CHS girls’ hoops post great year

By Steve Carfagna
Staff Writer
With a record of 24-4, the Columbia High School girls’ varsity basketball team enjoyed a stellar season.
And overall, head coach Johanna Wright was certainly proud of her players’ achievements.
Specifically, Wright, whose group was 24-1 against teams not named Shabazz, said her girls had no reason to be “down” on themselves as CHS finished second in the Super Essex Conference-American Division and second in the Essex County Tournament, both behind the Newark school powerhouse.
“It was a great season,” she said. “Although we would have liked to have won a championship of some kind, anytime you win 24 games in a season, you know it was a great year, so I can’t complain. A lot of teams would like to be 24-4. We accomplished a great deal by going to the ECT finals and finishing in second place in the Super Essex Conference, both behind Shabazz, who entered the season ranked nationally. It was also extremely rewarding to see our girls get recognition like they did in the tri-state area.”
While three of the team’s defeats were against Shabazz, Wright said the team’s other loss, which came in the State sectional tournament semifinals, was nothing to be ashamed of either.
“Losing to North Hunterdon in the playoffs at home by just one point was a heartbreaker, but as of today, they’re still alive, so there was no shame in losing there,” said Wright, noting she felt for her seniors the most. “My heart really bleeds for them. They had a great run during their four years here and they will be missed.”
North Hunterdon went on to win the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 title and NJSIAA Group 4 championship.
Wright said that this year’s Cougars were led by their senior star, 5-foot-5 point guard Brianna Thomas.
“Brianna, who is great on defense, led our team in steals, was our second-leading scorer while also finishing either first or second in assists as well,” she said of Thomas, who averaged 8.8 points per game.
To date, Wright said Thomas was still undecided on which college she would like to attend next year.
“She’s quick, she’s a hard worker, she has great hands and great footwork and she’ll definitely be playing on the next level,” said Wright.
Similarly, the Cougar coach said 5-foot-8 junior swing player Gabby Jackson also played a major role in the success by this year’s group.
“Gabby, who also posted up for us, is a rebounding machine who could do it all, and next year, there’s a good chance she’ll be our starting point guard,” said the coach.
In addition, 5-foot-6 senior guard Shaina Earle is another player who enjoyed a fine season for CHS this past season.
“Shaina, who started opposite of Brianna, is a very hard worker who has had a great season and just a great career here,” said Wright.
Freshman 5-foot-11 center Jade Johnson-Walker was another key contributor.
“Jade, our tallest player, came right in from Day one and was our starter from the first game of the year,” said Wright. “She clogged up the middle and was second in scoring while leading us in blocked shots.
“She’s going to be terrific.”
Looking ahead, the legendary varsity coach said her group would have its work cut out for them next year.
“With seven seniors graduating, our kids will need to work extremely hard in the offseason,” she said. “It’s time to go back to the drawing board.”

Worrall Community Newspapers

2009-10 All-Area Girls' Basketball

Name School Pos. Ht. Year
Brianna Thomas Columbia PG 5-5 Senior
Gabby Jackson Columbia F 5-8 Junior
Shaina Earle Columbia G 5-6 Senior
Jade Johnson-Walker Columbia C 5-11 Freshman
Linda Hamilton EO Campus C 6-0 Junior
Delisha Thompson EO Campus G 5-8 Junior
Domonique Herring EO Campus G 5-6 Senior
Ashley Morris West Orange C 5-11 Senior
Anna Fucci West Orange PG 5-0 Senior
Alnisa Hernaiz Irvington F 5-8 Senior
Natasha Walker Irvington PG 5-6 Soph.
Andrea Fraser Glen Ridge C 6-1 Senior
Mary Alati Glen Ridge G 5-2 Soph.
Tahirah Matthews Bloomfield C 6-0 Senior
Nicole Velardi Belleville PG 5-6 Senior
Chassity Sousa Belleville F 5-9 Freshman
Khayriyyah Dawson Bloomfield Tech G 5-7 Junior
Qyidirah Williams Orange G 5-8 Senior
Alissa Tucci Nutley G 5-2 Senior

Players of the Year: Brianna Thomas, Columbia; Delisha Thompson, East Orange Campus
Coaches of the Year: Derrick Johnson, East Orange Campus; Johanna Wright, Columbia
Editor’s note: The All-Area is selected by the Essex County sports staff of Worrall Community Newspapers and consists of schools in the WCN publishing area of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, West Orange and Vailsburg. The athletes chosen also must reside in those municipalities.