Nutley HS girls’ basketball team defeats Metuchen; begins defense of state sectional title

NUTLEY – Senior guard and McDonald’s All-American Blair Watson scored 27 points and added 12 rebounds, eight blocks and five assists to lead the Nutley High School girls’ varsity basketball team to a 57-43 win at Metuchen on Feb. 25 in the final regular-season game.

Freshman Courtney Wilde had 19 points, sophomore forward Sydney Kunz had five; and freshman guard Rebecca Granata, sophomore Giovanna Modica and and freshman forward Mackenzie Moraski each had two for the Raiders, who moved to an 18-7 record.

The Raiders will look to defend their state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament title. NHS, seeded 11th, will visit sixth-seeded Cranford in the first round on Feb. 29.

In earlier action, Watson had 20 points, 16 rebounds, eight blocks and four assists to lead the Nutley High School girls’ varsity basketball team to a 39-36 home win over Westwood on Feb. 23. Wilde had 10 points ; Kunz had four points; Granata had three points and freshman forward Alaina Feaster added two points for the Raiders.

North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament

First round

Feb. 29

16-Iselin Kennedy at 1-Voorhees

9-Warren Hills at 8-Orange

12-Barringer at 5-Mendham

13-Governor Livingston at 4-Chatham

14-Irvington at 3-West Morris

11-Nutley at 6-Cranford

10-Rahway at 7-Summit

15-Carteret at 2-Somerville

March 2

Quarterfinals

w/o Iselin Kennedy-Voorhees vs. w/o Warren Hills-Orange

w/o Barringer-Mendham vs. w/o Governor Livingston-Chatham

w/o Irvington-West Morris vs. w/o Nutley-Cranford

w/o Rahway-Summit vs. w/o Carteret-Somerville

March 4

Semifinals

March 7

Final, 7 p.m.