Girls basketball: Highlights, standings and top scorers from the 2023-24 season
To conclude Varsity Aces’ coverage of the 2023-24 girls basketball season, we present our annual lists of players’ and coaches’ milestone achievements, plus the top scorers from North Jersey schools (comprised of the Big North and North Jersey Interscholastic conferences).
If you missed anything, or just want to relive the best of the season, here are links to NorthJersey.com’s postseason honors, feature stories and game coverage.
RANKINGS: The final North Jersey Top 25 for 2023-24
ALL-NORTH JERSEY: Teams chosen by the Varsity Aces/NorthJersey.com
ALL-GROUPS: Players selected by NorthJersey.com
COACHES' PICKS: All-County and All-Conference honors
Players of the Week
As chosen by NorthJersey.com readers:
DEC. 14-17: Kate Walsh of Westwood
DEC. 26-JAN. 7: Katie Reiner of Becton
JAN. 8-14: Sophia Mandalakis of Dumont
JAN. 15-21: Jessaiah Reynoso of Passaic
Congrats to longtime FASSTLETE Jessaiah Reynoso on becoming only the second female in Passaic high school history to eclipse the 1000 point mark. She did this as a junior... Big things to come! @JessaiahReynoso 👏🏼💪🏼 #FASSTlife pic.twitter.com/Rp1mAjgnTI
— FASST Strength & Speed (@FASSTNJ) January 18, 2024
JAN. 22-28: Madelyn DiPillo of Pompton Lakes
JAN. 29-FEB. 4: Natalie Song of Bergen Tech
FEB. 5-11: Aubrey Newell of Eastside
FEB. 12-18: Ava Burke of Pascack Valley
North Jersey coaching milestones
The North Jersey 800-win club welcomed its second member in 2023-24.
Forty-nine years after giving Sue Liddy her first career victory, Holy Angels delivered its longtime coach her 800th on Dec. 30, 2023. The Angels defeated Cresskill, 42-28, in the Joe Poli Holiday Tournament at Pascack Valley.
The Record archives show that Liddy’s first win also came again a current NJIC school, Emerson, on Dec. 17, 1974. Her current mark of 809-403 includes five Bergen County championships, one BIT title and the 1990 North Parochial A sectional crown.
Meanwhile, the 500 club welcomed two new members. Brian Dunn of Old Tappan got there in December and is now 518-209 in 27 seasons with the Golden Knights (plus one at Pascack Hills). Steve Silver reached the mark in Immaculate Heart’s second game of the season, improving to 515-131 at both Ramapo (2000-07) and IHA (2007-present).
There are 13 North Jersey coaches who have accumulated 400 or more wins, predominantly at Big North/NJIC schools:
North Jersey Coaching Wins List
1,119: Jeff Jasper, Pascack Valley (1973-present)
809: Sue Liddy, Holy Angels (1974-present)
678: John Sterling, Bogota/Wood-Ridge/Secaucus (1990-present)
644: Paula LaSalandra, DePaul (1974-2006)
608: Jeff Horohonich, Hawthorne/Hanover Park/IHA/IC/Saddle Brook (1984-2021)
557: Steve King, Eastern Christian (1975-2011)
547: Dave Cieplicki, Dumont (1983-2022)
535: Jack Rodgers, Harrison (1980-2006)
518: Brian Dunn, Pascack Hills/Old Tappan (1994-present)
Congratulations to Coach Dunn on his 500th!! The girls are off to a great start. pic.twitter.com/arnxF0Sygu
— NVOT ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT (@NVOT_Athletics) December 22, 2023
515: Steve Silver, Ramapo/Immaculate Heart (2000-present)
509: The Wejnert family (Lou, River Dell/Dwight Morrow/Wood-Ridge, 1995-2020; Tayler, Wood-Ridge, 2020-22)
445: Al Roth, Paramus Catholic (1991-2015)
412: Dr. Rose Battaglia, St. Michael’s-Union City/Benedictine/Paramus Catholic (1951-83)
1,000-point career scorers
This list is based on scores reported to NorthJersey.com by coaches. All players are seniors unless otherwise noted.
