Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division girls’ basketball will feature some of the league’s strongest teams from a year ago, all battling for one crown. That means teams like Ewing, Hightstown, Notre Dame, Princeton and Robbinsville will be focused on the same prize in this new eight-team division. Trenton, Hopewell Valley and Nottingham round out the Colonial with designs on being dark horses for the title. Ewing has been the CVC’s most powerful team over the last four winters, but sixth-year head coach Dan Montferrat’s squad saw the heart of its lineup graduate, including three double-digit scorers, all of whom headed to Division I colleges, after going 26-6 and reaching the NJSIAA Group III state semifinals. So it will be up to the supporting players from those Blue Devils’ clubs to take the reins and show how good they can be. Five-foot-nine seniors Mekyla Durham and Malayah Miller will lead the charge as plenty of young talent also prepares to step up. “Yeah, we’re a little young, but it’s exciting,” Montferrat said. “I do like the new division. The girls are aware of it and the challenge it presents. It’s been interesting to get ready for. Even though we’re not seeing everybody in the league this year, you always want to win a tough division.” Hightstown graduated the league’s top scorer from a year ago after going 24-6 and reaching the Central Jersey Group IV final. But fifth-year head coach Jenna Marcus’ Rams have an impressive senior class returning, headlined by 5-foot-11 guard/forward Caitlyn Nagle (who averaged 9.7 points per game last season), 6-4 forward Penelope Swarn (who averaged 9.4 ppg), plus 5-3 senior guards Grace Weissenberger and Olivia Roberts. “We know what we’re in for,” Marcus said. “We’re playing the same teams. Our mindset’s not going to change. I hope we can spread the floor more this season. Even with all our success, we’ve run a whole new style each year. This season’s no different.” Another thing that figures to be no different is that perennial Colonial Division power Notre Dame, which was 16-11 in 2023-24, will find a way to be in the mix for the division title even though it has a new head coach this season. Former Hightstown, Hopewell Valley and West Windsor-Plainsboro South head coach Beth Fitzpatrick returns to the sidelines at the school where she grew up playing. Fitzpatrick will have plenty of weapons with which to work, beginning with a senior class headlined by 5-4 guard Meghan Connolly (8.4 ppg), 6-1 forward Izzy Diaz (7.7 ppg) and 5-6 guard Alayna Ramirez (7.1 ppg). “It’s awesome,” Fitzpatrick said of returning to the sidelines. “The girls work so hard, and they have great attitudes. But we still have so much we need to work on. Every day we step on the floor, we’re trying to be better than the day before.” Princeton, which was 15-9 last season, will also have a new head coach as former McCorristin High skipper and referee Joe Smiegocki moves back to the sidelines. Like the Irish, the Tigers have a wealth of returning talent, most of it young. Seniors Luna Bar-Cohen, a 5-10 center, and Gianna Grippo, a 5-8 guards/forward, will be the leaders, while junior forwards Anna Winters and Katie Sharkey (13.8 ppg and 9.2 ppg, respectively, last year) figure to propel the offense. “There is so much teaching to do in a little time,” Smiegocki said. “It’s been a learning process, but the girls are practicing hard. Right now, our offense is far ahead of our defense. But this team has so many good players returning that it’s on us to improve on a daily basis.” Robbinsville moves up from the Valley Division, along with third-year head coach Justin Schmid. The Ravens will look for leadership from seniors Gabby Bottoni, a 5-4 guard, and Anika Banda, a 5-7 forward, while opposing defenses figure to focus on 5-7 junior guard/forward Ava Aldarelli, who finished third in the CVC a year ago by averaging 16 points per game. “Ava was the league’s only first-teamer who wasn’t a senior last year,” Schmid said. “She’s up to the challenge. We’ve got to find other scorers. We’re working on our defense. We might have growing pains.” Trenton is hoping it got some of its growing pains out of the way last season when it went 7-17. Second-year head coach Aja Carter will have senior returnees like guard/forwards Gabriella Smith (8.9 ppg) and Jamirah Glanton (7.7 ppg), plus guards Mya Harrison and Aaliyah Smith, a transfer from the former Trenton Catholic Preparatory Academy (now Thrive Charter). “Our returning girls are excited, and I’m super excited, especially with our incoming freshman class,” Carter said. “I think team chemistry will be beneficial to us. As far as the division’s concerned, we like a challenge.” Hopewell Valley finished second in the Valley Division last season when it was 14-11 overall. Seventh-year head coach Coleen Ross’ squad graduated six from that club, including two double-digit scorers, leaving the Bulldogs rather young. Five-foot-eight senior forward Violet Hollar will be the team’s lone upperclassman, while 5-8 junior guard Katie Reinhart figures to lead the offense after