IHS girls’ hoop team perseveres this season

By Joe Ragozzino
Sports Editor
The Irvington High School girls’ varsity basketball team was dealt a significant blow when senior point guard Courtney Evans suffered a season-ending ankle injury.
IHS head coach Jim Casalino couldn’t help but wonder how
his team would have fared if
Evans was healthy.
Still, the Blue Knights persevered, qualifying for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament before finishing with an 11-14 record.
“With a few breaks and health, we would have been 14-11,” said Casalino.
Evans, a four-year starter, missed the final 10 games of the season because of bone chips in her ankle.
“That was a big difference in a few of the games,” said Casalino.
The Blue Knights, competing in the new Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division, had a few highlights this season, such as beating Caldwell and Weequahic, avenging earlier-season losses to those divisional foes.
Senior forward/captain Alnisa Hernaiz had a steady season, averaging 10.3 points and 8.6 rebounds a game for the Blue Knights.
“She improved greatly this year,” said Casalino of the three-year starter and four-year letterwinner. “She was a leader on the floor. She played hard all the time and will be missed next year. She did a really good job this year.”
Sophomore Natasha Walker replaced the injured Evans at the the point guard position. Walker displayed her shooting prowess, hitting 33 three-pointers to average 12.5 points per game. Walker also averaged 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
“She has excellent ability,” said Casalino, noting Walker is on pace to score 1,000 career points. “She has room for improvement, and if she does, she can be a very special player. If she works hard this summer, she can come back as one of the elite players in the league.”
Casalino was pleased with the play of freshman guard JoiNay Carr, who gained valuable experience while averaging 7.3 points per game and totalling 146 points.
“The sky is the limit for JoiNay,” said Casalino. “She is going to be a big-time player for Irvington for the next three years.”

Worrall Community Newspapers

2009-10 All-Area Girls' Basketball

Name School Pos. Ht. Year
Brianna Thomas Columbia PG 5-5 Senior
Gabby Jackson Columbia F 5-8 Junior
Shaina Earle Columbia G 5-6 Senior
Jade Johnson-Walker Columbia C 5-11 Freshman
Linda Hamilton EO Campus C 6-0 Junior
Delisha Thompson EO Campus G 5-8 Junior
Domonique Herring EO Campus G 5-6 Senior
Ashley Morris West Orange C 5-11 Senior
Anna Fucci West Orange PG 5-0 Senior
Alnisa Hernaiz Irvington F 5-8 Senior
Natasha Walker Irvington PG 5-6 Soph.
Andrea Fraser Glen Ridge C 6-1 Senior
Mary Alati Glen Ridge G 5-2 Soph.
Tahirah Matthews Bloomfield C 6-0 Senior
Nicole Velardi Belleville PG 5-6 Senior
Chassity Sousa Belleville F 5-9 Freshman
Khayriyyah Dawson Bloomfield Tech G 5-7 Junior
Qyidirah Williams Orange G 5-8 Senior
Alissa Tucci Nutley G 5-2 Senior

Players of the Year: Brianna Thomas, Columbia; Delisha Thompson, East Orange Campus
Coaches of the Year: Derrick Johnson, East Orange Campus; Johanna Wright, Columbia
Editor’s note: The All-Area is selected by the Essex County sports staff of Worrall Community Newspapers and consists of schools in the WCN publishing area of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, West Orange and Vailsburg. The athletes chosen also must reside in those municipalities.