Kearny Girls Basketball Clinches First Division Title in Over 20 Years

Young Kardinals squad overcomes injuries to capture HCIAL National Division championship

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 two decades, as the Kardinals, led by 1,000-point scorers Mariel Ruiz and Makayla David, overcame a young roster and several key injuries to meet their preseason goal.

Why it matters

Kearny's division title is a significant accomplishment for the program, which had not won a league championship since joining the HCIAL in 2008. The team's success this season, despite losing three rotation players to season-ending injuries, highlights the coaching staff's ability to develop young talent and the resilience of the players to overcome adversity.

The details

Kearny employed its signature press defense and relied on the backcourt duo of Ruiz and 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 become two of the county's top guards. Freshman Gianna Covello and junior Vanessa Ruiz have also played key roles, with Covello emerging as a scoring threat and Vanessa Ruiz leading the team's defensive pressure.

  • On Thursday, Kearny defeated Hoboken 59-55 to clinch the HCIAL National Division title.
  • Kearny will receive a top four seed in the upcoming Hudson County Tournament, which seeds on Monday.

The players

Mariel Ruiz

A 5-foot-4 senior guard and 1,000-point scorer who is averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.6 steals per game.

Makayla David

A 5-foot-5 junior guard and 1,000-point scorer who is averaging 16.6 points, 4.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game.

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 scoring threat.

Vanessa Ruiz

A 5-foot-5 junior guard who is the team's top defender and puts the most pressure on the ball.

Jolianna Escalante

A 5-foot-10 junior forward who is averaging a double-double and is starting to become a scoring threat, which changes the dynamic of the team.

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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 (The Observer)

“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 (The Observer)

“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 (The Observer)

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, Feb. 16 against an opponent to be determined.

The takeaway

Kearny's division title is an impressive accomplishment for a young team that has overcome significant injuries this season. The Kardinals' success is a testament to the coaching staff's ability to develop talent and the players' resilience, and it sets them up for a potentially deep run in the upcoming county and state tournaments.