Standout Forwards in the Tri-County Conference
We’re closing in toward the end of regular season for high school girls basketball in New Jersey. The competition, as expected, has been as intense as ever and it’s been beyond exciting to watch. With that being said, we wanted to quickly take a look at some players who have caught our eye from different conferences over the course of the year. Here are some top forwards so far this season the Tri-County Conference.
Payton Foster (Jr.) – Clearview
Foster is a player who’s numbers are not going to jump off the stat sheet, but what she might not provide in statistics, she makes up for in leadership. Clearview has been a contender in the Tri-County and Foster has been that reliable piece in the middle that’s held down the fort. She’s a great player to feed the ball to when she gets free, but can also be used as the catalyst for an offensive set. Her agility lends itself well to the defensive end, where she’s been active on the boards early and often. Her stability has allowed Clearview’s guards to really exploit defensive mismatches on the court this season.
McKenzie Racobaldo (Sr.) – Kingsway
Racobaldo is an interesting player to dissect as she’s more of an offensive-minded forward, but can still disrupt an offensive scheme from an opponent in an instant. It’s way of deception as while you might not think she can beat you on the defensive end, the ball has been stolen from you and Recobaldo is breaking the other way for a close-range scoring opportunity. That unpredictability we’ve seen just as much on the offensive end as she’s added a midrange game to an already impressive post presence and a bit of three-point shooting mixed in.
Iriona Gravley (So.) – Williamstown
We’ve gotten the chance to talk about Gravley a lot this season and for good reason as the success she has as a freshman has continued in a big way so far as a sophomore. She’s averaging a double-double for the first time in her career and that’s a testament to the level of improvement we’ve seen from her this season. Gravley has gained the respect of her peers in the conference and while that means more attention has been placed on her, it’s distracted opponents from covering her teammates. That has meant more open looks and more scoring opportunities.
Nora Ausland (Fr.) – Salem
Ausland has burst onto the scene for Salem in her freshman year and is easily their best player so far. She’s been a major impact player for Salem from the jump thanks to her versatility on the floor, switching from a guard-like mentality to a more forward-like one.. There’s something to her game, something that makes her incredibly versatile. While primarily listed as a guard, she more closely resembles the play style of a forward, and her post presence on defense is something to behold.
Cadence Santiago (Sr.) – Schalick
Santiago has been a role player for Schalick the past three years and is more known in the conference for her defense than her offense. However, her defensive package is one of the best in the Tri-County, especially her shot-blocking ability. Using her frame well, she can tip or deflect shots, or overwhelm an opponent into a poor shot selection. That intimidation factor is what gives her the competitive edge she needs on the floor.
Debra Beecher (Jr.) – Triton
Truth be told, there might not be a better shot-blocker in the state than Beecher, but her productivity on the defensive end has been overshadowed by Triton’s slow start to the year. She’s an absolute force as a defender and her agility is unmatched it seems. Opponents cannot guard her on offense as she’s found lanes and space to operate, but on defense, it’s nearly impossible to get around her. She uses her size well to fill up the lane and she’s attacking the shot, meeting it at it’s apex to deflect, tip or swat away.