Roselle Park's Star Getting Closer
To Reaching 2,000-Point Plateau

ROSELLE PARK - What is most important to a player on the cusp of achieving a rare individual milestone while playing a team sport?

"Embracing a leadership role," Roselle Park standout senior guard Sidney Smith said. "Lifting the team up.

"Our goal is to beat every team in front of us."

The Roselle Park girls basketball team has not had the kind of success it achieved both last year and this season in some time. When Smith (5-foot, 5-inches) transferred to Roselle Park after filling up the hoop her first two seasons at Roselle Catholic she did more than "lift" up Panther fortunes.

"She makes every player around her better," Roselle Park head coach Staci Hartzler said. "They watch and learn."

A big reason why Roselle Park produced a 16-6 campaign a year ago for its first winning season in some time and is at 15-7 so far this year with one regular season game to go before the state playoffs commence is the prolific scoring Smith has provided while making baskets from the outside and in having gone a long way with the other intangibles she continues to add.

"My main focus is to come after everyone in front of me and to also get my teammates involved," said Smith, who dons No. 15.

Only four girls basketball players from Union County have reached the highly coveted 2,000-point plateau. The last one to do so, Jac Kucyznski of Dayton, accomplished the feat 17 years ago in 2009.

Going into her team's regular season game, Friday, Feb. 20, at Union, Smith is 65 points shy of 2000, with 1,935, including 606 scored so far this season.

Should the Panthers win the Union County Conference-Valley Division contest vs. the Farmers then they would garner a share of the Valley Division title with Brearley, who they split with.

Brearley is done at 8-2, while Roselle Park is 7-2 and Union 6-3.

"No doubt, 2,000 is a good milestone to hit," Smith said. "It has never really entered my mind. Scoring just comes with the game."

Smith was held to a season-low 12 points in her team's Wednesday, Feb. 11, Union County Tournament first-round game at third-seeded Union Catholic.

Although Smith's output was more than half off her average of just over 30 points a game, 14th-seeded Roselle Park hung in there against the favored Vikings thanks to a solid effort turned in by sophomore forward Emmy Gregoire.

The Panthers were within four points heading into the fourth quarter before falling 59-49. Gregoire paced the Panthers with 16 points and 25 rebounds. The day before at home against Dayton, Gregoire grabbed 26 boards.

Smith was not in the box score when the Panthers lost, 38-33, vs. Newark Central on Friday (Feb. 13).

Smith reached 40 points for the fourth time this year and for the ninth time overall in her team's convincing 66-34 home win Tuesday, Feb. 10 vs. Dayton. It was the first time in a long time Roselle Park defeated Dayton.  

"Our goal against Dayton was to continue to attack the basket and be as versatile as we could," Smith said. "That meant deep 3s, going to the rim and keeping them on their heels.

"We wanted to be unpredictable."

The game was close after the first eight minutes, Roselle Park ahead 15-12.

Smith scored 13 points on five-of-eight from the field, including her first three 3-pointers

The Panthers began separation in the second quarter by outscoring the visiting Bulldogs 17-2 to take a commanding 32-14 lead at the break. Smith made six of 12 shots from the field, including three steals that resulted in layups. Her 14 points in the quarter gave her 27 at the half.

Smith scored four more points in the third quarter and made her first two free throws to enter fourth quarter with 31 points and Roselle Park ahead 49-27.

Smith closed with 12 points in the fourth to give her nine two-point baskets, seven threes and four free throws for her 43 points. In 29 minutes, Smith sat out the game's final three minutes, Smith made 16-of-29 field goals and four-of-six free throws.

Smith's high this season is 45 points in Roselle Park's 69-36 win at home on Dec. 29 vs. Perth Amboy. Smith's career high is 48 points in last season's 61-35 home triumph over Whippany Park on Jan. 25, 2025.

Smith scored 402 points in 26 games her freshman season at RC for head coach Joe Skrec. A high ankle sprain limited her playing time somewhat her sophomore season at RC for head coach Danaejah Grant, with Smith scoring 198 points in 19 of the team's 23 games.

Smith netted 729 points playing in all 16 of Roselle Park's games last season. Smith has missed just one game this year.

A visit in September clinched Smith's decision to continue playing at the next level at Division 1 Elon University in Elon, N.C.

"It was a warm welcoming, I felt like part of a family," Smith said. "It should give me a chance to really develop my skills."

Smith has aspirations of playing proessionally, perhaps overseas. 

"Roselle Park hasn't done that in 30 years," Smith said. "We will try to finish the job."

The Panthers are also looking to be the No. 3 seed for the Central Jersey,

Group 1 playoffs that are scheduled to commence Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Defending champion New Providence is the top seed at the moment - the cutoff date is this Saturday, Feb. 14 - and Bound Brook is No. 2. Roselle Park defeated Brearley 58-44 at home in the first-round last year and then lost at Bound Brook 58-47 in the quarterfinals.

ROSELLE PARK REMAINING GAMES:
Friday, Feb. 20: at Union, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 25: CJG1 first round at home, TBA  
  
SIDNEY SMITH YEAR-BY-YEAR SCORING:
2022-2023: (402) 26 games for Roselle Catholic (12-14)
Head coach: Joe Skrec
2023-2024: (198) 19 games for Roselle Catholic (15-8)
Head coach: Danaejah Grant
2024-2025: (729) 22 games for Roselle Park (16-6)
Head coach: Staci Hartzler
2025-2026: (606) 20 games so far for Roselle Park (15-6 so far)
Head coach: Staci Hartzler
Totals: 1,935 points in 87 games for an average of 22 points.

UNION COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL PLAYERS WITH 2,000 POINTS:

Kris Durham, Union Catholic class of 1987, (2,570)
Played collegiately at the University of Tennessee.

Tamecka Dixon, Linden class of 1993, (2,090)
Played collegiately at the University of Kansas.

Sherryta Freeman, Hillside class of 1997, (2,056)
Played collegiately at Dartmouth College.

Jacqueline Kuczynski, Dayton class of 2009, (2,020)
Played collegiately at Boston University.

UCT GIRLS BASKETBALL
QUARTERFINALS AT JOHNSON

Saturday, Feb. 14:

TOP SIDE OF BRACKET
9-Elizabeth vs. 1-New Providence, noon
5-Johnson vs. 4-Plainfield, 1:30 p.m.

BOTTOM SIDE OF BRACKET
10-Oak Knoll vs. 2-Westfield, 5 p.m.
6-Cranford vs. 3-Union Catholic, 6:30 p.m.