Allie Shenloogian, Park Ridge: 1,676 (junior)
Alyssa Craigwell, Secaucus: 1,648
Kylie Cabana, Bogota/Paramus Catholic: 1,599
Samantha Serrano, Holy Angels: 1,443
Katie Reiner, Becton: 1,385 (junior)
Cristina Parrella, Demarest/Saddle River Day: 1,346
Erin Fahy, Cresskill: 1,257
Jessaiah Reynoso, Passaic: 1,238 (junior)
Cayla Menicola, Mahwah/Ramapo: 1,149
Kate Walsh, Westwood: 1,197
Layla Giordano, Old Tappan: 1,053
Siena Shuster, Wayne Hills: 1,050
Celina Bussanich, Pascack Valley: 1,013 (junior)
Julianna Almeida, Saddle River Day: 1,003
Closing in: Faith Williamson, Saddle River Day (Class of 2025), 999; Nevaeh Banks, Eastside (2025), 913; My’Shayla Clancy, Kennedy (2025), 899.
Fabulous frosh, continued
For the second year in a row, roughly a dozen ninth-graders scored at least 200 points for their girls basketball teams in North Jersey. Last winter, it was 11, and now the number is 13 – with a 14th, Aubrey Newell of Eastside, finishing 7 points away.
While this is no guarantee of future success, these freshmen are well on their way to reaching the millennium mark:
Dani Daproza (Leonia), 459; Zoe Wasserlauf (Tenafly), 403; Leayana Dorville (Teaneck), 352; Olivia Buckingham (Secaucus), 321; Harper Cohn (Mahwah), 287; Cameron Roche (Westwood), 268; Amelia Guardascione (Lakeland), 266; Gina Minichiello (Hasbrouck Heights), 261; Raina Gibbs (Pascack Valley), 257; Addison Fleming (Eastern Christian), 224; Leeya Ancle (Cliffside Park), 214; Deana Finkelstein (Demarest), 213; Gisela Tapia (Fair Lawn), 201.
Final 2023-24 division standings
Big North
AMERICAN: Dumont 8-0, Fort Lee 5-3, Ridgefield Park 5-3, Cliffside Park 2-6, Dwight Morrow 0-8.
FREEDOM: Ramapo 8-0, Northern Highlands 5-3, Ridgewood 5-3, Hackensack 2-6, Paramus 0-8.
INDEPENDENCE: Wayne Hills 8-2, West Milford 7-3, Fair Lawn 5-5, Wayne Valley 5-5, Lakeland 4-6, Passaic Valley 1-9.
LIBERTY: Eastside 9-0^, Kennedy 7-3, Passaic Tech 7-3, Passaic 4-6, Bergen Tech 2-8, Clifton 0-9^.
^NOTE: Feb. 1 Clifton/Eastside game cancelled
NATIONAL: Old Tappan 8-2, Teaneck 8-2, Demarest 7-3, Pascack Valley 5-5, Tenafly 2-8, Bergenfield 0-10.
PATRIOT: Mahwah 9-1, River Dell 8-2, Westwood 7-3, Ramsey 3-7, Indian Hills 2-8, Pascack Hills 1-9.
UNITED: Immaculate Heart 6-0, Holy Angels 3-3, Paramus Catholic 2-4, DePaul 1-5.
NJIC
AMERICAN: Elmwood Park 9-1, Lodi 8-2, Saddle Brook 6-4, Garfield 4-6, Manchester 3-7, Paterson Charter 0-10.
COLONIAL: Glen Rock 8-0, Hawthorne Christian 2-0, Eastern Christian 5-3, Pompton Lakes 5-3, Butler 2-6, Hawthorne 0-10.
LIBERTY: Leonia 10-0, New Milford 8-2, Bogota 5-5, Palisades Park 4-6, Dwight-Englewood 3-7, Ridgefield 0-10.
MEADOWLANDS: Becton 8-0, Hasbrouck Heights 6-2, Wood-Ridge 4-4, St. Mary 1-7, Wallington 1-7.
NATIONAL: Secaucus 10-0, Rutherford 8-2, Lyndhurst 6-4, North Arlington 3-7, Weehawken 3-7, Harrison 0-10.
