West Orange HS girls basketball team boasts strong experience

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WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange High School girls basketball team has high hopes for this season.

The Mountaineers, under head coach Caniece Williams, return five seniors from last year’s team that finished with a 16-12 overall record, including 8-4 in the Super Essex Conference–American Division, which is the top division in the conference.

The returning seniors are Adrienne Taylor-Kamara, Mya Bushrod, Jaela Kolenovic, Morgan Baskin and Alexa Chapman. West Orange also welcomes senior transfer Zoe Francis-Bunkley. The returning juniors are Anaya Karriem and Kyley Gary-Grayson. 

Freshmen Rhyan Watt and Kennedy Curry also are expected to make a huge impact, Williams said. 

Other players on the roster are junior Ashley Labardy and sophomore Noelle Blanchette.

“This year, I expect the team to make some noise in the state,” Williams said. “We’ve made tremendous strides in the offseason as a team and we have been playing very well in our scrimmages. We have a very competitive schedule and I think we will have opportunities to showcase our talent against the best in the state.” 

The Mountaineers will host Mount

St. Dominic in the season opener on Thursday, Dec. 14.

Here is the schedule:

  • Dec. 14: vs. Mount St. Dominic, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 16: Winslow Township (at St. Mary, in Middletown), 11 .m.
  • Dec. 17: Rutgers Prep (at St. John Vianney), 2 p.m.
  • Dec. 27: West Orange tournament, vs. East Side, 1 p.m.
  • Dec. 29: West Orange tournament, consolation and final, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Jan. 3: vs. Paramus Catholic, 5:30 p.m.
  • Jan. 4: at Immaculate Conception, 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 6: at Columbia, 1 p.m.
  • Jan. 7: Notre Dame (at Moore Catholic, in Staten Island, N.Y.), 2;15 p.m.
  • Jan. 9: vs. University, 4 p.m.
  • Jan. 11: at Newark Academy, 4 p.m.
  • Jan. 13: at Franklin Township, 2 p.m.
  • Jan. 15: vs. New Providence, 3:30 p.m.
  • Jan. 16: at Mount St. Dominic, 4 p.m.
  • Jan. 18: vs. Columbia, 4 p.m.
  • Jan. 20: at Hudson Catholic, 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 26: vs. Bayonne, 4:30 p.m.
  • Jan. 30: vs. Caldwell, 4 p.m.
  • Feb. 1: vs. Immaculate Conception,4 p.m.0
  • Feb. 6: at University, 4 p.m.
  • Feb. 8: vs. Newark Academy, 7 p.m.
  • Feb. 16: at Caldwell, 4 p.m.

Photos Courtesy of West Orange HS Sports Media Association