Paul VI solidifies SJ supremacy with Cherokee season sweep

The debate for the best team in South Jersey officially ended after Saturday as Paul VI proved that its early-season victory over Cherokee was no fluke as the Eagles defeated the Chiefs, 43-36. Twelve points have decided these two games, but there’s a new queen of South Jersey, and it’s Paul VI and its combination of lethal offense and suffocating half-court press defense. The press caused problems in the first go-around on Feb 4 as the Eagles won in a low-scoring, 38-33 affair. Despite eight more total points scored in round 2 on Saturday, the press was a nightmare for the Chiefs as Paul VI was able to hold Cherokee’s best scorer, senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="134612" first="Alexa" last="Therien"], to just six points. Therien hauled in 11 rebounds, but just one Chief, freshman Taylor Bartrum, scored in double-figures. Her six points all came in the second quarter as a well-executed plan from head coach Lisa Steele worked to sheer perfection. Only one scored in double-figures for the Eagles as well, but that one player was star sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id="134645" first="Hannah" last="Hidalgo"], who led all scorers with 21 points and four steals. Forward Nile Miller led the team on the defensive end with 10 rebounds as well as seven points, one block and two steals. What started out as a 12-7 Paul VI lead after the first quarter turned into just a one-point lead going into the fourth quarter with the Eagles leading 30-29. Hidalgo would score 10 of her 21 points in the fourth, but Paul VI was up just three with just over 90 seconds left and Cherokee with the ball. However, a game-tying three-point open look from the Chiefs bricked out and all the Eagles had to do was secure the ball and make their free throws on the other side of the floor, which they did to walk off the floor at Cherokee with its biggest win of the season to date. Paul VI improved to 9-2 with the win, their two losses coming at the hands of the two best teams in the state, St. John Vianney and Trenton Catholic. With four games remaining, starting March 1 @ Eastern, the Eagles are set to end the regular season with a perfect record in the Olympic Conference and possibly a 13-2 record overall. Prep Girls Hoops will track the Eagles and all programs in New Jersey the rest of the way so stay tuned for more analysis and content this season and beyond.