WW-P South girls’ Kelley returns from knee injury
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Senior Night had extra meaning for Niki Kelley.
The guard was one of five West Windsor-Plainsboro South basketball seniors honored before the Pirate girls’ 54-43 win over Princeton High School on Tuesday.
”It was really nice,” said Kelley, who had two points as the Pirates improved to 10-6. “Last year at this time, I couldn’t imagine actually playing and coming in and going and playing on Senior Night.
”It’s sad. It’s my last year of basketball. It’s crazy how much I’ll miss it. My friend’s dad congratulated me on making it through. I’m proud to have gone through it and played senior year.”
Kelley’s doubts began when she tore her MCL and ACL in her right knee while playing soccer in September of her junior year. She missed her first chance to play varsity basketball after having surgery that November, and didn’t return to the court until June.
”The first two years here she played JV,” said Pirates coach Lisa Guarneri. “I didn’t even know if she was going to play. She was there in the summer league and at camp and in the fall. She really earned her spot on the team with all the work she put in during the offseason. I knew she really wanted to play.”
That desire to play drove Kelley through a long rehabilitation of her knee. She still had some doubts when tryouts began about how it would hold up, and she has played the entire season with a bulky knee brace.
”After last year, missing my whole junior year, I really wanted to play this year,” Kelley said. “It’s been really, really fun. I love basketball. I’m not going to play in college, so it’s my last chance. I love playing with Tory (Sharpless), Liz (Huttner) and Steph (Dontas). We’ve been playing together forever, so I feel comfortable out there, except for the brace.”
Kelley and Zara Ahmed joined the usual three seniors in the starting lineup Tuesday. Huttner led the Pirates with 16 points, while Sharpless had 13 and Dontas orchestrated the offense at the point. Junior Erica Simi added 10 points as WW-P South rallied for the win over PHS, which dropped to 5-13 despite getting 16 points from Julia Maltby.
”Midway through the third, we were losing,” Kelley said. “Liz hit a three as the quarter ended, and it kind of lifted us. We were back up again and the momentum carried us into the fourth quarter and we got a couple steals and pushed the lead to 10.”
Kelley saw few minutes in the beginning of the season, but her playing time steadily increased from there. She has become a valuable sixth man for the Pirates as they look to ready for postseason tournament play. South’s focus is on its rebounding, as well as creating more offense from its defense and being patient at the offensive end.
The Pirates have come to know what they can get from Kelley. They are looking for her usual contributions when they host Riverside in the Mercer-Burlington County Challenge 10 a.m. Saturday.
”Earlier, I didn’t know where she could contribute,” Guarneri said. “She never played varsity. She earned her spot. She came in and hit a big basket against Steinert. Even against Lawrence, we were struggling, and she came in and hit a big three. Not her varsity experience, but her overall experience, being in 12th grade has helped her play well in those minutes.
”She never complained in the beginning of the season when she wasn’t playing as much. She was so happy when she got in there. She never tries to do too much. She plays within herself. We’re happy with what she’s given us.”
Kelley has adjusted to her role for the Pirates. She is comfortable now in what she can deliver.
”I had to earn my role,” she said. “It was like I was a senior making varsity for the first time. It kind of made me work harder. Most of the other seniors have been there three years. I tried to push as hard as I could to prove I deserved to be on varsity. I pushed through it. It motivated me more to prove that I should be out there.
”I like coming off the bench. It’s good to bring in fresh legs and energy. When you start, you’re so worried about the scouting report. I’m comfortable just coming in to play. It’s easier to come into the flow and not have to set the rhythm and just play.”
Just playing is all that Niki Kelley was looking for this season, so she had plenty to celebrate on Senior Night.

