WEST ORANGE NJ- Now that football and the other fall sports have come to an end, Girls Basketball is now occupying the spotlight. Coming off a 21-4 season that ended with an Essex County Championship, we expect another electrifying showcase from the roster and coaching staff.

The obvious main story line entering this season is the departure of star forward Mya Bembry, the West Orange all-time scorer (1,718) and rebounder (1,068), who signed with the prestigious D1 Penn State Lady Lions basketball program. If Mya’s departure wasn’t enough, the roster has also suffered the loss of 3 varsity players and 6 graduating seniors. However even with the loss of many important players, the team is still expected to make the necessary adjustments for a successful 2019-20 campaign. 

Despite the serious roster losses, there are certainly bright spots in this roster, specifically at the guard position. Returning sophomore Kiley Capstraw is poised for a breakout season after posting averages of 14.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2 steals in her freshman season. Good coaching and personal development could very well lead her to becoming a Bembry-caliber player for this program. Another returning talent is junior guard Mackenzie Dover, who posted averages of  7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 2.7 assists. 

West Orange opens its season against East Orange, the county rivals that gave them an early exit in the North 1 Section 4 State Tournament Quarterfinals. Starting off the season strong against the Panthers can set the tone for a wonderful season.

In hopes of repeating the success of the last few years, the team needs to adapt to the general lack of varsity experience in the incoming roster. Hopefully, this hungry and energetic group led by Capstraw can solidify their position as one of, if not the best, sports program we have here in West Orange.