NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 Tourney Teams To Watch

Playoff season is finally here in New Jersey as the NJSIAA Tournament is underway across the country. Teams in Groups 1-4 have already taken the hardwood for the postseason and many more are coming in the next few days. We have quite a lot of coverage to come with this, but with the playoffs going on, here are some teams to watch in the South Jersey Group 1 Tournament. <strong>Penns Grove - 9-8</strong> This pick might seem like a shocker to you, especially because Penns Grove has lost two of its last four games, both to Woodstown. However, this same Penns Grove team just won the Tri-County Conference C Bracket Tournament over Overbrook last week. Sophomore guard Jameelyonna Horace has been the engine behind the Red Devils this season and freshman guard Brianna Robbins has found her groove in recent weeks. Penns Grove comes into the tournament as the No. 11 seed, playing a Gateway team that has won seven-straight games. The odds might be against them on paper, but this team has grit and has come up clutch in big moments this season. <strong>Woodstown - 19-6</strong> The Wolverines hit their stride at just the right time and behind the play of star senior guard Riley Fulmer, they enter the SJ Group 1 tourney as the No. 4 seed. Fulmer has been nothing short of incredible this year for Woodstown, averaging 17.2 PPG and 2.1 made three-pointers a game in the regular season. A pair of freshmen, Talia Battavio and Megan Donelson, have been absolutely incredible, combining to average 15.6 PPG and 2.3 made threes a game this year. The pieces are falling into place for Woodstown and they’re a dangerous No. 4 seed in this tournament. <strong>Clayton - 10-13</strong> Clayton seems quite under-seeded in this tournament when you look at who they’re playing in the first round, a 6-17 Riverside team that’s the No. 8 seed. Clayton comes in as the No. 9 seed, having won its last two games and is 5-4 in its last nine. This team did struggle mightily in Tri-County Conference play, but has a solid 1-2 tandem in freshman Rainelle Blocker and senior Gianna Ettore. Blocker is a player to watch for the future, having nearly averaged a double-double this season. Based on recent games, Clayton has a good chance of pulling a first-round upset. <strong>Woodbury - 21-2</strong> Woodbury comes in as the No. 2 seed and is my pick to win the South Jersey Group 1 Tournament simply because of incredible play from junior [player_tooltip player_id="155443" first="Alexis" last="Davis"] and senior [player_tooltip player_id="319018" first="Nile" last="Miller"], who shined in 13 games after having to sit out due to transfer rules. Davis averaged 27.4 PPG and 14.5 RPG this season, putting on a show game after game for the Thundering Herd. Miller is one of two players who nearly averaged double-doubles alongside Davis as fellow senior JaNazha Clinton put up 9.5 PPG and 9.1 RPG this season. Miller had 15.1 PPG and 9.0 RPG in her 13 games played this year. It remains to be seen if this trio can be stopped, putting Woodbury in another stratosphere right now. <strong>Schalick - 10-10</strong> Schalick ended the regular season well, reaching the B Bracket final of the Tri-County Conference Tournament. In its last seven games, Schalick is 5-2 and prides itself on rebounding and defense. Four players currently have 100 or more total rebounds on the season, three have at least 10 or more total blocks and five have 20 or more steals. Junior Angeline Chomo is the leader of this squad and had a great year on the floor, averaging 12.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 3.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG and 1.3 made threes a game. She’s got help from fellow junior Kaia Prohowich and seniors Ava Alexander and Cadence Santiago as well. Don’t be surprised to see an upset from the No. 10 seeded Cougars.