Girls basketball: State tournament preview and predictions
NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2
By Simeon Pincus
NORTH 2 GROUP IV
Favorite: Franklin
Contenders: Piscataway, Phillipsburg
Sleeper: Westfield
Player(s) to Watch: Adreana Miller, Franklin; Jessica Kovatch, Phillipsburg; Lil Scott, Westfield
Outlook: Reigning champ and No. 1 seed Franklin is coming off a disappointing loss in the Somerset County Tournament final and should use the added motivation to defend its title in an absolutely stacked section. And if the senior-led group plays its game, there’s nobody in this section that’s going to be able to stop the Warriors from repeating. Franklin’s toughest game could be the semifinals, where No. 4 Westfield and its 1-2 punch of seniors Lil Scott and Jacqueline Knapp should be waiting – assuming the Blue Devils can get past a dangerous Ridge team in the quarters. GMC champ and second-seeded Piscataway should also be in for a tough one against Jess Kovatch and No. 6 Phillipsburg on the other side of the bracket, through it wouldn’t be a surprise if third-seeded Watchung Hills makes the most of its home-court advantage to oust the Liners. The Warriors could also prove a handful for the Chiefs.
Projected final: Franklin over Piscataway
NORTH 2 GROUP III
Favorite: Voorhees
Contenders: Mendham, West Morris Central
Sleeper: South Plainfield
Player(s) to Watch: Erin Jones, Voorhees; Blair Watson, Nutley
Outlook: Second-seeded Voorhees (20-3) has been reborn with the return of coach Carmen Cook after a three-year absence, cruising through the regular season and ready to make a run at a sectional title. Led by Erin Jones, Allie Best and Payce Lang, all three of the Vikings’ losses were close and to Group IV teams, including Hunterdon Central and Phillipsburg, which faced off in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex final last Friday night. Voorhees has also already beaten No. 4 seed West Morris Central once this season, a team that should be in for a tight one against rival No. 2 seed Mendham in the semifinals. No. 9 South Plainfield should get past eight-seeded Warren Hills, and the Tigers certainly have a shot against either of the West Morris teams and could give Voorhees a run.
Projected final: Voorhees over Mendham
NORTH 2 GROUP II
Favorite: Lincoln
Contenders: Bernards
Sleeper: Arts
Player(s) to Watch: Sarah Ryan, Bernards; Kiante Johnson, Lincoln
Outlook: This is kind of a wide open section, though top-seeded Lincoln is the clear favorite, led by Kiante Johnson and Zhane Williams. Still, No. 3 Bernards has done a good job against some tough teams along the way, and with Sarah Ryan, Caroline Baratta, Sara Whelan and others, could certainly be in the mix for a sectional title. Soular Andrews and sixth-seeded Arts, as well as second-seeded Newark Tech and Nicole Johnson should also be involved.
Projected final: Lincoln over Bernards
NORTH 2 GROUP I
Favorite: Secaucus
Contenders: New Providence
Sleeper: Shabazz
Player(s) to Watch: Sydney Morang, New Providence; Julia McClure, Secaucus
Outlook: Ranked in the state Top 20, undefeated Hudson County champion and No. 1 seed Secaucus is going to be tough to beat, but fourth-seeded New Providence could be the team to do it. Led by Florida commit Sydney Moran, the Pioneers came within one bad quarter of knocking off Non-Public power The Patrick School last week in the Union County Tournament semifinals and are certainly capable of playing with powerhouse clubs. Sixth-seeded Shabazz, which has been the class of the state in recent seasons with two straight TOC titles and seven consecutive group crowns, looks to have taken a step back this year, but is still very capable of winning the section.
Projected final: Secaucus over Shabazz
CENTRAL JERSEY
By Matt Silva
CENTRAL GROUP IV
Favorite: Monroe
Contenders: Sayreville, East Brunswick
Sleeper: Hunterdon Central
Player(s) to Watch: Erica Junquet, Monroe; Isi Enahoro, Sayreville; Tess Richardson, Hunterdon Central
Outlook: The section features four local teams in the top five seeds, the lone exception being Marlboro as the second seed. Monroe is the top seed and boasts a talented squad that has performed well all season. Led by senior point guard Erica Junquet, the Falcons will be a tough team to beat. However, third-seeded Sayreville has shown they could be up to the task as the teams split their regular season bouts. Fourth-seeded East Brunswick could meet Monroe in the semifinals with their tough defense and attacking style of offense and will look to avenge a loss in the GMC semifinals. Don’t count out the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament champion Hunterdon Central. Led by senior captain Tess Richardson, the fifth-seeded Red Devils took their first-ever title last season and could make a run.
Projected final: Monroe over Sayreville.
CENTRAL GROUP III
Favorite: Middletown South
Contenders:Neptune, Allentown
Sleepers:Ewing, Somerville
Player(s) to Watch: Stephanie Karcz, Middletown South; Melody Van Ness, Somerville
Outlook: Top-seeded Middletown South will be tough to beat, but second-seeded Neptune could be up to the task. Stephanie Karcz is a huge threat offensively for Middletown South, averaging 16.6 points per game and is a recent 1,000 point scorer. She also is a terror on the glass. Marajiah Bacon and Desiree Allen form a very dangerous scoring combination for Neptune that will be tough to contain. Somerville’s 12-12 record doesn’t tell the whole story, as it plays in a very deep Skyland Conference. The Pioneers, led by Melody VanNess, could be a tough out as a seventh-seed. Sophomore Melody VanNess leads Somerville offensively and can put up some big numbers if she gets hot. Van Ness averages 14.9 points per game.
Projected final: Neptune over Middletown South.
CENTRAL GROUP II
Favorite: Manasquan
Contender:Rumson-Fair Haven
Sleeper:Governor Livingston
Player(s) to Watch: Marina Mabrey, Manasquan; Yasmin Robinson-Bacote, Hillside.
