Columbia HS girls’ basketball team falls in Essex County Tournament

MAPLEWOOD – The 12th-seeded Columbia High School girls’ varsity basketball team defeated Verona before losing to Nutley in the Essex County Tournament.

Senior Dominique Rayam scored 23 points and senior Shadekay Haughton had 10 points in the 43-35 win over 21st-seeded Verona in the second preliminary round on Feb. 11 at South Orange Middle School. Sophomore Kayla Anderson had six points and senior Jasmine West added four.

CHS fell at fifth-seeded Nutley, 53-15, in the first round on Feb. 13. Rayam had nine points; Haughton had four and junior Erica Michel had two. CHS moved to a 6-15 record.

In earlier action, Rayam had 14 points and junior Courtney Miller had 11 points in a 58-43 loss at University on Feb. 9 in Newark. Senior Abigail Benoit had six points; Anderson had five; freshman Shayla Keegan added four; and Haughton chipped in three.

The Cougars received the 16th and final seed in the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 tournament and will visit top-seeded Bayonne in the first round on March 1.

North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 tournament

First round

March 1

16-Columbia at 1-Bayonne

9-Watchung Hills at 8-North Hunterdon

12-J.P. Stevens at 5-Union

13-Bridgewater-Raritan at 4-Franklin

14-Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 3-Piscataway

11-Phillipsburg at 6-Dickinson

10-Westfield at 7-Millburn

15-Ridge at 2-East Orange Campus