These are the North Jersey girls basketball players whose names don’t always show up in the box score – but they always help their teams win.

They are the players whose names may get circled or underlined in a reporter’s notebook after they make a key defensive play or feed a teammate for a wide-open basket.

As the 2023-24 season gears up for the playoffs, NorthJersey.com is recognizing a dozen seniors who are “unsung heroes”. Their leadership, unselfishness and effort earn praise from their coaches and the utmost respect from spectators.

 

Julie Awad, Hawthorne Christian

The Defenders were unable to field a varsity squad last winter but returned to the NJIC with a modified schedule this season and opened 11-2 after winning 11 games total from 2016-22. Awad came to the program as a freshman and is contributing to its renaissance as a senior.

Though the guard is their No. 2 scorer (10.1 points per game), coach Aaron Van Dyk pointed to Awad and forward Christine Williams as the seniors whose leadership and perseverance helped bring back the team.

 

Logan Biernacki, Indian Hills

At 13-10, the Braves are closing in on their first winning record since 2019-20, and this freshman burst onto the scene down the stretch. She had a breakout game against Ramsey last week (8 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks) and is averaging 8 boards per game.

“About a month ago, after one of our starting forwards got hurt, she stepped up and has been starting every game,” coach Julie Haledjian Buccino said. “Now, we can’t take her out of the lineup.”

 

Kyra Garcia, North Arlington

As a 5-foot-5 guard, Garcia is second on the Vikings in blocks. You read that correctly. The junior averages 6.5 points and 6.6 rebounds, and leads her team in assists and steals, but her contributions go way beyond the stat sheet.

“She can impact the game without scoring,” coach Brendan Queenan said. “She is our most athletic player. She keeps balls alive, makes the pass that leads to the assist and plays great defense, on and off the ball.”

Ashlyn Geipel, Westwood

The Cardinals reached the Bergen Invitational final by holding opponents to 27.7 points per game in the tournament. Geipel has been a big factor in that effort, leading the team in steals (53) as well as assists (45) and spirit.

“Whenever she comes out of the game, she’s usually one of the loudest on the bench cheering for her teammates,” coach Charles Collis said of the sophomore point guard. “She’s one of our ‘glue’ kids and has embraced her role all season.”

Jailyn James, Wayne Hills

A rotation regular since her sophomore year, James is now a senior captain who has helped the Patriots make back-to-back deep runs in the Passaic County tournament. She also plays field hockey and averaged 5.4 points through 23 games.

“She does all the little things to help us be successful on the court – set good screens, box out and communicate,” coach Todd Green said. “She is usually asked to cover the other team’s best scorer and is always up for the challenge.”

 

Natalie Luftman, Glen Rock

The Panthers’ senior point guard averages fewer than 3 points per game but leads the NJIC Colonial Division champs in assists and steals. Luftman and Maggie Harris are the only two senior starters on an otherwise very young squad that won 17 of its first 22 games.

“Natalie also defends the other team’s leading scorer,” coach Steve Grenz pointed out. “Every time, she holds them below their average. She is the engine of our defense.”

Kyla Marino, Lyndhurst

Golden Bears coach Christian Boyce called the junior guard “our best defensive player,” and she ranked third on the team in steals with 48 through 24 games. She helped hold Leonia to its lowest point total of the season in a 58-39 win that sent her team into the Bergen Invitational Tournament semifinals.

Marino averages 3.6 points per game but has registered a rebound in every contest and has a steal in all but one. She also ranks second on the team in 3-pointers.

 

Abbey McManus, Park Ridge

The Owls captured this year’s NJIC Patriot Division title with the senior McManus leading the team in assists (102 through 22 games) and ranking second in both rebounds (5.8 average) and steals (3.3 average).

“Abbey is a player that brings great energy on both ends of the floor,” coach Ryan Dennis said. “On offense, she has become a great passer and this year has looked to score. On defense, she creates great pressure with her length and is a strong rebounder.”

 

Maddie Morgan, Cresskill

The Cougars are one of those teams where almost anybody could fit the “unsung” mold. In fact, coach Mike McCourt couldn’t choose between Morgan and Sophia Doto, the team’s precision point guard.

We gave Morgan the nod in part for her key role in the Jan. 27 Bergen County tournament upset of IHA. The senior guard/forward blocked a shot in the closing seconds to preserve a 46-45 win, and she “brings a defensive edge” to the court, her coach said, while also leading Cresskill in assists.

Sage Soliman, Dumont

Though Soliman was not a starter to begin the season, the freshman worked her way into the lineup a few games in. She broke through with a 10-point game in a Jan. 15 upset of Ridgefield Park (then ranked in the North Jersey Top 25), which sent the Huskies on their way to an 8-0 record in the Big North American.

“She is always tasked with guarding the best guard from the other team,” coach Christie Prepis said. “And she has had some standout games defensively.”

 

Laurel Space, West Milford

The Highlanders are in the Passaic County semifinals for the first time in eight years thanks in part to this junior forward who averages 8 points and 8 rebounds per game. She actually raised her scoring average by nearly a full point over the past week.

“Our division knows her, as do the teams that play us, but I’m not sure about anyone else,” 23rd-year coach Ray LaCroix said. “She is also an outstanding defender and one of the top players I’ve coached.”

 

Jhy’Deisha Stewart, Eastside

Stewart was a defensive stopper during Ghosts’ back-to-back Passaic County championship runs, and this year, the senior took over as the full-time point guard. She still guards the opponent’s top scorer but now leads the team in assists (88 through 22 games) as well as blocks (36).

“Her numbers on the stat sheet aren’t always the best, but she makes winning plays, running the offense and getting everyone involved,” coach Brandon Pilgrim said. “She cares about her team and about winning.”