Kearny girls basketball clinches division title, eyes tournament runs

Kardinals capture first division crown in over two decades, led by standout guard duo

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Kearny girls basketball team clinched the HCIAL National Division title on Thursday with a 59-55 victory over Hoboken. It is the program's first division championship in more than 20 years. Led by 1,000-point scorers Mariel Ruiz and Makayla David, the young Kardinals squad overcame several key injuries to earn the top seed in the upcoming Hudson County Tournament.

Why it matters

Kearny's division title is a significant accomplishment for the program, which has struggled to find consistent success in recent years. The Kardinals' ability to overcome adversity and clinch the championship with a young roster demonstrates the team's potential for deep postseason runs in both the county and state tournaments.

The details

Kearny, playing in the HCIAL's National Division for the first time since 2008, relied on its signature press defense and the backcourt duo of Mariel Ruiz and Makayla David to capture the division crown. Ruiz, a 5-foot-4 senior, and David, a 5-foot-5 junior, are both averaging over 16 points per game and have expanded their all-around games to lead the Kardinals. Freshman Gianna Covello and junior Vanessa Ruiz have also played key roles, while 5-foot-10 junior Jolianna Escalante provides a presence in the paint.

  • Kearny clinched the National Division title on Thursday, February 10, 2026.
  • The Kardinals are expected to receive a top four seed in the upcoming Hudson County Tournament, which will be seeded on Monday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Mariel Ruiz

A 5-foot-4 senior guard who is averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game for Kearny.

Makayla David

A 5-foot-5 junior guard who is averaging 16.6 points, 4.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game for the Kardinals.

Jolianna Escalante

A 5-foot-10 junior forward who is averaging a double-double with 7.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for Kearny.

Gianna Covello

A 5-foot-7 freshman guard who is averaging 4.6 points and 3.0 assists per game and is emerging as a key contributor for the Kardinals.

Vanessa Ruiz

The younger sister of Mariel, the 5-foot-5 junior is Kearny's top defender and averages 6.6 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“Being the National Divisional champions was definitely a goal of ours. I think it would've been somewhat disappointing if we didn't reach it.”

— Jody Hill, Head Coach (theobserver.com)

“She's the toughest one on the team and if we need her to bang around with somebody inside and do the fundamentally sound things and box out bigger players, she'll get the job done. We're confident when she needs to guard a bigger player, even though she's only 5-foot-4.”

— Jody Hill, Head Coach (theobserver.com)

“She has the ability now just to make the right decisions and get her teammates involved, that's what a true point guard does. And she's really coming into that role.”

— Jody Hill, Head Coach (theobserver.com)

What’s next

If Kearny receives a top four seed in the Hudson County Tournament, they will earn a double bye to the quarterfinals, where they would have a home game on Monday, February 16 against an opponent to be determined.

The takeaway

Kearny's division title and young, talented roster make them a team to watch in the upcoming Hudson County and state tournaments. Their ability to overcome key injuries and lean on their standout backcourt duo of Mariel Ruiz and Makayla David demonstrates the Kardinals' potential for a deep postseason run.