Nutley HS girls’ basketball team has high hopes with strong experience as post-Blair Watson era begins

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NUTLEY – For the Nutley High School girls’ varsity basketball program, losing a player like Blair Watson certainly will be difficult.

After all, Watson was not only the best player in the state as a senior, but one of the best in that nation last season. The guard, who was the Raiders’ all-time leading scorer (2,127 points) and a McDonald’s All-American, is now continuing her career at the University of Maryland.

But the good news is, the Raiders return everyone else, plus a few promising freshmen, as they look to have another great season after finishing with a stellar 19-8 record last year.

Jen Callaghan and Sydney Kunz will serve as the team’s captains. Both are returning starters with three years varsity experience.

Callaghan, the lone senior on the roster, will be the Raiders’ key defender who will usually cover the opposition’s best offensive player.

Kunz, a junior, is the team’s scrappiest player. “She will rebound on both ends of the court and fight for loose balls all over the court,” said NHS head coach Larry Mitschow.

Callaghan and Kunz, who both received All-Super Essex Conference-American Division Honorable Mention accolades last season, will be asked to score a little more this season.

Courtney Wilde, who started at point guard as a freshman last year, will move to the wing this season in an effort to give the Raiders more scoring production. She made Second Team on the All-SEC-American and was the team’s second-leading scorer.

Sophomore Rebecca Granata will start opposite Wilde on the wing and will be counted on to score from three-point range and going to the basket. “She worked hard in the offseason to improve her scoring,” said Mitschow.

Alaina Feaster and Mackenzie Moraski, both sophomores, will share time at center. Each earned valuable minutes last year. Mitschow will lean on them for points in the paint, rebounding and defense.

Giavanna Modica, a junior, has been injured most of the preseason, but will be asked to challenge for a starting position at forward, Mitschow said. Modica came off the bench last season and is a physical presence underneath.

Freshman Abby Scheidel will be the starting point guard. Mitschow said she is the first true point guard Nutley has had in his five years as head coach. She will be expected to challenge as the team’s leading scorer.

Jaden Long, another freshman, has been working hard in practice to earn minutes at the varsity level. Mitschow was impressed from Long during the summer and hopes to see continued improvement.

In previous seasons, the Raiders have used a six or seven-player rotation. But this year’s team is deep and plans to use nine players on a consistent basis, said Mitschow.

The Raiders’ goals are to qualify for the state tournament and challenge teams in the conference. Mitschow also is looking to see his players continue to develop their skills while having fun.

The Raiders will begin the season Dec. 16 against Newark Academy in a SEC-American Division game.

NOTES – In Watson’s junior season, 2014-15, the Raiders captured the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament championship, the program’s first since 1977. Last season, the Raiders fell to West Morris, 50-43, in the Section 2, Group 3 quarterfinals. It was the fourth straight year that the Raiders qualified for the state tournament. In 2014, West Morris beat Nutley in the Section 2, Group 3 final, 63-60, as Watson, then a sophomore, scored 30 points. Nutley finished 23-4 that season.

Mitschow’s assistant coaches are Matt Francello, who is in his fifth year and also is the junior varsity coach, and Kara McNish, who is in her first year and also is the freshman coach.

Mitschow has been a coach at NHS for 19 years.

Schedule

Dec. 16, at Newark Academy, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20, Montclair, 4 p.m.
Dec. 22, at Newark Tech, 7 p.m.
Dec. 27, High Point, at Westwood Christmas Tournament, 1 p.m.
Dec. 29-30, at Westwood Christmas Tournament, opponents to be determined
Jan. 3, at West Orange, 4 p.m.
Jan. 5, East Orange Campus, 7 p.m.
Jan. 7, University, 1 p.m.
Jan. 10, at Shabazz, time to be determined
Jan. 14, at Belleville, 1 p.m.
Jan. 17, Newark Academy, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19, at Montclair, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21, at Caldwell, 1 p.m.
Jan. 26, Newark Tech, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28, at Millburn, 1 p.m.
Jan. 31, at East Orange Campus, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3, at Bloomfield, 6 p.m.
Feb. 7, at University, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 14, Shabazz, 4 p.m.
Feb. 16, Clifton, 7 p.m.
Feb. 21, at Kearny, 4 p.m.