PATRIOT: Park Ridge 8-0, Cresskill 6-2, Waldwick 4-4, Emerson 2-6, Midland Park 0-8.
Independents
Saddle River Day 22-4, Bergen Charter 8-15, Mary Help 7-6, Paterson Arts 4-15, Passaic Charter 2-10.
Final 2023-24 North Jersey scoring leaders
Samantha Serrano, Holy Angels, 26.2 average (628 points)
Allie Shenloogian, Park Ridge, 23.7 (686)
Jessaiah Reynoso, Passaic, 22.2 (556)
Olivia Isaacson, Wayne Valley, 21.4 (534)
Alyssa Craigwell, Secaucus, 19.8 (554)
Angie Tirado, Demarest, 19.7 (571)
Katie Reiner, Becton, 18.4 (479)
My'shayla Clancy, Kennedy, 18.3 (493)
Siena Shuster, Wayne Hills, 18.3 (477)
Nyasia Pauldo, Eastside, 17.2 (189)
Julianna Almeida, Saddle River Day, 17.1 (445)
Dani Daproza, Leonia, 17.0 (459)
Cristina Parrella, Saddle River Day, 16.6 (432)
Celina Bussanich, Pascack Valley, 16.6 (431)
Juliet Schwartz, Tenafly, 16.6 (348)
Layla Giordano, Old Tappan, 16.5 (487)
Erin Fahy, Cresskill, 16.4 (460)
Lexi Carnegie, Teaneck, 16.2 (211)
Kylie Cabana, Paramus Catholic, 15.9 (429)
Zoe Wasserlauf, Tenafly, 15.5 (403)
Sienna Corey, Northern Highlands, 15.5 (402)
Angelica Do, Leonia, 15.4 (417)
Kate Walsh, Westwood, 15.3 (429)
Amaya Carruthers, New Milford, 14.3 (315)
Camden Epstein, Ramapo, 14.2 (397)
Nadia Otuyelu, Ridgefield Park, 14.2 (241)
Selena Cieszko, Immaculate Heart, 13.9 (361)
Giulia Russo, Mary Help, 13.8 (180)
Kayla Elek, Emerson, 13.7 (383)
Gabriella Mittelman, Demarest, 13.6 (394)
Sofia Valente, Immaculate Heart, 13.6 (354)
Cayla Menicola, Ramapo, 13.5 (365)
Bianca Ellis, Paramus Catholic, 13.5 (364)
Emma Fowler, Bogota, 13.5 (338)
Alexis Williamson, Midland Park, 13.5 (325)
Ava Burke, Pascack Valley, 13.4 (363)
Jenene Hall, Dwight-Englewood, 13.2 (171)
Demi Simpson, Teaneck, 13.1 (353)
Asya Akar, Lyndhurst, 13.1 (327)
Nevaeh Banks, Eastside, 13.0 (324)
Lyla Stokes, Waldwick, 12.9 (349)
Faith Williamson, Saddle River Day, 12.9 (336)
Faith Erasmo, Fair Lawn, 12.9 (245)
Olivia Buckingham, Secaucus, 12.8 (321)
Madison Trocolar, Indian Hills, 12.7 (242)
Gabriella Bartelucci, Dumont, 12.6 (327)
Asoni Henderson, Passaic Charter, 12.6 (126)
Mia Soto, Pompton Lakes, 12.2 (304)
Celeste Harper, Holy Angels, 12.2 (292)
Saoirse Twomey, Saddle Brook, 12.1 (303)
Mackenzie Vellis, Rutherford, 12.1 (327)
Celine De La Rosa, Bergenfield, 12.1 (290)
Morgan Sconza, River Dell, 12.0 (N/A)
Cate Weinberger, Northern Highlands, 11.9 (321)
Alexandra Stefanelli, Passaic Valley, 11.8 (154)
Erin Gashler, Westwood, 11.7 (350)
Sophia Mandalakis, Dumont, 11.7 (304)
Lia Cruz, North Arlington, 11.7 (246)
Amelia Guardascione, Lakeland, 11.6 (266)
Leayana Dorville, Teaneck, 11.4 (352)
Juliana Odum, Saddle Brook, 11.4 (285)
Zahniya Castillo, Kennedy, 11.4 (251)
