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MOUNTAIN LAKES — Wearing a trim black suit, Amanda Berntsen stood at the front of a room full of Morris County girls basketball players, their families, and coaches, and reminisced a little. Berntsen had been the Morris County coaches' Player of the Year as a senior at Chatham back in 2012 – and then went on to play for four years at Princeton University.
"The impact of this game goes beyond wins and losses," said Berntsen, Chatham's all-time leading scorer. "It has shaped me in ways I never imagined. ... When I found basketball, I found my passion."
The Morris County coaches recognized the top 16 players at their annual luncheon on Wednesday.
Morris Catholic point guard Mia Pauldo was named Player of the Year for the third time. Her twin sister Mya Pauldo and classmate Daniella Matus were also recognized.
Already the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year and the state's only McDonald's All-American, Mia Pauldo averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.3 steals. Morris Catholic has won four Morris County Tournament titles, three NJSIAA Non-Public trophies, and 57 straight games against New Jersey opponents.
"She is the epitome of 'team': competitive, team first, works hard every day in practice," Crusaders coach Rahim Huland El said of Mia. "The success we've had the last four years is a reflection of the excellence that Mia personifies."
Along with the Tennessee-bound Pauldo twins, 6-foot-1 Madison forward Charlotte Tuhy, who set the Morris County all-time scoring record, was recognized for the fourth time. Morristown freshman Nawel Ibazatene, Morris Hills sophomore Juliet Johnson – the leading rebounder in Morris County – and Mendham junior Lila Schoenfeld were the only non-seniors on the coaches' list.
Many of the other honorees have been invited to participate in the New Jersey Basketball Coaches Association senior all-star game on March 30 at Rutgers Prep.
Chatham's Joe Gaba was named Coach of the Year by his peers for the second year in a row, after guiding Chatham back to the Morris County Tournament and Group 3 finals. Morris Hills coach Brian Dillon thanked Gaba, who has more than 500 wins with the Cougars, "for setting the standard for coaches in New Jersey."
Gaba introduced Chatham's "three-headed monster": senior guards Ella Kreuzer, Mia Semioli and Arden Alvarez. They helped the Cougars go 59-7, without losing at home over the past two seasons.
"They have transformed the program. They have transformed me as a coach," Gaba said. "I am blessed to have coached all three of them."
More: Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference girls basketball postseason honors
Arden Alvarez, Chatham senior; Kayla Brand, Randolph senior; Kacie Bush, Morristown senior; Abby Hawes, Mountain Lakes senior; Juliet Johnson, Morris Hills sophomore; Nawel Ibazatene, Morristown freshman; Ella Kreuzer, Chatham senior; Daniella Matus, Morris Catholic senior; Juliana O'Dowd, Montville senior; Mya Pauldo, Morris Catholic senior; Charlee Perna, Morris Knolls senior; Lila Schoenfeld, Mendham junior; Mia Semioli, Chatham senior; Kiley Shatzel, Jefferson senior; Charlotte Tuhy, Madison senior
Player of the Year: Mia Pauldo, Morris Catholic senior
Coach of the Year: Joe Gaba, Chatham
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris County NJ girls basketball coaches postseason honors
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"The impact of this game goes beyond wins and losses," said Berntsen, Chatham's all-time leading scorer. "It has shaped me in ways I never imagined. ... When I found basketball, I found my passion."
The Morris County coaches recognized the top 16 players at their annual luncheon on Wednesday.
Morris Catholic point guard Mia Pauldo was named Player of the Year for the third time. Her twin sister Mya Pauldo and classmate Daniella Matus were also recognized.
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Already the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year and the state's only McDonald's All-American, Mia Pauldo averaged 19.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.3 steals. Morris Catholic has won four Morris County Tournament titles, three NJSIAA Non-Public trophies, and 57 straight games against New Jersey opponents.
"She is the epitome of 'team': competitive, team first, works hard every day in practice," Crusaders coach Rahim Huland El said of Mia. "The success we've had the last four years is a reflection of the excellence that Mia personifies."
Along with the Tennessee-bound Pauldo twins, 6-foot-1 Madison forward Charlotte Tuhy, who set the Morris County all-time scoring record, was recognized for the fourth time. Morristown freshman Nawel Ibazatene, Morris Hills sophomore Juliet Johnson – the leading rebounder in Morris County – and Mendham junior Lila Schoenfeld were the only non-seniors on the coaches' list.
Many of the other honorees have been invited to participate in the New Jersey Basketball Coaches Association senior all-star game on March 30 at Rutgers Prep.
Chatham's Joe Gaba was named Coach of the Year by his peers for the second year in a row, after guiding Chatham back to the Morris County Tournament and Group 3 finals. Morris Hills coach Brian Dillon thanked Gaba, who has more than 500 wins with the Cougars, "for setting the standard for coaches in New Jersey."
Gaba introduced Chatham's "three-headed monster": senior guards Ella Kreuzer, Mia Semioli and Arden Alvarez. They helped the Cougars go 59-7, without losing at home over the past two seasons.
"They have transformed the program. They have transformed me as a coach," Gaba said. "I am blessed to have coached all three of them."
More: Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference girls basketball postseason honors
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MCGBCA All-County Team
Arden Alvarez, Chatham senior; Kayla Brand, Randolph senior; Kacie Bush, Morristown senior; Abby Hawes, Mountain Lakes senior; Juliet Johnson, Morris Hills sophomore; Nawel Ibazatene, Morristown freshman; Ella Kreuzer, Chatham senior; Daniella Matus, Morris Catholic senior; Juliana O'Dowd, Montville senior; Mya Pauldo, Morris Catholic senior; Charlee Perna, Morris Knolls senior; Lila Schoenfeld, Mendham junior; Mia Semioli, Chatham senior; Kiley Shatzel, Jefferson senior; Charlotte Tuhy, Madison senior
Player of the Year: Mia Pauldo, Morris Catholic senior
Coach of the Year: Joe Gaba, Chatham
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morris County NJ girls basketball coaches postseason honors
Continue reading...
