West Orange hoops player at MKA helps rebuild squad

MONTCLAIR, NJ — West Orange resident Ayantu Flowers is a returning starter for the Montclair Kimberley Academy girls basketball team, which entered recent action with a 1-7 record during the abbreviated 2021 season.

“Ayantu has the aggression and passion which helps her perform well both offensively and defensively for us,” said MKA coach Ilirjana Lulgjuraj, who is a former Bloomfield High School and Bloomfield College women’s basketball standout. “We’re glad to have her as one of our upperclassmen to help lead the team.”

Flowers, a junior guard, was the team’s third leading scorer and rebounder last winter when the Cougars finished 16-6 overall and 15-2 in the Super Essex Conference–Freedom Division. This winter, while making the step up to the SEC–Independence Division, the Cougars have struggled to get going while also experiencing a COVID pause when they missed two weeks of the abbreviated campaign.