Fraser enjoys stellar GRHS girls' hoop career

The Glen Ridge High School girls’ varsity basketball team posted a highly-successful season.
Led by senior 6-foot-1 center Andrea Fraser, the Ridgers finished with a stellar 17-8 record while competing in the new Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division.
Making it even more impressive was the fact that the small school Group 1 Ridgers faced such Group 4 teams as Bloomfield and West Orange this season.
The Ridgers, in fact, finished with a 9-5 divisional mark, and were competitive in many games, much to the delight of GRHS head coach Maria DiCondina.
Fraser proved to be a strong all-around force, averaging 11 points, nine rebounds, five blocks and three steals to earn first-team all-league. For her career, Fraser averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and four blocks. Fraser also finished her career with 1,239 points, 807 rebounds and 349 blocked shots,
Sophomore guard Mary Alati also proved to be a steady contributor. Alati averaged six points, four assists and four steals to earn all-league second-team honors.
DiCondina was quite proud of her team’s season.
“It was a tremendous season for Glen Ridge as we moved into a very challenging new conference,” said DiCondina, whose team advanced to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association North Jersey Section 2, Group 1 tournament semifinals in which it lost to a strong University team. “As a very small Group 1 school, we competed against Group 4 schools throughout the league. We competed in every game.
“I am extremely proud of my team as we fought hard, game after each game. We won the North Arlington Christmas tournament, competed in the county and state tournament and played our best basketball in a very competetive league.”

Worrall Community Newspapers

2009-10 All-Area Girls' Basketball

Name School Pos. Ht. Year
Brianna Thomas Columbia PG 5-5 Senior
Gabby Jackson Columbia F 5-8 Junior
Shaina Earle Columbia G 5-6 Senior
Jade Johnson-Walker Columbia C 5-11 Freshman
Linda Hamilton EO Campus C 6-0 Junior
Delisha Thompson EO Campus G 5-8 Junior
Domonique Herring EO Campus G 5-6 Senior
Ashley Morris West Orange C 5-11 Senior
Anna Fucci West Orange PG 5-0 Senior
Alnisa Hernaiz Irvington F 5-8 Senior
Natasha Walker Irvington PG 5-6 Soph.
Andrea Fraser Glen Ridge C 6-1 Senior
Mary Alati Glen Ridge G 5-2 Soph.
Tahirah Matthews Bloomfield C 6-0 Senior
Nicole Velardi Belleville PG 5-6 Senior
Chassity Sousa Belleville F 5-9 Freshman
Khayriyyah Dawson Bloomfield Tech G 5-7 Junior
Qyidirah Williams Orange G 5-8 Senior
Alissa Tucci Nutley G 5-2 Senior

Players of the Year: Brianna Thomas, Columbia; Delisha Thompson, East Orange Campus
Coaches of the Year: Derrick Johnson, East Orange Campus; Johanna Wright, Columbia
Editor’s note: The All-Area is selected by the Essex County sports staff of Worrall Community Newspapers and consists of schools in the WCN publishing area of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Maplewood, Nutley, Orange, South Orange, West Orange and Vailsburg. The athletes chosen also must reside in those municipalities.