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Local girls shine at basketball championships

| 18 Mar 2015 | 02:11
    The sixth grade High Point Wildcats pose with their championship trophies.
    The sixth grade High Point Wildcats pose with their championship trophies.
    Jefferson's Jacaueline Taylor (2) fires the ball in play. The seventh grade Newton Braves defeated the Jefferson Falcons.
    Jefferson's Jacaueline Taylor (2) fires the ball in play. The seventh grade Newton Braves defeated the Jefferson Falcons.
    Jefferson's Shelby Murawinski (53) fires the ball from the outside.
    Jefferson's Shelby Murawinski (53) fires the ball from the outside.
    The seventh grade Newton Braves with their championship trophies.
    The seventh grade Newton Braves with their championship trophies.
    The eighth grade High Point Wildcats pose with their trophies.
    The eighth grade High Point Wildcats pose with their trophies.
    The High Point Wildcats coach Thomas Smith talks strategy with his team.
    The High Point Wildcats coach Thomas Smith talks strategy with his team.
    High Point's Trinity Stall takes a shot.
    High Point's Trinity Stall takes a shot.
    Newton's Olivia Buckley on the move with the ball.
    Newton's Olivia Buckley on the move with the ball.

SUSSEX — The Sixth Annual Skylands Girls Basketball League Championships took place on March 14 at High Point Regional High School in Sussex. Teams from Sussex and Morris Counties competed in grades fifth through eighth.

The Skylands Girls Basketball League is an outlet for female athletes to hone their craft. The league is also a feeder program for area high schools. Some of the athletes participating will become hardwood standouts in high school and perhaps beyond.

Some of the star high school basketball players in recent years got their start in the Skylands Girls Basketball League.

"When you look at the top players at the high schools now such as High Point, Newton and Jefferson Township played in the Skylands Girls Basketball League," said Thomas Smith, head coach of the fifth and eighth grade High Point Wildcats basketball teams. "There is a lot of work that goes into running this organization. We have many volunteers who help out. Local businesses have donated money and become sponsors."

"Some of these girls will go on to play high school basketball later this year. We treat our games and players the same as in the high school level," Smtih said. "We want them to feel what it is like before they even get to the high school level. The players of today will be the stars of tomorrow."

-- GEORGE LEROY HUNTER