Montclair, which began the season with wins vs. Newark Lab (48-9, Dec. 15, and Summt, 37-36, in independent action on Dec. 17) has a young squad with only two seniors, starting forwards Anna O’Keefe (8 points) and Carla Osborne (6 points), but shows some nice potential with its youthful nucleus, including sophomores Sofia Portelli (8 points) and Taryn Gilbert (8 points).

The Mounties are scheduled to host Millburn on Monday (Dec. 22) at 7 p.m., while the Knights entertain Hanover Park in independent action, 2 p.m., Tuesday (Dec. 23).

Meanwhile, the West Essex players are ready to turn their attention to preparing for that next game while also extending best wishes to their head coach as her important delivery nears.
“We wish coach Tobia the best of luck,” said a smiling Salisbury. “We’re all excited for her and her baby!”

NOTES- Tobia, who is in her fifth season at the helm of Wessex court fortunes, has had just one losing season and that was her first in 2021-2022 when the Knights were last in the SEC-American Division…Tobia, who is a graduate of Rider University, is a former standout player at Cedar Grove High School where she played for coach Bill Scanlon…Montclair coach Alisa Wiggins graduated from Northern Colorado where she played one season for the women’s basketball team there after spending three seasons on the team at Kansas State following a standout scholastic career at Montclair…Mounties starting freshman guard Angel Stinson is the daughter of Montclair head boys basketball coach Cecil Stinson, who was in the stands at West Essex Saturday morning taking in the girls hoops action before heading back to the MHS gym to prepare to guide his Mounties vs. West Essex in a Saturday afternoon contest….the West Essex girls will once again enter the annual West Essex Area Holiday Hoops Festival (WEAHHF) at Caldwell University’s Newman Center where the Knights will open up against Verona, 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 27. Caldwell and Cedar Grove are also in the WEAHHF.

MONTCLAIR (2-1)                  4       6     5     17     - 32
WEST ESSEX (1-1)                17      14   11     8      - 50   

Montclair: Anna O’Keefe 1-1-3-8, Carla Osborne 3-0-0-6, Taryn Gilbert 4-0-0-8, Angel Stinson 0-0-0-0, Sofia Portelli 3-0-2-8, Orli Dinour 1-0-0-2, Delilah Levy 0-0-0-0, Zoe Todd 0-0-0-0, Martie Rajah-Mandery 0-0-0-0. Totals: 12-1-5-32

West Essex: Jordan Salisbury 5-1-2-15, Lexi Castro 2-1-0-7, Madeline Schlosser 2-0-0-4, Ava Brignola 5-1-2-15, Elyana Ghattas 0-0-0-0, Skyla Paladines 0-0-0-0, Riley Guevara 2-0-0-4, Brooke Balzano 0-0-3-3, Talia Machin 0-0-0-0, Olivia Blanco 0-0-0-0, Ella Mesopotanese 1-0-0-2. Totals: 17-3-7-50             

Follow Sideline Chatter on 'X' @Chattermeister