The Lady Cards are champs! On Tuesday March 10, the Westwood Girls’ Basketball Team did something that has not been done in 25 years of Cardinal history. They defeated Patriot Division rival Ramsey to claim the North 1 Group 2 Sectional Championship.
Junior Jaide Clark said that she and her team worked hard for all the wins they had this season. “Each win was well deserved and I couldn’t be more proud of my teammates and what we accomplished this year,” said Clark.
The seniors on the team added to a huge part of the girls’ success. Clark said that all of these girls brought maturity and experience to the game. “I will miss each and every one of the seniors. Amy [Heussinger] for her laughs and Rachel [Leao] for her advice. [Emily] Molk for being someone to look up to and trust, and Noelle [Cobin] for being my partner in crime on and off the court,” she said.
Clark also said that there is more work to be done for next year so that the girls can continue with their winning streak. Sophomore Olivia Cassidy agreed when she said, “We went beyond even our own expectations so the season was a major success. We set a standard that we are going to work towards next year.”
The girls’ basketball team competed in a total of four games as the top seed in the NJSIAA Tournament of North Jersey, as Section 1, Group 2. The first game was against Kinnelon with an ending score of 56-28. They moved on to the second game against Pequannock with a score of 55-24. In the third game against Mountain Lakes, the score was 57-36. Finally, in the last game of the Section 1, Group 2 Tournament, Westwood played Ramsey and won, 31-22.
Westwood went on to the Group 2 tournament where they played Newark Tech in the semifinal round. After a nerve-racking, extremely close game, the Lady Cards came out winners with a score of 49-44! In the Final Round, the cards fell to Manasquan in the Pine belt arena, 52-67. After an amazing season, the Lady Cards are proud.
1st – Kinnelon 56-28 NJSIAA Tournament, First Round, North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2
2nd- Pequannock 55-24 NJSIAA Tournament, Quarterfinal Round, North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2
3rd- Mountain Lakes 57-36 NJSIAA Tournament, Semifinal Round, North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2
4th- Ramsey 31-22 NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2
5th- Newark Tech 49-44 NJSIAA Group Tournament, Semifinal Round, Group 2
6th- Manasquan. Pine belt arena 52-67 NJSIAA Group Tournament, Final Round, Group 2