averaging 8.8 ppg last year. “It’s going to be a challenge, but the players are coming together,” said Ross, whose 5-8 junior forward daughter Delainey is another player Hopewell will count on. “I think we have potential, but we’ll need to gain some confidence.” Despite going 3-17 and finishing last in the Valley Division last season, Nottingham finds itself in the Colonial in 2024-25. Third-year head coach Kyle James has 11 players back, led by senior contributors Brooke Hreiz, a six-foot center/forward; Emma Wilke, a 5-5 guard; Kaitlin Wilke, a 5-3 guard; and Gabriella Nobile, a 5-2 guard. Emma Wilke was among the CVC’s best scorers as a junior, averaging 12.9 ppg. “I love it because we’ve had a lot of these girls for three or four years now. Practices have been fun,” James said. “We have to make sure that our ball handling is solid and that we can handle pressure. The girls are working on the mentality they’ll need to have in the Colonial Division.” Hightstown’s Penelope Swarn, left, tries to move around Howell’s Kiera McKown, right, during the Central Group IV championship girls basketball game on Friday night in Hightstown. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo) EWING Player                                     Height       Yr.       Pos Mekyla Durham                         5-9           Sr.       G/F Malayah Miller                           5-9           Sr.         F Lillie Alston                                5-7           Jr.         G C’Ianna Brown-Upshur             5-10          Jr.          F Taylor Williams                          5-9           Jr.          F Brooklyn Ellis                            5-9           Jr.        F/G Kayla Smith                              5-11          Jr.         F Ariana Wadley                          5-7          So.        G London Bennett                        5-7           Fr.        G Sammeia White                        5-5           Fr.        G Analis MaldonadoWashington 5-10          Fr.         F Head Coach — Dan Montferrat (sixth season). Assistant Coaches — Jamie VanHise, Tanya Kauffman. Last Season — 26-6 overall, 14-0 CVC, Valley Division champion, Mercer County Tournament champion, NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III champion, Group III state semifinalist, No. 1 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — The Blue Devils saw four starters graduate. The six returning players and new additions will be put to the test by a tough schedule, but they figure to be more up to the challenge than many might think. HIGHTSTOWN Player                           Height       Yr.      Pos Caitlyn Nagle                  5-11         Sr.       G/F Penelope Swarn              6-4          Sr.         F Grace Weissenberger     5-3         Sr.         G Olivia Roberts                  5-3         Sr.        G Yusra Moore                   5-10        Sr.         F Molly Frascella                5-4          Sr.        G Lexie Wersching              5-5          Jr.        G Anisa Mascoll                   5-4         Jr.        G Kylie Gulli                         5-3         So.       G Hayley DeKok                 5-10         Fr.        G Head Coach — Jenna Marcus (fifth season). Assistant Coach — Christina White. Last Season — 24-6 overall, 13-1 CVC, Colonial Division champion, Mercer County Tournament semifinalist, NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV runner-up, No. 3 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — Four Rams graduated, including two starters, but they have key returnees. Getting everyone to contribute and be on the same page is key, however don’t be surprised if Hightstown is still quite good. HOPEWELL VALLEY Player                             Height       Yr.      Pos Violet Hollar                       5-8           Sr.        F Katie Reinhart                   5-8            Jr.        G Delainey Ross                   5-8            Jr.        F Zaria Nunnally                   5-7            Jr.        G Kellen Danieluk                 5-6            Jr.        G Paige Ritter                       5-9           So.        F Head Coach — Coleen Ross (seventh season). Assistant Coaches — Kristy Sharp, Jeff Neumann. Last Season — 14-11 overall, 10-4 CVC, Valley Division runner-up, No. 6 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — Six more Bulldogs graduated, making this a tough year to rise to the Colonial. The old standby – defense – will be important as will boxing out while Hopewell aims to improve as the season goes on. NOTRE DAME Player                            Height      Yr.      Pos Izzy Diaz                           6-1          Sr.        F Alayna Ramirez                5-6          Sr.        G Meghan Connolly              5-4         Sr.        G Olivia Borrero                    5-8         Sr.         F Eva Drennan                     5-6         Sr.         G Caroline Foley                   5-7         Jr.         G Reese Parker                    5-8         Jr.        G/F Grace Hempsell                6-1         Jr.          F Victoria Bucchere             5-8         Jr.        