Newton girls basketball riding winning streak behind senior captains

The Newton High School girls basketball team is off to a tremendous start this season, including an eye opening six-game winning streak.

There are several reasons why the Braves are finding such considerable success. At the top of that list is the vast contributions of the senior captains Jordyn Young (guard) and Caitlyn Pokrywa (forward).

“Our captains were voted on by the players in the program, and Jordyn and Caitlyn both received the highest amount of votes and received very high praise from their teammates, including on their work ethic and willingness to help others when they’re struggling,’’ Newton coach Robert Toth said. “I also have noted how both of these girls are leaders in their own way. Jordyn is more of a vocal leader, talking to players on the team about what they’re doing well as well as ways to improve, while Caitlyn is more of a lead-by-example type, always working hard to be the best player she can be.’’

The statistics that both captains have earned on the court so far his season are very noteworthy.

Pokrywa leads the team in points so far, having two 20-ooint games in the first eight. As of Jan. 8, she was only 87 points away from scoring 1,000 career points. Young, the Braves’ point guard, is their leading 3-point shooter with 11 in the first eight games.

“As a new coach this year, and with both of our captains being four-year varsity athletes, it is tough to say individual skills or traits on the court that both girls have improved upon this season,” Toth said. “But what I can definitely say is that their leadership has continually improved every day since the beginning of the season, on and off the court.

Toth said both have grown in their abilities to be focal points of hte offense, have taken on the other team’s better players on defensive. They’ve all succeeded in the classroom with both placing on the honor roll.

Their interactions with their teammates area also meaningful.

“Both girls are great at helping to show younger girls in the program how to handle themselves as a varsity basketball player,’’ Toth said. “They both are leaders out on the floor, never hanging their head after missed shots or turnovers, but always hustling back for the next possession. They also are great in practice where they are able to bring high energy and confidence in themselves that rubs off on the rest of the team.’’

The Braves are scheduled to host Lenape Valley on Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Freedom Division contest.

“Our team also has a very impressive group of juniors, with Avery Eigner, Cassie Corby, Brielle Roberts and Carrigan Walsh all contributing a lot to the team thus far,’’ Toth said.

NOTES: The individual statistics mentioned above are from games played through Jan. 8.