Columbia HS girls basketball team has strong returning core

CHS returns its top eight players, looks to have another successful campaign

Columbia HS girls basketball team has strong returning core

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE — The Columbia High School girls basketball team has reason to feel excited this season. The Lady Cougars, under fifth-year head coach Chuck Keegan, return their top eight players from last year’s squad, which finished with a 14-8 overall record. The players are seniors Samiya Hill, Leah Connell, Shana Desir, Bella Galatt and […]

Columbia HS hall-of-fame inductee Jessica Simmonds reflects on her stellar basketball career

CHS 2001 graduate credits her family and former CHS head coach Johanna Wright for her success

Columbia HS hall-of-fame inductee Jessica Simmonds reflects on her stellar basketball career

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The 2000-01 Columbia High School girls basketball team, under legendary head coach Johanna Wright, was one of the best in school history. The team finished with a stellar 28-4 record, winning county, sectional and state championships before finishing as runner-up in the state Tournament of Champions. One of the top players […]

Columbia HS girls basketball team enjoys 14-8 season

Columbia HS girls basketball team enjoys 14-8 season

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Columbia High School girls basketball team finished a solid season. The Lady Cougars, seeded eighth, defeated No. 9 seed Kearny in the first round before losing at top-seeded Union City in the quarterfinal round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4, tournament. Columbia, […]

Columbia HS girls basketball team defeats Kearny; advances to state sectional quarterfinals

Columbia HS girls basketball team defeats Kearny; advances to state sectional quarterfinals

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The eighth-seeded Columbia High School girls basketball team defeated ninth-seeded Kearny, 58-53, in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4, tournament on Monday, Feb. 28. Sophomore Talia Baptiste had 13 points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals; junior Bella Galatt […]

Columbia HS girls basketball team tops West Essex in divisional play; falls to Central in ECT quarterfinals

Columbia HS girls basketball team tops West Essex in divisional play; falls to Central in ECT quarterfinals

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Bella Galatt, a junior, had 13 points and junior Shana Desir had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four assists to lead the Columbia High School girls basketball team to a 55-38 home win over West Essex on Tuesday, Feb. 8, in a Super Essex Conference–American Division game. Sophomore Talia Baptiste had […]

Columbia HS girls basketball team is No. 2 seed in the ECT

Columbia HS girls basketball team is No. 2 seed in the ECT

MAPLEWOOD/SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The Columbia High School girls basketball team received the No. 2 seed in the 31-team Essex County Tournament. The top seed is Immaculate Conception of Montclair. Columbia received a bye in the preliminary round and will host a first-round game on Saturday, Feb. 5. Glen Ridge, seeded 15th, will host a […]