Vikings win season opener

The Vernon Township High School girls basketball team kicked off the 2024-25 season with a 42-38 win over Lenape Valley in its season opener Dec. 17.

Senior guard Grace Dobrzynski, a team captain, led all scorers with 18 points and had a game-high 12 rebounds.

Junior guard Monica Curry added 11 points.

Dobrzynski and Curry are among the key returning players.

“Grace was our leading scorer for 2023-24 with 300 points on the season and our lead rebounder for 2023-24 with 154 rebounds,’’ head coach Stephanie DePiano said. “Monica had 230 points in 2023-24 and led our team with 92 steals. She is a lock-down defender for our team.’’

Sophomore guard Vanessa Curry is among the promising newcomers this season.

A solid core of seniors will be looked on as leaders for the Vikings.

“We have seven seniors on the team this year and will be leaning on them for leadership and experience this year,’’ DePiano said. “Seniors Chloe DeBonta and Grace Dobrzynski are our team captains.’’

The Vikings had an overall record of 15-8 and were 8-2 as co-champions in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Colonial Division last year.

They lost to fourth seeded Westwood, 50-30, in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey, Section 1, Group 2 Tournament.

This season, Vernon competes in the NJAC Freedom Division.

“We won our division tied with Lenape Valley last year and have moved up to the Freedom Division this year,’’ DePiano said.

“I think facing tougher competition will be a challenge but allow us to develop more as a team, especially our younger players.’’

She views Hackettstown and Jefferson as among the top teams to beat in the Freedom Division this season.

Vernon is scheduled to host Kittatinny at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 and Hackettstown at 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6.