Hopatcong's Youth Girls Basketball Team Seeks Perfection

Jimmy Vilardo sees a bright future for the girls basketball program.

Probably because a group of seventh-grade girls figure to be part of it.

The Hopatcong Hawks travel team continued its quest for an undefeated regular season and, ultimately, a league title with Monday night's 36-21 win over Roxbury at home. Hopatcong improved to 11-0.

Gabby Acierno had a double-double for the Hawks, posting 16 points and 18 rebounds. She also had five blocks. Dana Bibeault dropped eight points, collected seven rebounds and swatted four shots as Hopatcong overcame a sluggish first quarter for a runaway victory.

Melissa Vilardo pulled down 11 rebounds while Catelyn Pisano snatched seven in the victory.

Vilardo, a coach, credited the team's cohesiveness for its success this season.

"They know their roles," he said. "They know their jobs. We just molded them into what we wanted. We just have a really complete team."

Coach Mark Acierno agreed.

"The girls have just played together, a lot of them since they were 5 years old," he said. "A lot have been together for a real long time. They compliment each other. One of their faults is another one's strengths.

Hopatcong finished the first quarter ahead just 4-2 as both squads missed multiple layups. But the second quarter was a different story as the Hawks entered halftime up, 15-5. Hopatcong's advantage ballooned to 23-12 by the third quarter's end.

Vilardo said the Hawks switched from a 1-2-1 defense to a 3-2 on Monday, and it paid dividends.

"If you can't score, you can't win," he said. "I'll win a sloppy game."

Vilardo, Acierno and coach Dave Levin each agreed adding Nicole Jaronsky to the staff has been a positive. Jaronsky, a junior, is Hopatcong High School's starting varsity point guard.

"The first practice we had [Jaronsky] there I told the girls to do something," Acierno said."Then I told Nicole to tell the girls to do the same thing, and they're like, 'Oh, yeah, let's do that.' And I'd say, 'I just told them to do that!'"

Hopatcong has three regular-season games left on its schedule. Last year the squad went 12-2.

"We have probably one of the strongest rebounders in the league," Acierno said. "A big girl who can drive to the basket. A couple great guards. A few who hustle a lot, hustle a ton. You don't really see girls jump on the floor. These girls do. They've worked together for such a long time."

Jamie Kufta had seven points for Hopatcong, which also recieved four points from Eldina Kucevic and three rebounds from Sar Taddeo. Danielle Hulsman has also played a role in the Hawks' success.