs.
Aniyah Montalvo was the team’s leading scorer and Rakaya Cooper was the team’s leading rebounder during the tournament.