The Montclair High School girls basketball hopes the 2023-24 season is a preamble for next season with several experienced players returning.
The looking forward comes after the Mounties’ season came to an end after a 34-23 defeat at Passaic Tech in this season’s North 1 Group 4 state tournament opener on Feb. 21.
Montclair will have two of their top scorers and three of their top rebounders returning for the 2024-25 season off a 14-11 overall record.
It will also be the penultimate season for junior Savannah Seawell, one of the top players in the Super Essex Conference. Seawell was the top scorer and rebounder for the Mounties this season.
Montclair will have to replace this season’s three seniors in Taylor Yi, Angel Rae Hankerson and especially Liz Giordano who handled a lot of the point guard work. “As a coach, you always coach for the set of seniors,” said Connell. “We had three excellent ones this year, specifically in leadership and in being great people.”
In the final weeks of the 2023-24 regular season, the Mounties had players in and out of the lineup because of injuries at the worst time heading into the state playoffs and the postseason.
Injuries Had An Impact
“We picked up some injuries at unlucky times which impacted our execution and cohesion,” said Connell. “It’s tough to maintain that single mind when we are rotating people.”
Shai Uzell, one of the prospective top players, was hampered with injuries during the season. “She has all of the skills to be an absolute star,” said Connell about the junior. “She battled coming back from an injury this year but had five of the most jaw dropping highlights this season.”
The rash of injuries hurt this season, but it also allowed for a few younger players to get more floor time at the end of the season, especially freshman Zoe Todd.
Starting Slow
Against Passaic Tech it was a combination of Montclair’s slow start and being in a playoff situation.
“The difference in this game was the combination of playing from behind and being a big moment.” said Connell.
The Mounties started sluggishly from the opening tipoff as they went scoreless in the first quarter and were down 9-0.
“I think we started pushing instead of letting the moment come to us,” added the Montclair head coach. “That can be costly against a press/zone defense.”
But Connell added that during the regular season his team worked well against the opponents’ defenses.
“We have seen a number of presses this season and handled them relatively well,” said Connell.
Against Passaic Tech, Seawell led Montclair with 10 points and 16 rebounds. But the Bulldogs defense overall kept the Mounties’ top scorer from getting to the basket.
“She was clearly the focus of their game plan,” said Connell of Seawell. “Limiting touches, doubling in the post and poking when she had possession. It’s a respect she deserves given her production this season.”
Unfortunately for Seawell and Montclair she did not get to the free throw line until the fourth quarter. Connell said that was her latest in a game this season. “We needed to put her [Seawell] in better positions to be successful. I think we failed to do that,” said the Montclair head coach.
A Better Second Half
The Mounties finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter but were still down 19-8.
And Montclair play improved in the second half where they cut the lead to eight late in the third quarter. “We had some life in the second half,” said Connell. “I was really proud of the determination our program showed. We have a relatively young team, and I was happy that we didn’t throw in the towel.”
But the Mounties could not come all the way back in the end.
Along with Seawell, Todd and Uzell, Montclair will have several players who saw floor time back for the 24-25 season. Returning are sophomore Carla Osborne, sophomore Anna O’Keefe and junior Eva Savio and junior Eva Brennan and junior Roxana Hallaby.