Glen Ridge Basketball Teams Opening This Week – TAPinto.net

The girls will once again be led by head coach Joe Mazzarella. The Ridgers are scheduled to open, at home, on Dec. 19, in a 6 p.m. start against Columbia High. That will be the second game of a doubleheader, as the boys will also play its home opener on the 19th, in a 4 p.m. tip off against Brearley High.

“We’re looking forward to the season, and opening at home,” said Mazzarella. “It should be a nice environment, with the boys also playing at home.”

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A talented senior class is led by captains Sarah Cullinan, Haleigh Pine and Michaila Dowd. The seniors also iinclude Ava Rollo, Macy Weber, Kaylie Koenig and Angelie Roy.

Juniors Olivia Carbonell and Jill Goffe, along with sophomores Elettra Giantomenico, Amayah Melbourne, Taylor Goffe, Holly Vincent,  Grace Janofsky and Claire O’Farrell are a part of a very good sophomore class.

Losing its top two scorers from last year will provide a challenge. Claire McMahon and Jenny Lisovicz are now college freshmen who helped Glen Ridge finish 17-11 last year. The Ridgers solid season also moved it up a division, to the Super Essex Conference’s (SEC) Liberty Division.

“We’re up against a tough schedule,” said Mazzarella. “With Claire and Jenny graduating, that’s about 800 points of offense we have to make up for, and against a different group of opponents. But if our up-tempo game works, and our defense is as good as I think it can be, we could have a good season.”

For the GRHS boys, veteran head coach Liam Carr likes what he’s been seeing from the team in practice.

The team captains are senior Joe DeLuca and junior Sam Trunley. After opening with Brearley on Dec. 19, the Ridgers have a quick turnaround, as it will travel to Montclair Kimberley, on Dec. 20, for a 7 p.m. game.

“I like the way the kids are coming around,” said Carr. “We have some varsity experience from last year. The schedule will be challenging, but we’ll be up to the challenge.”

DeLuca is the lone senior on the team. The juinors are Trunley, Aiden Connaghan and Matt Van Bloem while the sophomores include Michael Cifelli, Carter Koenig, Bryan Moussako, Ryan O’Neil, Carter Robik and Andrew Snyder. JD Pine, a freshman, should also see varsity action.