Player of the month: Amana Ulrich, Secaucus, Sr.
Ulrich gets better every year for Secaucus and she’s ready to have the best season of her career. The senior has upped her per-game scoring to 23.1 points, while also averaging 8.1 rebounds and 4.4 steals for Secaucus. The Patriots have been on a tear to start the year, with their only loss coming in a close one against Immaculate Heart.
Cresskill pulled an upset to win the North 1, Group 1 title a year ago, but this year it is clear the Bergen County squad is the team to beat in its section. Sophomore Colleen McQuillen was great last year as a rookie, but she’s been even better this winter. McQuillen is one of the top scorers in the state, with 22.8 points per game.
Rutherford has been perfect so far, with Jaeli Torres leading the way with 12.4 points per game. This team has played in two down-to-the-wire games and Rutherford walked away with a three-point win on both occasions. Rutherford didn’t have a player in double digits in either of those games, so it came down to the defensive end. The Bulldogs had 19 steals in a win over Eastern Christian, 46-43, and 11 steals in its victory over Hawthorne, 36-33.
Park Ridge lost its opener, 36-33, to Cresskill, but it has won eight games in a row since. This team leans on Shannon Burns and she carries the Owls with 18.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. Park Ridge is looking to make a run at the North 1, Group 1 title this season and that could mean a rematch with Cresskill in the title game.
By Brian Deakyne and Brandon Gould | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
