Shore Conference Under-The-Radar First Weekend Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're just over a weekend into the start of the 2022-23 New Jersey high school girls basketball season, there's already plenty to talk about. Why not talk more about some standout talents that we've seen throughout the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Shore Conference has been the center of great basketball already, so let's start there with some very early standout performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sayuri Penaranda - F/G, Freehold Borough (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An impressive two games we've seen so far from the forward from Freehold Borough, punctuated by a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double in an Opening Day win over New Brunswick. Penaranda has shown consistency and growth early on, but watch out for her defense, currently averaging four steals a game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Varsha Simha - 5-6 G, Marlboro (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We didn't much, if anything from the senior guard last season, appearing seldom off the bench for Marlboro and not having much of a productive impact. That's changed significantly to start out this season as Simha is averaging 10.0 PPG and has knocked down two threes a game. Already she's passed her scoring total from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mia Troese - 5-8 G, Monmouth (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An encouraging sophomore season from Troese got us excited for her junior year and she's definitely lived up to the billing so far, with a great performance in Monmouth's second game of the season, scoring 20 points along with nine rebounds, two steals, two blocks and two made three-pointers. Troese is trending upward and her ceiling is only increasing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='333355' first='Haley' last='Poser'] - 5-8 G, Ranney (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just one game so far this season for Poser, but she showed up and showed out for Ranney, putting up a career-high 21 points in a 41-38 win over Caravel Academy (DE) on Friday. Poser shot 70 percent from the foul line and knocked down two threes as well, executing well on shots and making smart decision on both sides of the ball. If this is the level we'll be seeing from Poser this season, wow will she be an exciting watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='525476' first='Katherine' last='Henn'] - 5-11 PF/C, Point Pleasant Boro (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henn has really begun to solidify herself down on the post for Point Pleasant Boro and that showed in a season-opening 50-39 victory over Brick Township on Friday. She scored 16 points, nearly posting a double-double with eight rebounds, and added a block and three steals to the mix. What more can you ask for down low? She's going to be a major asset for this team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mya Rosario - 5-5 G, Jackson Liberty (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rosario has been another bench piece that has seemingly sprung into a bigger role almost immediately this season. Playing in 26 career high school games and scoring just 27 points up until this season, Rosario is nearly halfway there already, scoring a career-high 11 points in Thursday's 54-48 win over Barnegat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414250' first='Emma' last='Thornton'] - 5-10 SF, Barnegat (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thornton gets overlooked in some circles, but she's arguably one of the best young forwards in the state and has proven that in a big way this season. In Thursday's season opener for Barnegat, Thornton posted a 36-point, 17-rebound double-double, career-highs in both categories for her. She's averaging 26.5 PPG and 13.5 RPG thus far and looks to be an absolute force in the Shore as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaliana Kearney - G, Toms River South (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kearney seemingly came out of nowhere to start things off for Toms River South, more than doubling her career points total in a dominant Opening Day win over Lakewood, with a game-high 11 points. We're excited to see players get big roles off the jump, especially those who have rode the bench or are younger. Kearney fits right into that mold and we'll be keeping tabs on her this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jordyn Felipe - 5-7 G, Manchester Township (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Felipe is just getting her high school career started with Manchester Township, but she's impressing early, with a combination of speed, smarts and finesse on the floor. Saturday's win over Middletown North was her best game yet, scoring 11 points and hauling in seven rebounds while recording a block and a steal. She's shifty and crafty with the ball and already has a great feel for the speed of the HS game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taylor Shearer - F, Henry Hudson (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shearer had a much larger role as a sophomore, but she's taken over as a starter in her junior year and is finding her defensive stride. Averaging two blocks a game, Shearer just missed a double-double in Friday's season-opener and is averaging eight points and seven rebounds a game so far. Really strong numbers from a player who looks to have re-tooled her game and is playing with confidence and poise in the post.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->