Outlook: Fourth-seeded Governor Livingston will take on 13th seeded North Plainfield in the first round and could be in for a semifinals match against Manasquan. The Highlanders have had a strong season and might be a good challenge for Manasquan. Spotswood, a fifth-seed, will take on 12th seeded Johnson, who made some noise in the Union County Tournament as the 10th seed. Rumson-Fair Haven will try to make it to the final and go against Manasquan for the third time in the season. The Bulldogs lost the first two matchups, but both games were close. Delaware Valley enters the tournament as the 10th seed and will take on seventh-seed Manchester Township.
Projected final: Manasquan over Rumson-Fair Haven.
CENTRAL GROUP I
Favorite: South River
Contenders:Middlesex
Sleepers:South Amboy
Player(s) to Watch: Gabrielle Harris, South River; Tori Schweyher, Middlesex; Amanda Lavigne, South Amboy; Aly Baggitt, South Hunterdon; Janee’a Summers, Bound Brook.
Outlook: South River enters as the top seed again and will look to take care of business after losing to Metuchen in last year’s final. The Rams are led by Gabrielle Harris, who is a threat from anywhere on the court. Middlesex, the second-seed, faced South River in the GMC Tournament first round and lost by a close margin, but the Blue Jays have the defensive ability to compete with anyone. Fourth-seeded South Amboy is one of the few teams to beat South River and they could meet up with them again in the semifinals. South Hunterdon enters as the third-seed and Aly Baggitt can go off at any time for the Eagles, as she averaged 14.7 points per game as a senior. Janeea’ Summers will try to lead fifth-seeded Bound Brook to a deep run and last year’s winner Metuchen will start this year as a seventh-seed.
Projected final: South River over Middlesex
NON-PUBLIC NORTH
By Matt Silva
NON-PUBLIC NORTH A
Favorite: Immaculate Heart
Contenders: Paramus Catholic, Holy Angels
Sleepers: None
Player(s) to Watch: Jordan Wilmoth, Katia Oge and Caitlin Roche, Immaculate Heart; Nyree Grant, Paramus Catholic.
Outlook: Top-seed Immaculate Heart is the odds-on favorite to take the section, but could face some trouble towards the end. Holy Angles is the third-seed and has faced Immaculate Heart three times, all losses, but with the last two losses being by single digits. Holy Angels will also be a tough out in the tournament. Paramus Catholic enters as the second-seed and can take over games when Grant dominates the glass. However, Immaculate Heart is just too good and it will take a near-perfect effort to unseat them. Mother Seton will face Paramus Catholic in the first round as the ninth-seed.
Projected final:Immaculate Heart over Paramus Catholic
NON-PUBLIC SOUTH
By Simeon Pincus
NON-PUBLIC SOUTH A
Favorite: St. John Vianney
Contenders: Camden Catholic, Gloucester Catholic
Sleeper: Immaculata
Player(s) to Watch: Kelly Campbell, St. John Vianney; Allison Girardi, Immaculata
Outlook: Defending champ and No. 1 seed St. John Vianney is an absolute powerhouse and the clear favorite here, though second-seeded Camden Catholic and No. 2 Gloucester Catholic are pretty renowned in their own right and should be the Lancers’ chief obstacles from repeating. No. 7 Immaculata has had a fantastic season, a nice turnaround from last year’s 10-16 campaign and should certainly be a tough out for any team in this bracket. Point guard Allison Girardi, who transferred in from Rutgers Prep late last season, has done a great job running the attack and giving the Spartans a pesky defensive presence. She is joined by a very deep lineup that includes Kat Papalski, Anna Oliveiri, Kristen Reilly and Kaitlyn Roberto, any of which are capable of a big outing.
Projected final: St. John Vianney over Gloucester Catholic
NON-PUBLIC SOUTH B
Favorite: St. Rose
Contenders: Roselle Catholic, Patrick School, Rutgers Prep
Sleeper: Gill St. Bernard’s
Player(s) to Watch: Kat Phipps, St. Rose; Jahsyni Knight, Rutgers Prep; Raven Farley-Clark, Patrick School.
Outlook: This is arguably the toughest section in the state with elite clubs and superstar players adorning the bracket. Second-seeded and defending champ St. Rose is the favorite, led by senior Kat Phipps, who is averaging close to 24 points per game, but the Shore Conference runners up will be challenged by any of the three powerhouse clubs they could meet in the semifinals – No. 3 The Patrick School, No. 6 Rutgers Prep or No. 11 Gill St. Bernard’s, the team the Purple Roses defeated in overtime in last year’s final. The Knights, who are led by Sam Kramer and Alexia Allesch, did suffer some key graduation losses, and will be hard pressed to make another run to the final, especially since their tournament begins with what might be the most marquee first-round matchup in state tournament history against Somerset County champion Rutgers Prep. The Argonauts are led by junior Nikki Metzel, sophomores Olivia Dabney, Gabi Redden and Madison Stanley, and freshman point guard Jahsyni Knight, who has given Prep a major weapon on both sides of the floor. The Patrick School is the class of Union County, edging Westfield in the UCT final, and with home court the first two rounds and senior center Raven Farley-Clark, will be a tough out for anyone. Top-seeded Roselle Catholic, which had been undefeated before losing back-to-back games last week to Long Island Lutheran (NY) and Westfield in the county semis, respectively, certainly have the easiest road to the final, but once the Lions get there, they figure to be the underdog.
Projected final: St. Rose over Roselle Catholic
Simeon Pincus can be reached at CNGirlsHoops@aol.com and on Twitter @SimeonPincus
Matt Silva can be reached at MSilva@NJPressMedia.com and on Twitter @MattySilv