Spartans aim to improve from last year

The Sparta High School girls basketball team (1-2) aims “to improve on last year’s 8-18 record and compete for the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) National Division and Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex titles,’’ head coach Patrick McCarney said.

Key returning players include seniors Abby Connors (guard), Katie Sutton (forward), Molly Chapman (forward), Carly List (guard) and Sam Roddy (forward); junior Moira Sweeney (guard); and sophomore Brooke Shust (forward).

Among the promising newcomers are juniors Alyssa Ciaburri (guard) and Kiernan Moore (forward) and freshmen guards Kaelyn Sabanosh, Mya Grycuk and Izzy Vanwinkle.

Leadership on the court will be very important for the Spartans.

“We have a great group of seniors who will all share the role as leaders both on and off the court,’’ McCarney said.

Last year, the Spartans lost in the H/W/S semifinals to Voorhees.

Seeded 11th, they lost in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 tournament to sixth-seeded Northern Highlands.

The team moved from the NJAC American Division last year to the National Division this year.

“I would consider us a contender this year,’’ the coach said. “We bring back four starters from last year’s team, so we have a lot of experience, and we played in the toughest division in the NJAC last year. That experience against incredibly good competition should pay dividends for us this year.

“Every team in our division brings back a solid core, so every game is going to be a battle. Morris Knolls, Morris Hills and West Morris all had winning records within the division last year and bring back the majority of their starters, so all three teams will be tough to beat this year.”