River Dell Varsity Girls Basketball Team dominates Dumont in 2025-26 season and home opener

The River Dell Golden Hawks Varsity Girls Basketball Team (1-0) kicked off the 2025-26 regular season and home opener in commanding fashion, defeating the Dumont Huskies 63-35 at River Dell High School in Oradell, New Jersey.

Val Visconti and Alexa De Pol both delivered stellar offensive performances, with Visconti pouring in a game-high 24 points while De Pol tallied 21.

River Dell Head Coach Lindsay Steffner on Val Visconti: “She picked up right where she left off last season and has already improved to where we need her to be.” “She had a great first quarter right from the tip-off, making sure to set the tone and attack quickly, putting Dumont on their heels.”

The Golden Hawks raced out to an 11-2 lead in less than five minutes, exhibiting tenacious defense that prevented the Huskies from getting clean looks at the basket or dribbling the ball up the court, resulting in turnovers, steals, and fast-break points.

By the end of the first quarter, the Golden Hawks led Dumont 20-8, with Val Visconti netting 11 points and showcasing her offensive versatility—scoring on close-range shots, driving to the basket, and finishing fast breaks with layups.

“We mixed up some defenses early, especially important in the beginning of the season with three returning starters—Val Visconti, Alexa De Pol, and Dalia Interiano—and Hope Arturi stepping into the starting lineup after being our sixth man last year,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner noted. “We have veteran players who understand our scheme and what we’re doing. The defensive pressure was exactly where I wanted it to be. Adding Maddie Roth at the five position makes us even more athletic and strong.”

In the second quarter, Alexa De Pol provided a massive spark, scoring 11 points and showcasing her full offensive arsenal—knocking down jump shots from the perimeter and behind the arc, and getting out in transition to further stretch the lead.

River Dell cranked up the defensive intensity while keeping lengthy offensive possessions alive by crashing the boards, which led to several second-chance opportunities.

“We have a lot of different weapons, and this game was very similar to our first matchup against them last year—I thought we played a phenomenal game,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner said. “Alexa, Maddie, and Val are relentless, always targeting the ball, recognizing when it’s coming off the rim, and really hounding it.”

“Hope Arturi, for a small guard, gets her hands on the ball much more than people give her credit for and mixes it up quite a bit. Dalia Interiano is rebounding more now, playing the guard spot, and she’s doing a great job—she got a lot stronger in the off season, is jumping well, and keeps the ball alive.”

The Golden Hawks continued to push the pace in the second half as Val Visconti and Alexa De Pol asserted themselves offensively, combining for 12 points in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, with the lead widening, River Dell’s bench players saw action as the team cruised to victory.

“It was a great crowd, with the whole Middle School, JV, and freshman teams in attendance,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner explained. “A lot of parents and a few alumni came—it’s only going to get bigger, even though the holidays are a rough time to get out. It was a great evening for the River Dell parents to come out for the first game, and I appreciate that.”

Head Coach Lindsay Steffner, now in her 11th year leading the River Dell varsity girls’ basketball team, recognizes the importance of the program's legacy and tradition. “It’s fun to see the kids I’m coaching now—many of whom I remember coming into camp—and it’s always special to watch them grow up and become part of the program in high school.”

“You see the kids when they were little, and now even my managers, like Fallon Grebla, and having the last Grebla come through the program—it’s special getting to know the families and watching the kids grow.” “They start as freshmen, then you hear about them as alumni, and I’m always proud of who they are and what they become as they enter the real world.”

“I hope they take away some of the lessons I taught them in high school, and that I can be a role model for them as they turn around and give back in some capacity.” “It’s always interesting to see what they go into after graduating and when they come back to catch up. I want to make sure everyone’s doing well and let them know it’s important that I always have their back—even when they’re not on the court with me. I really care for them.”

River Dell hits the road to face the Pascack Valley Panthers at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, New Jersey, on Friday, December 19th. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

“They started the season with a big win on the road at Wayne Hills—it’s impressive for anyone to go up there, play a four o’clock game, and beat Wayne Hills like that,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner noted. “Raina Gibbs is a very good all-around player and scorer. Coach Jeff Jasper has a lot of kids back from last year’s team, even though he graduated a couple of seniors who were very important to his program. He returns a lot of good shooters who understand his scheme, so it’s going to be a great early season game.”

“We played them in the county tournament last year, and two of their seniors were sick or hurt—it was a one or two-possession game, very defensive, gritty, and back-and-forth.” “It’s going to come down to who outplays the other and makes the hustle plays. Coach Jasper has been doing this for 53 years—you’re not going to outcoach him, but you must match their intensity, especially on their home court. It’s not easy early in the season, so we must be up for the challenge, play to our strengths, and handle and shoot the ball well like we usually do.”