Mya Bembry drives with the ball.
WEST ORANGE, NJ (updated Friday March 31, 9:57 a.m.) – The West Orange High School girls’ varsity basketball team enjoyed arguably its best season, thanks to several outstanding players.
The Mountaineers featured seven players who made All-Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division honors.
Sophomore 6-foot-2 guard Mya Bembry and senior point guard Jewel Burnett made First Team; sophomore guard Kaija Jones; senior guard Dawn Flood and junior guard Nahtali Simpson made Second Team; and junior center Madison Mitchell and junior forward Cassidy Ferrell made Honorable Mention.
One of the top players in the state, Bembry averaged 18.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 5.3 steals, 2.8 assists and 1 block per game this season.
Burnett proved to be fine point guard, averaging 7.6 points, 7.4 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.4 rebounds.
Simpson showed solid versatility as she averaged 5.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals and 2.0 assists.
Flood had a productive season, averaging 10.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.6 steals.
Mitchell (4.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 blocks), Ferrell (5.6 rebounds) and Jones (3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 3.4 points) were strong contributors as well.
The Mountaineers, under head coach Caniece Williams, reached the Essex County Tournament final for the first time in the 43-year history of the tournament, losing on a buzzer-beating layup in overtime to Newark Tech, 55-53.
WOHS reached the semifinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament, losing to East Orange Campus, 43-41, on a last-second shot to finish with a teffific 23-4 record.
WOHS, which started the season at 16-0, also won the SEC-Liberty Division title with an undefeated 11-0 mark.
Indeed, Williams was proud of her team this season.
“Overall we had a great year and accomplished many goals,” said Williams. “We won the conference for the first year ever, started off with a 16-0 winning streak, first time ever; we made it to the Essex County finals first time ever, and made it to the (semifinals) for states. We ended 23-4 and I would say we had an amazing season.”
Despite losing seniors Burnett, Flood and forward Deborah Alabi, the Mountaineers have reason to feel hopeful for another strong season next winter.
“For next year we are losing three great players. so we are hoping for our returning players to fill those roles quickly,” Williams said. “We also have a great eighth grade class coming, who I really feel can make a positive impact on the program immediately, so I am looking forward to that!”
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