BY MICHELLE LAM
After a rough start in the season, the girls basketball team is back on track, recording multiple wins in recent games. At halfway point of the season, they have acquired a 6-7 record.
On January 5, the team faced South Brunswick on their senior night and secured a 44-30 victory. “It was a great feeling to win for our seniors,” said sophomore Jessica Lane, who has scored 84 points this season.
The three seniors, Zoe Chin, Payton Kmiec, and Julia Remotti have all spent multiple years on the varsity team. “It feels great and I was happy the team’s hard work paid off,” said senior Payton Kmiec, who leads the team with 21 assists.
The night brought many unforgettable moments for the seniors. “It let me reflect back on my freshman year, and celebrate the journey with my friends and family,” said Chin, who has been on the varsity team since her sophomore year.
On January 17, the girls defeated Carteret 61-32. Junior Marilyn Togun led the team with 16 points, and Jessica Lane added 11 points. “It feels great to win a game like that as a team. Everyone was happy, and we gave it our best effort,” said Chin.
On January 20, the girls won their rematch with South Brunswick 56-52. Marilyn Togun scored 14 points, Kaira Panjabi scored 13 points, and Payton Kmiec scored 12 points. “It was exciting to win two games in a row,” said Lane, who leads the team with 36 steals.
Every year, the coach shares a phrase to motivate the team. This year, the phrase “genuine connections” highlights trust and friendship. “This phrase helps us bring trust and friendships along the season, and when the game gets tough for us, we communicate and reflect on what we need to work on to improve,” said Mikayla Dizon, who has earned playing time in every game this season as a freshman.
“Putting trust in eachother and building each other up every chance we have gotten … has improved our communication and our relationships with eachother,” said junior Marilyn Togun, who leads the team in points(127), rebounds(93), and blocks(19).
The players give effort and stay steady in games and practices. “The team plans to play with intensity from start to finish while staying smart and disciplined,” said Dizon.
Last season, the team defeated East Brunswick 47-45 during the GMC tournament. “East Brunswick is a very strong team, so we know we have to give it everything we have,” said Chin. “If we play together as a family and fight until the final horn.” With upcoming games against Piscataway on January 22 and East Brunswick on January 24, the girls have determined to give their all.
Posted on January 22, 2026
Photos by Michelle Lam and Sophia Garrihy
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