Bao DeLorenzo, Hawthorne Christian, 11.4 (160)
Marissa LaVerghetta, Mahwah, 11.3 (327)
Gabriella Micucci, Emerson, 11.3 (315)
Gina Minichiello, Hasbrouck Heights, 11.3 (261)
Krista Price, Passaic Valley, 11.3 (225)
Chrissy Akiki, Becton, 11.2 (290)
Avery Vacca, West Milford, 11.2 (279)
Brooke Harper, Lyndhurst, 11.0 (296)
Catie Klemm, Ridgewood, 11.0 (275)
Irma Sanchez, Garfield, 10.8 (237)
Gianna Peralta, Lakeland, 10.7 (245)
Julie Awad, Hawthorne Christian, 10.7 (139)
Samantha Russo, Hasbrouck Heights, 10.6 (254)
Mia Cruz, Secaucus, 10.5 (304)
Skyla Acosta, North Arlington, 10.3 (267)
Teodora Zivkovic, Leonia, 10.3 (248)
Madisyn McNair, Hackensack, 10.3 (205)
Ava Rizos, Wood-Ridge, 10.2 (224)
Leeya Ancle, Cliffside Park, 10.2 (214)
Toni Pernetti, Ramapo, 10.1 (284)
Julia Hasenstab, Cresskill, 10.0 (281)
Kirsten Braunius, Eastern Christian, 10.0 (220)
Sofia Sanchez, River Dell, 10.0 (N/A)
Final 3-point leaders
Bianca Ellis, Paramus Catholic, 83
Katie Reiner, Becton, 79
Samantha Serrano, Holy Angels, 73
Emma Fowler, Bogota, 71
Celina Bussanich, Pascack Valley, 71
Julia Hasenstab, Cresskill, 67
Sofia Valente, Immaculate Heart, 65
Nevaeh Banks, Eastside, 64
Cristina Parrella, Saddle River Day, 64
Olivia Buckingham, Secaucus, 64
Cate Weinberger, Northern Highlands, 60
Riley Fucci, Ridgefield Park, 59
Faith Williamson, Saddle River Day, 59
Raina Gibbs, Pascack Valley, 57
Olivia Isaacson, Wayne Valley, 57
Angie Tirado, Demarest, 52
Sienna Corey, Northern Highlands, 52
Camden Epstein, Ramapo, 52
Perla Reyes, Kennedy, 51
Cameron Roche, Westwood, 51
Sarah Benowitz, West Milford, 50
Dani Daproza, Leonia, 49
Zoe Wasserlauf, Tenafly, 49
Morgan Sconza, River Dell, 47
Marlena Abreu, Elmwood Park, 47
Kate Walsh, Westwood, 45
Ariana Polifonte, Wayne Hills, 44
Sofia Sanchez, River Dell, 44
Gabriella Bartelucci, Dumont, 43
Seutvilay "Star" Vorabouth, Wayne Hills, 43
Lucia Giangregorio, Dumont, 42
Delilah Tabaka, Wallington, 42
Avery Vacca, West Milford, 42
Catie Klemm, Ridgewood, 41
Juliet Schwartz, Tenafly, 40
Gianna Peralta, Lakeland, 39
Harper Cohn, Mahwah, 39
Leilani Pena, Passaic Tech, 39
Maggie Harris, Glen Rock, 38
Madison Trocolar, Indian Hills, 38
Ava D'Addetta, Secaucus, 38
Chrissy Akiki, Becton, 35
Ella Peck, Demarest, 35
Saoirse Twomey, Saddle Brook, 35
Hailey Zirpoli, Waldwick, 35
Samantha Marker, Indian Hills, 34
Isabella Pedone, Saddle River Day, 34
^ All lists are based on information reported to NorthJersey.com
If you spot any additions/corrections that need to be made, please notify the Aces immediately.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ girls basketball: Highlights, standings, top scorers from 2023-24