Top Players in Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Region

Last season’s Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament saw top-seeded Sparta defeat 10th-seeded Hunterdon Central in the tournament final, 58-44. It was the first H/W/S title for Sparta. Hunterdon Central made the final following an incredible run with victories over 3-seed North Warren, 2-seed Pope John and 7-seed North Hunterdon. Sparta made it all the way to the NJSIAA North 1, Group 3 final, defeating an undefeated Montville team in the semifinals. Some of the top players from the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex region will be returning in the 2021 season. Let’s take a look at some of the best players returning this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="155444" first="Brynn" last="McCurry"], Sparta, So.</strong> – McCurry had a memorable freshman season for Sparta with 16.1 points per game. She hit double figures in 27 of 29 games, including a 31-point performance against Morris Knolls. The Sparta sophomore was also a strong rebounder with a 9.9 average on the season, finishing with 17 double-doubles on the season. She had 113 assists, 73 steals, 98 made free throws and 49 blocks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="155447" first="Ally" last="Sweeney"], Sparta, So.</strong> – Sweeney averaged 12.2 points per game and finished with 19 double-figure games. She had a season-high 23 points come against Montville as Sparta put an end to the Mustangs’ undefeated season in the state tournament. Sweeney also averaged 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. The sophomore should be able to take the next step for a Sparta team that should be very good once again. <strong>Jessica Mastriano, Hunterdon Central, Jr.</strong> – Mastriano was Hunterdon Central’s top scorer as a sophomore last year. She hit double figures 14 times, converting 52 free throws and finished with 22 3-pointers. <strong>Quincey McGuiness, North Warren, Jr.</strong> – McGuiness averaged 13.6 points per game for North Warren a season ago. She led North Warren to a 23-5 mark. The junior reached double figures in the first seven games of the season, and she finished with 19 double-figure games overall. McGuinness had 25 points come against Kittatinny, 23 points against Belvidere and 21 points against Phillipsburg, all victories for North Warren. She was a good defender as well with 74 steals on the year, including seven in a win over Vernon and six each in victories over Hopatcong and Hackettstown. <strong>Clare Kelly Saalfield, North Warren, Jr.</strong> – Saalfield was the top rebounder for North Warren last season with 9.4 a game. She had four double-doubles and finished with 16 double-digit rebounding performances. The North Warren junior finished with 57 blocks on the year, with seven coming against Hackettstown and five apiece against Belvidere, Kittatinny, High Point, Phillipsburg and Newton. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="134641" first="Alana" last="Robinson"], Pope John, Jr.</strong> – Robinson averaged 16.1 points per game and 10.4 rebounds for Pope John last season, totaling 19 double-doubles. She was an all-around threat with 111 steals, 104 blocks, 67 assists, 95 made free throws and 21 3-pointers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="159100" first="Maddie" last="Gore"], Newton, Sr.</strong> – Gore was tremendous for Newton last season. She averaged 17.2 points per game, controlling the paint and finishing with six double-doubles. She averaged about seven rebounds a game. She made 72 free throws and had 44 steals and 43 blocks. Some top performances came against Morris Tech (15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 steals, 2 blocks), High Point/Kittatinny (16 points, 11 rebounds), High Point (33 points, 8 rebounds), Morris Knolls (25 points, 15 rebounds), South Hunterdon (24 points, 11 rebounds), Lenape Valley (23 points, 14 rebounds) and Hawthorne (31 points). <strong>Brienna Pangborn, Lenape Valley, Sr.</strong> – Pangborn had a great junior season for Lenape Valley. She ran the floor extremely well and averaged 15 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game. She made 111 free throws, had 83 steals and totaled 13 double-doubles. The senior can hit reverse layups, floaters and finish off the glass inside very well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="155467" first="Christy" last="Brennan"], Hopatcong, Jr.</strong> – Brennan was a prolific scorer for Hopatcong last season with 20.7 points per game, finishing in double figures in every game but one. She had 189 of her 559 points come at the foul line, and she had 84 steals on defense, including 10 against Sussex Tech. Offensively, Brennan’s top performances came against South Hunterdon and Kittatinny, where she put in 37 points in both games. She also finished with 34 points against American Christian. <strong>Other Names:</strong> Bailey Chapman, Sparta, So.; Mackenzie Lalor, Hunterdon Central, Sr.; Tiffani Szkarlatiuk, North Warren, Jr.; Meghan Dufner, Warren Hills, Sr.; Ahjionae Cobb, Pope John, Jr.; [player_tooltip player_id="134633" first="Faith" last="Pappas"], Pope John, Jr.; Kristen Fulford, Phillipsburg, Sr.; Catherine Pettegrove, Phillipsburg, Sr.; Amy Fehr, Newton, Sr.; Samantha Opilla, Wallkill Valley, Sr.; Rebecca Phillips, South Hunterdon, Sr.