Four strong pillars for a successful program

Each player has left her mark.

The Paul VI High School girls basketball team will likely have plenty to celebrate this season in the win column as one of the best teams in the state. And the Eagles can easily point to a group of four seniors who helped build that foundation.

Janice Ashong, Dynasty Birriel, Sophia DiNunzio and Julia Dorn all began playing basketball for the Paul VI program three years ago as freshmen. They don’t often live in the newspaper headlines and they don’t pout when their names aren’t in the starting lineup. But the Class of 2021’s contribution is four strong pillars on which a successful program rests.

“They’ve been diligent their whole career and they’ve been committed,” said Paul VI coach Lisa Steele. “These young ladies have shown up to all summer workouts and volunteer opportunities. They are program kids and they have talent. They could go to other programs in the area and start or get more significant minutes or be the leading scorer in some situations. The fact that they chose to buy in and stay a part of our family and be committed is truly meaningful for me.”

There’s a ton of underclassmen talent on the Eagles’ roster, but only five positions on the court, and just one basketball, which has led to fierce competitions for playing time. But the senior foursome has made the most of its opportunities, whether they enter the game off the bench or play a support role on the sidelines.

“One of our biggest strengths is definitely having energy on the bench,” DiNunzio said. “I or someone else may not be physically in the game but being a part of it on the bench and talking and cheering your teammates on. Our energy is one of the biggest parts of our team.”

Their unmatched enthusiasm can be seen and heard on a nightly basis.

“Our team chemistry is so good that we might not be on the floor with them but you can hear us yelling during the game,” Ashong said. “We’re so close that even if we’re not in the game, it’s still the same thing.”

Last year, Paul VI went 24-3 and won a share of the Olympic Conference National Division before bowing out in the quarterfinal round of the South Jersey Non-Public A tournament. This year, the Eagles are piggybacking that success, winning their first five games, which included a statement victory over Cherokee on Feb. 4. But no moment was better for the senior group than getting to start as a foursome on Senior Night against Bishop Eustace, Pennsauken, five days later. With no fans allowed in attendance, Coach Steele improvised the celebration by projecting video tributes from each girl’s parents prior to the game. Paul VI’s 60-41 victory was live-streamed for the parents to watch safely from home.

“I think for all of us, our families are our biggest support groups,” Ashong said. “Throughout our four years, we’ve all been through so much. Me, personally with basketball, I’ve gone through a growth and I don’t think I would have been able to do it without them. So seeing them say they are proud of me meant a lot.”

There’s a lot to be proud of. Ashong is entering Jefferson University’s pre-med program and will play basketball for the Rams next year. Dorn and DiNunzio will also play hoops at the next level as Dorn will study elementary education at Montclair University while DiNunzio will pursue business at Manhattanville College. Birriel is uncommitted but said she would like to stay in New Jersey and study biology at Monmouth University. They all learned valuable life skills on the court at Paul VI.

“I think I’ve grown as a person and not just as a player,” Birriel said. “My coaches have pushed me to grow into a better individual and a better player at the same time.”

Basketball games were won, friendships were solidified.

“It’s been awesome,” Dorn said. “I’ve met so many of my best friends on this team.”

They’re assured to have a few more fond memories throughout the rest of the season. But Senior Night will always stick out. Steele borrowed a PowerPoint template from her sister, including photos of the team which played throughout the game. Their coach went a step above, just like her seniors always do.

“(My sister) helped me out, and the players helped me out immensely,” Steele said. “And I wouldn’t be able to do it without the parents engaging and sending me the videos and pictures. We get to have that memory forever now.”