The Immaculate Conception girls basketball team will be going for their third straight Essex County Tournament title on Saturday.
It will be a familiar foe when the top-seeded Lions (21-4) take on second-seeded University the fourth time the two teams have played in the last four ECT championship games.Â
The final will be held Saturday, Feb. 17 at Essex County College at 1 p.m.
“I’m excited to play University. Those are usually intense games,” said senior Mia Lewis. “They (University) already bring intensity and aggressiveness so it’s always exciting playing them.”
University won the county title in 2020. After the COVID season, when the 2021 tournament was canceled, Immaculate Conception defeated the Phoenix in the last two county title tussles.
Both Immaculate Conception and University are in the Super Essex Conference American Division. Both teams have faced each other twice this season, both won by the Lions. Immaculate Conception defeated the Phoenix, 68-55, in Montclair on Dec. 19 and the Lions won at University, 71-55, on Jan. 23.
“We know University is a very strong opponent,” said sophomore guard Lena Most. “We try to not get overconfident and we are a humble group of girls.”
Most transferred this season to Immaculate Conception from Dwight-Englewood. “I am extremely excited. I think we worked really hard and have come a long way since the start of the season,” said Most.
If the Lions do win their third straight county tournament championship, it would be the most by a school in the county tournament in consecutive seasons since Shabazz won six consecutive ECT girls basketball titles from 2009-14.
To get to the 2024 ECT championship game, the Lions put together a workman-like decision over fourth-seeded Newark Academy with an 86-43 win over Newark Academy on Feb. 10 at West Orange High School.
“It feels good, so happy we won,” said Lewis who had a team-high 18 points in the first win over University this season. “We did a great job today playing together.”
Against Newark Academy, Immaculate Conception’s top scorer, junior Nila Giraud led the way with 20 points. Sophomore London Caldwell and senior Mia Lewis chipped in 14 points each along with sophomore Jayah Curtis with 10.
Going into the ECT final the 2023-24 Lions might be the deepest of the Immaculate Conception teams of the last five seasons.
And the reason is for the new players this season including Lewis and Most.
Outside of Giraud and senior Brenae Jones, Lewis is the highest average scorer averaging slightly under 10 points per game. But the senior also has the most three-point buckets on the team (32).
“I’m shooting the three more,” said Lewis, who played mainly at point guard at Immaculate Conception in Lodi. “I didn’t shoot from the arc at all but now I am transitioning to that game.”
Despite being a sophomore and the first year on the program, Most has been one of the main facilitators for Immaculate Conception this season.
“I think there are a lot of great guards on this team,” said Most. “I think as a point guard it is challenging to conduct the team but with great coaching and great teammates, I have been able to adjust to the team.”
Most gave credit to both Giraud and Jones for helping her get acclimated to the new team this season.
“Nila and Brea are great cleaner-uppers,” said Most. “If you miss a shot they are right there. And if you make a shot, they are very encouraging.”
While the Essex County Tournament is definitely on the mind of Immaculate Conception, the Lions will find out their path in the upcoming state tournament. Immaculate Conception appears headed to be the second seed in the Non-Public North B with the top seed going to Morris Catholic. The Lions have lost to the Crusaders the last two seasons in the state playoffs including last season’s Non-Public B North final.