EHS girls’ basketball team wins NJSIAA Group III title

By Rich Fisher

As Princeton University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams enjoyed NCAA Tournament success this year, they proved to the nation that academic powerhouses can also succeed on the basketball court.

What some folks may not realize, is that a high school team that hails from the same county as PU, already proved that in early March when the Ewing girls claimed the NJSIAA Group III championship. The Blue Devils capped a monumental 30-3 campaign by defeating Randolph, 41-38, in the title game at RW Barnabas Arena in Toms River.

It was the fourth title this year for the still-young Devils, who won the WOBM Holiday Tournament and their second straight Mercer County and Central Jersey Group III titles.

And not once did they sacrifice their classroom work to do it.

“At the end of the day, these studentathletes are every bit ‘the student’ as they are ‘the athlete,’” coach Dan “Monty” Montferrat said. “Our team GPA (grade point average) this season was a 3.8 and maintaining the balance of academics with athletics is something we take a lot of pride in within our program. In addition to that, they are just outstanding leaders in the school and in the community. They are role models and volunteers; just great ambassadors for the Ewing school district.”

Montferrat was quick to point out the phone calls and texts he got during the season from the players’ former teachers; along with coaches and parents from around the Colonial Valley Conference who complimented his players as being good people.

“That’s something that we talk about a lot,” guard Rhian Stokes said. “It’s important that we always set a good example because there are little girls and citizens of Ewing that are looking up to us and rooting for us.”

Guard-forward Joi Johnson added that “Monty reminds us daily that we not only represent Ewing and the basketball team, but we represent ourselves and need to be a positive example for each other and our peers.”

Guard-forward Te’Yala Delfosse feels that philosophy can go far not just in the community, but in helping younger teammates.

“It’s always been in my head to help and create bonds with those that get overlooked,” Delfosse said. “ When we are in games and my teammates feel down or left out, I do my best to be there and lift them up. It’s important to me to do that because I know how it feels to be a person that some people didn’t even know I was on the team when I was younger. But to continue showing people that growth, hard work, and dedication can change the whole game for someone. That is important to me; letting the younger ones know that hard work does really pay off.”

That kind of attitude is what gives the state champs an added dimension. It’s not just all about basketball with the Blue Devils, it’s about so many other things.

But man, can they play basketball.

And the beauty of it is, that they are all back next year. Stokes, Delfosse, Johnson and guard Shawnae Biggs are juniors that are all getting Division I interest. The fifth starter, Mekyla Durham, is a sophomore. Reserves are sophomore Malayah Miller and freshmen C’Ianna BrownUpshur and Taylor Miller.

The four juniors have stuck together despite temptations to go to a prep or parochial school. As freshmen, they flashed their amazing skills in a Covidshortened season that produced a 13-0 record. As sophomores they went 25-2, winning the WOBM, county and sectional titles. Their lone losses were to state powerhouse Saddle River and to Mainland in the Group III semifinals.

This year, they gained the holy grail of a state crown as the potential blossomed into full realization.

“As freshmen, they didn’t get to truly show their stuff at the state level,” Montferrat said. “As sophomores they were highly motivated to come out and show everybody what they were capable of. To come up just short in the Group Three semifinal really fired them up for this year. Last year we checked off three out of four boxes, this year we came out and hit all four (by winning states).

“I think we are right on schedule. This group feels like they have the opportunity to be one of the best around; and after winning the whole thing this year, they will be just as fired up to do it all again next year.”

They already made Ewing girls basketball history by winning the MCT in consecutive years; and became the first girls team to win states since 1999.

See BASKETBALL, Page 20

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“That means a lot because we like making ‘her-story’ while we are still only juniors,” Biggs said. “We have been winning the MCTs since middle school so we are definitely used to doing what it takes to win. It is a great feeling to be a county, sectional, and state champion, especially as a junior.”

Stokes concurred, saying that “It means a lot. The work that my teammates and I have been putting in since our freshman year has gotten us to this point. We just continue to grow and learn with each other to be successful on and off the court.”

Winning the states, of course, was the biggest accomplishment of all. Johnson said the elation she felt on that Sunday afternoon had not waned as time went on.

“Now that a few days have gone by, the feeling of being a state champion feels just as great as it did on the day we won it,” Johnson said in mid-March. “The congratulations and praise received from everyone around has built an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.”

In stating what the Group III title meant to her, Delfosse said, “It just shows the hard work we’ve been doing and how much we believed in ourselves to get this far, no matter the competition.”

That competition grew tougher as the

Ewing POOLS: 12pm - 8pm daily states went on. After winning their first three games by a combined 120 points, the Devils had to scrap past Ocean Township in the CJ III finals and Ocean

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The EHS girls’ basketball team poses for a picture after winning the state championship. Standing are assistant coach Tanya Kauffman, assistant coach Jamie VanHise, Ginika SIbeudu, C’ianna Brown-Upshur, Sanai Glover, Rhian Stokes, Lillie Alston, Mekyla Durham, Joi Johnson, Shawnae Biggs, Joy Torbor, Taylor WIlliams Malayah Miller, head coach Daniel Montferrat and assistant coach Patrick Reddington. Kneeling are Precious Quaye and Te’Yala Delfosse.

City in the Group III finals. The biggest test came in the title game, when Ewing trailed Randolph by four entering the fourth quarter before pulling it out.

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Stokes had 17 points, seven rebounds, four steals and three assists in the victory, while Delfosse had nine points (including her 1,000th) and five rebounds and hit the game-clinching free throws.

For the Devils, it was a nice way to show that they could win a big game under duress, as opposed to all the comfortable blowouts they enjoyed

“Being able to pull out the win during the championship showed that our team is capable of operating and being successful even under pressure,” Johnson said. “It showed the true teamwork and determination each of us have.

“It showed that we wanted that state championship more and how much it meant to us, which was a lot,” Biggs said. “We know that there are great teams out there, but we do what we have to do every time.

Stokes felt that kind of game was exactly what the Devils needed to prove just how good they could be when it counts the most.

“Winning close games while being challenged was good for us,” she said. “It was a chance for us to truly show what we have been working on all season. We all got to show the crowd different things that we wouldn’t normally do in a blowout game. I feel like our three losses against St. Rose, St. John Vianny, and Rutgers Prep all helped prepare us for moments like this.”

And who better to sum up what that game meant, than that great philosopher, Monty.

“The quote that is often said during this time of year is, “Pressure can burst pipes, but it also can also make diamonds.’ I added my own little twist and joked with the kids, ‘and we are in the business of diamond making,’” said Montferrat, who was assisted by Tanya Kauffman, Jamie Van Hise and Patrick Reddington. “I reminded the girls of that notion just before our sectional final game and every game from then on. We scheduled as many out-of-conference games as we could this year to truly test ourselves physically, mentally, and emotionally for those pressure situations and in the end, we saw how those prepared us for the tough games down the stretch.

“From my vantage point, in every way, these young ladies responded with fortitude and strength. In those down-to-thewire games, our resilience was on full display as was the character these ladies have. They refuse to lose. Plain and simple. When the stage is that bright, that’s when these amazing young student-athletes shine through.”

And as the coach likes to point out, they are students every bit as much as they are athletes.

We’re so proud to offer our residents the best of the best—from dining and fitness centers to social calendars—because we don’t just care for you, we care about you. As a nationally ranked Senior Living community, we’re proof that doing what you love is always worth it. So come do it here.

We’re so proud to offer our residents the best of the best—from dining and fitness centers to social calendars—because we don’t just care for you, we care about you. As a nationally ranked Senior Living community, we’re proof that doing what you love is always worth it. So come do it here.