By Matthew Press ’14, Staff Writer, and Alex Tarowsky ’14, Staff Writer

Despite being consistently dogged by depleted roster numbers, Newark Academy’s Women’s Basketball team has turned into one of the most successful programs in the school. The Lady Minutemen followed up last year’s 21-5 season, with a 16-1 start, and continue to boast a balanced lineup of inside strength and outside quickness. A consistent supply of strong young players and an established system has turned doubters into believers, and brought state-wide attention to the Lady Minutemen – including Star Ledger and Sideline Chatter features.

Around the school, players, fans, and coaches all seem to have come up with different reasons for the team’s success.

Liz Bona, the team’s seven-year head coach, believes that it comes from the fact that “the girls understand the value of hard work. They see their potential and try to reach for a common goal.”

Eric Szlosek ’14, a member of the Men’s Varsity Basketball team and a Women’s Basketball fan, thinks, “it’s the team chemistry that the girls have that truly makes them successful. People underestimate the importance of being able to gel with your teammates on the court.”

Captain Ashlyn Heller ’13, who averages an eye-popping 4.8 steals per game, thinks that “we are successful because we have a lot of returning players from last season when we were runner-up in everything: conference, preps, states. This season those players came back with the drive to redeem themselves – to be champions, not runners up.”

 It helps that the girls returned seven of last year’s eight players (the one departure being Carly Gruenberg ’12, who now plays at Hamilton College), and freshman sensation Jocelyn Willoughby compliments the experienced players perfectly. Willoughby has emerged as not only one of the best freshmen, but also one of the best players in the state. She leads the Lady Minutemen in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 16.5 PPG and 8.3 RPG. She has been consistent the entire season as she has scored in double figures in all but one game, including an eruption against Newark Central when she tallied 27 points, 14 rebounds, 7 steals, and 3 blocks.

Not only have they been winning often, but the team has been winning in style – rolling over their opponents in almost every victory. Traditional rivals have proven to be no match for the team’s talent and ferocity. Montclair Kimberly Academy twice fell meekly to the Lady Minutemen, 47-36 and 49-30. Against Irvington, the girls won by a full 30 points.

However, there has been one cloud hanging over the team’s head. This year’s main disappointment, both to the players as well as its most ardent supporters on the Red Army, has been the lack of fan support at games. Other sports, especially Men’s Basketball, have had significant fan support this year due to intelligent scheduling and advocating on the Red Army Facebook page. However, this support hasn’t extended to Women’s Basketball, despite the quality of its play. Coach Bona says she’s unsure of why the team has had trouble attracting fans, and does admit it is a source of frustration. All the Lady Minutemen can do is continue to win in fashion, and soon the school will take notice. It would be a shame if they didn’t.