Microupdate 12/22: Gabby Recinto has a career day for Cherokee
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We’re just about a week into the 2021-22 New Jersey basketball season and things are already heating up big time, with great performances and big time wins from programs across the state. A big game took place on Tuesday in…
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Continue ReadingWe’re just about a week into the 2021-22 New Jersey basketball season and things are already heating up big time, with great performances and big time wins from programs across the state.
A big game took place on Tuesday in South Jersey between top-ranked schools Cherokee and Eastern. The Chiefs came off a tough 40-36 loss in the She Got Game tournament to Mastery Charter, entering the game with a 1-1 record after an opening season victory against Bishop Eustace.
Eastern, on the other hand, suffered a 55-point opening night loss at the hands of Paul VI. The Vikings were looking for some early season redemption against Cherokee, but it didn’t come.
The Chiefs nearly doubled up the Vikings on Tuesday, winning 51-26, and the star of the show was junior Gabby Recinto Gabby Recinto 5'10" | SF Cherokee | 2023 State NJ , who scored a career-high 29 points in the victory.
There’s been speculation as to what player was going to step up for Cherokee after Alexa Therien left, and it’s clear that Recinto is that next big player for this program.
Cherokee improved to 2-1 on the season and should be competing once again for Olympic Conference supremacy, but in its way right now is Paul VI.
The Eagles were one of many teams who played on Tuesday, and they improved to 3-0 on the season with a dominating 88-30 win over Seneca.
Paul VI has been led in large part by junior top-ranked recruit Hannah Hidalgo Hannah Hidalgo 5'7" | PG Paul VI | 2023 State NJ , who had her third-straight 30-point game on the season, scoring 37 points in the win.
In other scores from Tuesday, Angelina Zagone Angelina Zagone 5'9" | SF Gateway | 2024 State NJ scored a game-high 25 points for Gateway in a 45-36 win over Gloucester City. Zagone had a double-double on the night, also hauling in 15 rebounds as the Gators improved to 2-0 early on.
New Providence continued its early season dominance with a 72-26 win over Roselle Catholic, going to 2-1 on the season. Three New Providence players finished in double figures in scoring, with junior Meghan Lamanna Meghan Lamanna SG New Providence | 2023 State NJ leading all scorers with 26 points.
Pompton Lakes, behind a 14-point performance from Jasmine Sampong, held onto a slim lead late, defeating Hawthorne in its season opener. Three players finished with double figures in scoring in the win.
Olivia LaBruno and Mia Gestosani combined for 31 points as Mount St. Mary defeated Warren Hills, 49-33. LaBruno’s team-high 17 points were the third-highest single-game points total in her high school career to date.
The last game we’ll talk about is Red Bank Catholic, who put on an absolute clinic against Shore, winning 72-29. Justine Pissott Justine Pissott 6'3" | SG Red Bank Catholic | 2022 State NJ put up a season-high 22 points in the win for the Caseys and freshman Christina Liggio Christina Liggio 5'8" | PG Red Bank Catholic | 2025 State NJ had a career-high 13 points for RBC.
Stay tuned for more microupdates as the season progresses from Prep Girls Hoops New Jersey.