Coached by renowned three-season coach Charles Collis, the 2025-26 Girls’ Basketball team have had another year of competing at high level.
Junior Cameron Roche has been a threat from the three point line as well as down in the paint and is having her best season yet. Totalling at the time an unbelievable 561 points in the season, with nearly 60 of those shots being from the three point line. She broke the 1,000 point barrier in the final regular season game as well as led her team in rebounds with over 200 rebounds, almost 100 more than second place. She was going into the game averaging over 20 points a game and nearly 10 rebounds.
Continuing the rest of the starting five is senior captain Jules Batelli. She is third in team scoring with 137 points and second in rebounds with 152 and third in steals with 42. Batelli is a leadership presence and a top defender with a consistent scoring impact from the paint and the three.
One of the welcome surprises this year was the development of freshman Bria Charles. She is also making a big impact early, with 269 points, second in scoring on the team, with 43 assists and 56 steals. Charles is a key piece of the offense in rebounds and scoring, while also setting up other shooters on the team like Roche and Batelli.
The last two starting roles are what I would call a “starter by committee” of sorts, rotating and using several different players, which is to be expected with a young developing team. Players of note include freshman Payton Nese with 100 points and 69 rebounds, sophomore Leah Olives with 87 points and 107 rebounds, and freshman Sophie Xaka with 39 points.
The Game
Girls tipped off for the first game of the day but didn’t need to wake up as they engaged in a defensive battle against Leonia ending the first quarter leading 10-9 off the back of a strong first quarter from Bria Charles scoring 8 points in the quarter. Westwood would further find their rhythm from the three point line in the second quarter, going into the half at a commanding 31-10. Threes were scored by Roche, Olives, Nese, sophomore Hannah Tuttle and freshman Sophia Collis.
Coming back from the half the girls didn’t take their foot off the gas, putting up the highest scoring quarter of the game with 23 points inflating the lead to 54-28 going into the fourth quarter. This included another 8 points from Charles, another 4 points from Roche and Olives and 5 for Tuttle. Going to the fourth with a over 20-point cushion the Cards coasted to victory winning 65-42.