Two Courts, Two Outcomes: Girls’ Late Rally Falls Short vs. Watchung Hills; Montgomery Boys Cruise Past North Hunterdon, 71–47

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

Girls Basketball – Cougars’ Late Push Falls Short in 52–42 Loss to Watchung Hills

MONTGOMERY — A strong perimeter performance and a late charge were not quite enough for Montgomery, as the Cougars fell 52–42 to visiting Watchung Hills in a hard-fought girls basketball matchup.

Montgomery (3–2) leaned heavily on its outside shooting to stay within striking distance, but Watchung Hills (3–2) countered with balanced scoring, a decisive edge on the glass, and timely free-throw shooting down the stretch.

Lehmann and Johnson pace Cougars’ offense
Guard Sophia Lehmann led Montgomery with 12 points, all from beyond the arc. She knocked down four three-pointers, providing a consistent perimeter threat that helped keep the Cougars in the game whenever Watchung Hills appeared ready to pull away.

Alia Johnson turned in another strong all-around offensive effort, finishing with 11 points on two two-point field goals, one three-pointer, and a 4-of-5 performance at the free-throw line. Johnson repeatedly attacked the lane, drew contact, and converted at the stripe to keep Montgomery within single digits for much of the night.

In the frontcourt, Virginia Herring added 9 points, including 3-for-6 from the line, giving the Cougars a needed interior scoring option. Abby Schwartz contributed 6 points with a two-pointer, a three-pointer, and a free throw, while Aliza Schulberg added a three-pointer for 3 points. Anya Saini chipped in 1 point from the line.

Montgomery finished with seven made three-pointers, using the long ball to answer Watchung Hills’ runs, but struggled to match the Warriors’ production inside and on the boards.

Watchung Hills wins battle of the boards, free throws
Watchung Hills’ victory was built on balance and physicality.

The Warriors had five players score at least five points, led by Eleni Esposito, who posted 13 points on a combination of drives, perimeter shooting and free throws, going 6-for-8 at the line. Amanda Shatz added 10 points, while Ava Parra hit a pair of threes and finished with 8.

Alysha Yang scored 7 points, and Hailey Seubert and Riley Hall chipped in 5 apiece, with Carly Hockmeyer adding 4. That depth kept pressure on Montgomery’s defense throughout the game.

On the glass, Watchung Hills controlled the interior, recording 29 rebounds to Montgomery’s listed zero, with Hall (8 boards) and Seubert (7) leading the way. That rebounding advantage led to second-chance opportunities and limited the Cougars to mostly one-and-done possessions.

At the free-throw line, Watchung Hills also held an edge, going 13-of-18, while Montgomery finished 9-of-16. Those extra trips and slightly better conversion rate helped the Warriors maintain a cushion late.

Balanced Attack, Stifling Start Lift Montgomery Past North Hunterdon, 71–47

MONTGOMERY — The Montgomery boys’ varsity basketball team continued its perfect start to the season with a commanding 71–47 home win over North Hunterdon on Tuesday afternoon, riding a dominant first half and a balanced scoring effort to move to 8–0.

The Cougars blitzed North Hunterdon from the opening tip, racing out to a 17–4 lead after the first quarter and stretching the margin to 36–11 by halftime. Strong half-court defense, active hands, and efficient scoring in transition set the tone early, and Montgomery never allowed the visitors to seriously threaten the rest of the way.

North Hunterdon (2–3) found more rhythm after the break, scoring 21 points in the third quarter and 15 in the fourth, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome against an in-form Montgomery group.

Lin and Mallavarapu lead the way
Guard Ethan Lin anchored the Cougar offense with 20 points, attacking the lane and finishing at the rim while also converting four free throws. Lin’s ability to break down the defense off the dribble helped open up scoring opportunities for teammates throughout the night.

In the frontcourt, Shriyans Mallavarapu delivered 16 points on eight two-point field goals, consistently exploiting gaps inside and running the floor well in transition. His presence in the paint gave Montgomery a reliable scoring option whenever North Hunterdon tried to clamp down on the perimeter.

Simborski and Kamara keep defense stretched
Montgomery’s balance was on full display, with two more Cougars finishing in double figures.

Mike Simborski totaled 13 points, knocking down two three-pointers, a pair of two-point baskets, and adding three free throws. His perimeter shooting forced North Hunterdon’s defense to extend, creating driving lanes and cuts for others.

James Kamara added 11 points, including two threes and a two-point field goal, along with three free throws. Kamara’s versatility—able to hit from deep or attack closeouts—further stretched the Lion defense.

Xavier Harrigan chipped in 5 points (including a free throw), James Henderson added a three-pointer for 3, and Mohamed Ndiaye contributed 2 points. Sri Noogru added 1 point from the line to round out the scoring.

In total, the Cougars hit five three-pointers and were a perfect 12-for-12 from the free-throw line, an efficiency that helped maintain control even as North Hunterdon’s offense picked up in the second half.

North Hunterdon battles back, but early hole too deep
North Hunterdon’s offense came alive after halftime, led by Tyler Luciano, who finished with 11 points, and Ryan Reed, who added 8. Andrew Alfano posted 6 points and a team-high 9 rebounds, while Holden Hoopes hit two threes for 6 points. Tyler Ako-Arrey contributed 7 points, and Joseph Bavaro (4), Ben Caballero (2) and Hashem Yacoub (3) also scored.

But Montgomery’s defensive work in the first half, holding the Lions to just 11 total points through two quarters, gave the Cougars more than enough cushion.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com