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Photos courtesy of Edward Kensik.
Albanese Leads Highlanders to School’s First Ever County Girls Hoops Title
Northern Highlands Girls Basketball Head Coach Al Albanese
By Edward Kensik ALLENDALE — Northern Highlands girls basketball team had been knocking on the door for the last few years for an elusive Bergen County Tournament. In the previous two years, the Highlanders would fight hard, but would just come short in the Bergen County Tournament final. This time the Lady Highlanders knocked the proverbial door down handing Al Albanese a Bergen County championship with a 57-44 victory over Teaneck at Ramapo College on Feb. 23. Last season, the Highlanders lost 44-24 to IHA in the county final while Northern Highlands lost to the same Teaneck team, 72-49, in the 2012 final.
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One of the biggest wins for its run in the county tournament was in the semi-finals where they defeated IHA, 52-42, on Feb. 16 at Ramapo College. “I think that win over IHA really propelled us,” said Albanese. For Albanese he said the difference this year is the depth as he can go eight solid players for his Highlanders. “I just think we can play eight,” said Albanese. “The three players off the bench could easily start. I don’t think we drop a level when we go to the bench.” In addition the breakout of junior Melissa Heath this season has bolstered the team. She had a team-high 13 to go along with the 13 for senior Madison Dunbar to lead Northern Highlands against Teaneck in the county final. “Last year Melissa played out of position because we were strong inside,” said Albanese. “This year she moved inside and came out on her own.” In addition to Heath, Dunbar and junior Rachel Jubelt have been instrumental in leading the Highlanders. Also, sophomore Emily Bonafacic chipped in 11 against Teaneck in the county final. Ironically it would be a couple of weeks later when Northern Highlands faced Teaneck again, this time for the Group 3 North 1 state sectional final. And again the Highlanders
came out on top, this time as they came behind down by seven with four minutes left in the game and take it 61-57 as they outscored the Highwaywomen, 24-13, in the fourth quarter. “We started pressing them and getting back in the game,” said Albanese about the comeback. Heath outscored her counterpoint on Teaneck, Milan Johnson, 23 points to 22 points in the state sectional final. Jubelt added 10 points in the state sectional final. The victory over Teaneck in the state sectional final culminated a 20-game winning streak. Unfortunately, Northern Highlands could not get the 21st victory in the streak as they dropped to West Morris Central, 67-63, in the Group 3 semifinals at Ramapo High School. While it was a difficult loss to West Morris, the Lady Highlanders finished 28-4 for the best record in school’s history for girls basketball. And Albanese credited a tougher schedule this season that included joining for the first time, the hyper competitive Joe Poli Tournament at Christmas time. The Lady Highlanders also took on IHA in a regular season fundraiser and played Immaculate Conception, who also was in the Bergen County Tournament semi-finals. “We played a tough schedule and that really prepped us for the tournaments,” said Albanese who also played Teaneck in a regular season game that they lost and also faced rival Ramapo, four times during the season. At the beginning of the 201314 season many believed that Northern Highlands would be slightly down with the graduation of Jackie Reyneke, an All Bergen County first team player. “After we lost Jackie, I think some people thought we were going to be an average team,” said Albanese. “I told one of my coaches that I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”
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Tori Reich (#40)
While this is his seventh season as head coach for Northern Highlands, he has coached basketball for 20 years, all within the Allendale and Highlands regional school system from when he started as the Brookside Elementary basketball coach. “I always wanted to coach within the school system,” said Albanese about not looking for a head coaching job outside Allendale. Not bad for Albanese who switched careers during his life. In the first part of his career, he was a landscaper, but felt there was more out there and moved to teaching. Even while in the landscaping business, he had the yearning to coach. “I wanted to coach no matter what sport be it was basketball or football or whatever, it didn’t matter,” said Albanese. While Albanese and the Highlanders fell short of getting to the Group 3 finals, there is no doubt that his team will get on another run in 2014-15 and take aim at the group final.
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Rachel Jubelt (#2) editor@sportsÞtnesswellness.com
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