North Jersey Defending Sectional Champs – Group 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As September comes to an end and we are less than two months until high school tryouts, let's take a look at our defending Sectional Champs from the North and where they stand entering the 2025-26 season. These are your Group 1 Sectional Champs from last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">North 1</span></strong> - <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Mountain Lakes</span></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After jumping out to a 15 point lead over #1 seed and defending North 1 Group 1 champ Park Ridge, #2 seed Mountain Lakes cruised to a 56-45 win and their 1st sectional title since 2006 before falling to Glen Ridge in the Group 1 North finals. Departing senior and 1,100 point scorer Abigail Hawes led the team in scoring, 3-pointers and steals. With the loss of 3 seniors, Mountain Lakes is losing 80% of their 3-point scoring, 61% of their points, 35% of their rebounding, 44% of their assists, 29% of their blocks and 46% of their steals. What they return is junior [player_tooltip player_id='832357' first='Shea' last='Sutter'] who is ready to step into the leading role after a sophomore season where she led the team in rebounding, assists and blocks, while finishing 2nd in scoring and steals. Her role will grow this year along with those of senior Kristine Squeglia (5th in assists, 2nd in rebounding and 4th in steals), sophomore Siena Bednar (5th in scoring and 2nd in blocks), senior Rebekah Horowitz (5th in rebounds) and sophomore Summer Sutter (4th in assists and 5th in steals). If the supporting cast helps [player_tooltip player_id='832357' first='Shea' last='Sutter'] get to the next level, Mountain Lakes will have a chance to defend their title over the likes of Cresskill and Hasbrouck Heights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">North 2</span></strong> - <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Glen Ridge</span></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After back to back losses to University HS in the sectional finals, Glen Ridge earned the #1 seed and a chance to host University in last year's sectional final. They went into the game having won both meetings during the season and continued their dominance with a 50-44 victory after going up by 11 midway through the 3rd. They went on to win the Group 1 North with a win over Mountain Lakes only to fall to New Providence in the Group 1 State Championship. Though they bring back some very experienced players they lose, not only Coach Kristina Danella, but 1st team All-Group 1 player and 1,200 point scorer Riley O'Sullivan who is now playing at MIT after leading Glen Ridge in scoring and rebounding. They also lose their top two 3-pt shooters in Marjorie Boyle and Katie Powers. Powers also led the team in assists and steals. In all they lose 66% of their 3-point shooting, 58% of their points, 44% of their rebounding, 59% of their assists, 22% of their blocks and 58% of their assists. Though they lose three core players they also return three core players in junior [player_tooltip player_id='835255' first='Caitlin' last='Hood'] (4th in scoring, 3rd in rebounding, 5th in blocks), senior [player_tooltip player_id='601519' first='Annabel' last='Koss-DeFrank'] (5th in 3-pointers, 4th in rebounding, 4th in assists, tied for 3rd in blocks and 5th in steals) and 3rd team All-Group 1 player senior [player_tooltip player_id='601520' first='Allison' last='Snyder'] (3rd in 3-pointers, 2nd in scoring, 2nd in rebounding, 1st in blocks with 3+ per game and 2nd in steals). They may not have the depth they had last year but there is a core there to make a push for another sectional finals battling the likes of Arts, University and Secaucus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Central</span></strong> - <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">New Providence</span></strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central yes but they are really North so we will include them here. After a 6-2 start, New Providence rattled off 24 straight wins on their way to not only a sectional championship but the Group 1 State Championship. Though they return 2nd team All-State and 1st team All-Group 1 senior [player_tooltip player_id='601332' first='Annie' last='Conover'], New Providence will have some production to replace. 2nd team All-Group 1 Brenna Slattery was the only senior on the roster last year but her presence inside was enormous for the Pioneers. Brenna led the team in blocks and free throws and was 2nd in scoring and rebounding. Her departure takes with her 5% of their 3-point scoring, 27% of their points, 27% off their rebounding, 6% of their assists, 38% of their blocks and 10% of their steals. What they do return are 4 starters including all-everything senior and Scranton commit [player_tooltip player_id='601332' first='Annie' last='Conover'] (1st in points, reboounds, assists and steals, 2nd in 3-pointers and tied for 3rd in blocks), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1202424' first='Addy' last='Fitzgerald'] (3rd in 3-pointers, 4th in scoring and rebounding, 2nd in assists, tied for 3rd in blocks and 3rd in steals), senior Susquehanna commit [player_tooltip player_id='1263031' first='Megan' last='Henn'] (1st in 3-pointers, 3rd in scoring, 3rd in rebounds, 3rd in assists, 2nd in blocks and 2nd in steals) and senior Haley Kessler (4th in 3-pointers, 5th in scoring, 5th in rebounding, 4th in assists, tied for 5th in blocks and 4th in steals). With a strong returning 4 and exceptional coaching by Cap Pazdera, New Providence will not give up their crown without a fight. Chasing their trophy will be last year's Central runner-up Thrive Charter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->