2022 Tri-County Conference Standouts Pt. 4
There is an added level of anticipation in the state of New Jersey for the start of the 2020/21 high school girls basketball season as it’s been delayed until at least January. When looking at talent across the state, one…
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Continue ReadingThere is an added level of anticipation in the state of New Jersey for the start of the 2020/21 high school girls basketball season as it’s been delayed until at least January.
When looking at talent across the state, one of the conferences that stands out is the Tri-County Conference, which had five 20+ win teams last season and four teams who lost two or fewer conference games.
Prep Girls Hoops has been taking a closer look within the Tri-County Conference in this final part of a multi-part series about junior standouts to watch.
Sydni Wright, PG/SG Highland: Wright is going to be stepping up in a big way for Highland this season as three of its top five scorers last season graduated in the spring, meaning a lot of holes to fill come January. Wright and sophomore Hope Goodwine are the two returning triple-digit scorers for the Tartans, and Wright will be in a way taking over Emily Leary’s spot as the team’s go-to perimeter shooter. Along with her ability to shoot the three consistently well, she can get into the lane and draw contact to get to the foul line and will be an emerging defensive threat.
Cioni Simmons, PG/SG Cumberland: Simmons is the ideal combination of shooting, passing and scoring that Cumberland is going to rely upon much more heavily this season. Nearly scoring twice as many threes as her next closest teammate, she’s an outside threat, which opens the lane up for her to deke out the defense and drive in for a layup or get fouled. Simmons is eager to get on the break playing on defense and with 33 steals last season, she could flirt with averaging over two steals a game if she keeps up the intensity for Cumberland in January.
Bella Angelucci, PF Triton: Angelucci was one of a few bright spots on a Triton team who finished 1-23 last season. She was the Mustangs’ leading scorer last season, nearly averaging 10 PPG, and is one of two returning players who scored more than 100 points last season, her and fellow junior Broghan Henry. Angelucci is not only a force down low, but an undervalued outside shooter and a shut-down defender. She’s going to be the person Triton leans on this season to get a few more games in the win column.
Grace Molinari, PG/SG Gloucester Tech: Molinari and senior Faith Rose are going to be a two-headed monster for Gloucester Tech this season, combining for over 700 total points, 220 rebounds and nearly 100 made three pointers, foul shots and steals. Molinari is less the rebounder and more the pure scorer of the two, averaging over 12 PPG and nearly hitting two threes and recording two steals a game. Molinari has a perfect touch beyond the arc and will be needed more to crash the boards with the departure of graduating senior Rebecca Jepsen, so expect her to play more of a role down low for Gloucester Tech this season.
Olivia Ettore, G/F Kingsway: Ettore is the unquestionable leader of this Kingsway team, the veteran presence that’s desperately needed with two seniors having graduated in the spring. Her role is going to be elevated for the Dragons this season and is going to be asked to take on more of the load on the rebounding end and to take more shots from the perimeter. She returns as the team’s leading blocker and one of the leading assisters and defensive players on this roster. Ettore plays a balanced, well-rounded style of basketball and she’s going to be averaging well over 10 PPG this season for Kingsway.
Continue to follow Prep Girls Hoops for more player profiles and previews as the 2020/21 New Jersey high school girls basketball season gets closer.