Girls basketball: New Providence continues to roll with dominant win over Hillsborough

NEW PROVIDENCE – Perhaps it would have been understandable if the New Providence High School girls basketball team took a step back this season.

Whether it’s the fact the Pioneers are coming off a somewhat unlikely run to the state Group 2 championship last year and are going out this season with a big target on their backs, or that fact they’re playing a beefed up nonconference schedule, or because reigning Courier News Player of the Year Meghan Lamanna and her 1,400-plus career points graduated, the Pioneers certainly could have reeled in their expectations.

But judging by its 10-2 start and Thursday night’s 61-40 dismantling of Skyland Conference power Hillsborough, it’s fair to say New Providence has hardly skipped a beat.

“We try not to think about it because it is what it is. It was last year’s team. This year’s team, we put the goals out in front of them and they’re hungry to go after it,” said New Providence coach Cap Pazdera, who had previously guided his club to three Group 1 state titles, but last year’s was the program’s first as a Group 2.  “So, I think they’re really focused on trying to put their best effort on the floor every night, and try and say, hey, ‘We were part of last year’s team, but this team is different and we want to accomplish our own thing.’”

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Of course, the fact they aren’t taking anyone in the state by surprise this year makes things somewhat more difficult.

“It’s totally changed because last year we were kind of like the underdogs, so it was a little unexpected that we did so well, and this year it’s been the opposite,” senior four-year starter Grace Kinum said. “Teams are preparing for us and planning for us. It’s definitely a change, but we’re getting used to it as the season goes on.”

While Lamanna is certainly missed as she toils for the University of Scranton, this year’s New Providence team is still loaded, and Kinum leads the way. She has been a superstar since she first stepped onto a varsity court as a frosh, with Thursday’s 14-point, eight-rebound performance putting her over 1,100 career points. And while she certainly misses playing with Lamanna, who she had been teaming with long before they donned the Pioneers’ green and white, she’s also relishing the chance to go out there without her longtime running mate.

“It’s definitely been an adjustment, because I played with Meghan for three years (in high school) and growing up,” Kinum said. “But it’s good to come into my own and learning how to play without her with me. But we definitely miss her.

“Grace is a fiery competitor. She hates to lose,” Pazdera said. “She is doing a great job of controlling the ball and controlling her offense and getting us into what we need to get into, and she does an awesome job defensively covering their best kid and shutting her down. She’s a great leader, super positive, and you can see the chemistry on the court just building and building, and that’s all because of her.”

OF course, Kinum isn’t doing it alone. She’s part of a starting five that can all score – each tallied at least seven points Thursday and is averaging six or more points per game – and all can play the type of signature defense that’s been New Providence’s biggest weapon.

Senior forward Jasmine Miller has been a force inside, averaging 7.2 rebounds per game, including 10 Thursday, and junior Brenna Slattery has been one of the real breakout players in Central Jersey through the early season, parlaying last year’s 5.3-point, 1.9-rebounding average into 13.7 points and 6.2 boards per outing this season. Sophomore Annie Conover, who came into her own late last season and was huge down the stretch and in the state final, has taken things up a notch, while senior Kyra Licari has also impressed in her first season as a starter.

“Kira has definitely stepped up off the bench last year, Brenna is having a great year, Jaz is having a great year, and people like Annie are coming into their roles,” Kinum said. “We miss the girls from last year, but I think we’re learning to play well with each other.”

“I think, from what I’ve seen so far, they’ve got the heart and they’ve got the desire,” Pazdera said. “We’ve got the tools, so it’s just a matter of keeping everyone healthy – knock on wood – and keep it going in the right direction.”

GAME NOTES

Hillsborough junior guard Cesci Schiro netted 21 points Thursday night, adding seven rebounds, and is now just 11 points away for 1,000 for her career. The three-year starter is averaging 19.8 points per game for the Raiders, after going for 16.4 per game last year and 14.2 as a freshman. Boro is slated to play host to Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Saturday.

BOX SCORE

HILLSBOROUGH (5-4) 6-6-11-17--40

NEW PROVIDENCE (10-2) 23-17-12-9--61

SCORING: H—Schiro 21, M. Loniewski 8, Gaspar 6, Ruh 4, Bellina 1; NP—Slattery 20, Kinum 14, Licari 9, Miller 8, Conover 7, Kelly 2, Henn 1.

REBOUNDS: H—Schiro 7, M. Loniewski 6, N. Loniewski 3, Bellina 3, Bice 1, Rollan 1, Gaspar 1, Ruffa 1, McHugh 1, Ruh 1; NP—Miller 10, Kinum 8, Slattery 5, Kelly 4, Conover 3, Licari 1, Henn 1

Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at CNGirlsHoops@aol.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Girls basketball: New Providence continues to roll, tops Hillsborough