G/F Anna Hughes                   5-11        Jr.          F Talia Kniffen                      5-4        So.         G Kelsey Wood                    5-4        So.         G Head Coach — Beth Fitzpatrick (first season). Assistant Coaches — Carla Maccaroni, Bryan Fisher, Ally Oldfield, Jeff Schattin. Last Season — 16-11 overall, 12-2 CVC, Colonial Division runner-up, Mercer County Tournament semifinalist, No. 5 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — Former CVC coach Fitzpatrick returns to her old stomping grounds in place of James Martinos after his 13 years in charge. The Irish graduated four and have six back ready to show what they can do. NOTTINGHAM Player                        Height       Yr.       Pos Brooke Hreiz                 6-0           Sr.       C/F Emma Wilke                  5-5            Sr.        G Kaitlin Wilke                   5-3            Sr.        G Gabriella Nobile             5-2            Sr.        G Geovanna Narvaez        5-5            Sr.      G/F Olivia Gresavage           5-9            Sr.         F Zi’Asia Williams             5-10           Jr.         F Lily Jacobs                     5-5            Jr.       F/G Sara Kieffer                   5-10           Jr.        F Victoria Smolka             5-11          So.       F Head Coach — Kyle James (third season). Assistant Coaches — Phil Cortina, Michael Newton, Jess Belmont. Last Season — 3-17 overall, 1-13 CVC. Outlook — The Northstars had two players graduate and return everyone else, giving the team plenty of experience. Playing in the Colonial Division may be tough, but it should make them better in the long run. PRINCETON Player                            Height        Yr.      Pos Luna Bar-Cohen              5-10           Sr.        C Gianna Grippo                  5-8            Sr.       G/F Anna Winters                    5-8             Jr.        F Katie Sharkey                   5-9             Jr.        F Sephora Romain              5-6             Jr.        G Quinn Gallagher              5-10            Jr.        F Leah Bornstein                 5-0             Jr.        G Zoie Reynolds                  5-7             Jr.       G/F Gracie DePrince               5-6             Jr.        G Chloe Hunt                       5-9            So.      G/F Angelina Cao                   5-7             Fr..       G Head Coach — Joe Smiegocki (first season). Assistant Coaches — Mary Pat Lipinski, Christine Levering Giacino. Last Season — 15-9 overall, 10-4 CVC, No. 7 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — Smiegocki takes over for David Kosa after seven years at the helm. The Tigers graduated two and have eight back ready to point them in the right direction with plenty of scorers and tough defenders. ROBBINSVILLE Player                              Height       Yr.     Pos Gabby Bottoni                     5-4          Sr.       G Anika Banda                       5-7          Sr.        F Ava Aldarelli                        5-7          Jr.       G/F Mahek Singh                       5-8          Jr.        G Keira Pierini                        5-7         So.        F Julia Boss                          5-10        So.        F Alyson Klinger                    5-3         So.        G Bianca Godwin                   5-7         So.        F Jenny Wu                           5-3         So.        G Madison Griffin                   5-8          Fr.         F Head Coach — Justin Schmid (third season). Assistant Coach — Jen Didun. Last Season — 15-12 overall, 8-6 CVC, No. 9 in Trentonian Top 15. Outlook — Five Ravens graduated, leaving the team young with just four returnees. R’ville has one of the CVC’s best scorers in Aldarelli, but will have to add support (offensively & defensively) to make an impact. TRENTON Player                            Height       Yr.      Pos Gabriella Smith                5-5           Sr.       G/F Jamirah Glanton              5-6           Sr.       G/F Mya Harrison                   5-4           Sr.         G Aaliyah Smith                  5-2           Sr.        G Aveianna Ellerbe             5-7           Sr.        F Denise McDuffie              5-5           Sr.         G Alba Yac Toz                    5-0           Sr.         G Giani Olmeda                   5-4           Sr.         G Angelina Pacheco            5-5           Jr.          G Cashmere Phelps             5-2           Jr.         G Olivia Darden                    6-0           Jr.         C Lemia Brown-Johnson      5-0          So.        G JaiYonai Clark                   5-3          So.        G Saniya Presha                  5-10         Fr.         F Emari Herbert-Wheeler     5-10         Fr.         F Head Coach — Aja Carter (second season). Assistant Coaches — Dana Jeter, Demitry Courtney, Laurie Sarni. Last Season — 7-17 overall, 4-10 CVC. Outlook — Despite graduating six with only five returning, the Tornadoes believe they have what it takes to do well in the realigned Colonial. A key transfer and some added height figure to help The High improve.