NJSIAA Public Sectional Semifinals Recap: 2/24
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The playoffs are nearly finished up in New Jersey as sectional semifinals took place over the weekend, filled with shockers, surprises and great performances from players across the state. While we won’t be able to talk about every semifinal game…
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Continue ReadingThe playoffs are nearly finished up in New Jersey as sectional semifinals took place over the weekend, filled with shockers, surprises and great performances from players across the state. While we won’t be able to talk about every semifinal game that has happened in the Garden State, here’s a look at what happened during Friday’s semifinal action.
Giordano, Sweeney show out for Old Tappan, Sparta
What a performance we saw from two of the best players in North Jersey on Friday, Old Tappan’s Maya Giordano Maya Giordano C Old Tappan | 2024 State NJ and Sparta’s Ally Sweeney Ally Sweeney 5'8" | SG Sparta | 2023 State NJ . The two combined for 60 points in a relatively high-scoring game. While Sparta came away 62-45 winners, Sweeney’s 27/5/5 statline is one to behold, and what an incredible game from Giordano, dominating down low with 33 points, shooting 7-of-8 from the line.
McCracken continues fantastic sophomore season
You simply cannot ask for a better game from a player and Wildwood’s Macie McCracken Macie McCracken 5'8" | CG Wildwood | 2025 State NJ delivered and then some on Friday, a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double in a dominant win over Gateway. She’s arguably been the most exciting sophomore in South Jersey and averaging a career-high 22.6 PPG this season, the excitement has translated into dominance. Let’s not forget about her seven steals on the night either.
Double-double madness between Boonton and Cresskill
It might have been a low-scoring affair between Boonton and Cresskill, but both teams saw two fantastic double-double performances from Amanda Tuohy Amanda Tuohy SF Boonton | 2023 State NJ and Erin Fahy Erin Fahy PF Cresskill | 2024 State NJ , with Tuohy nearly missing a triple-double with nine assists as well. Boonton came out victorious with a 42-33 win as teammates Arianna Jackson-Wach Arianna Jackson-Wach SF Boonton | 2023 State NJ and Jaden Visioli Jaden Visioli SG Boonton | 2023 State NJ came up big later on.
Shenloogian delights for Park Ridge
Another exciting sophomore to discuss, Shenloogian has done her part to put Park Ridge on the map this season and she’s now carried them to a North Jersey Section 1, Group I title game appearance, upsetting Passaic Charter as she scored 28 points in the win, her ninth 25+ point performance of the season.
Stokes, Koss-Defrank both post triple-doubles
Two different games on the day saw triple-double performances, starting with Ewing’s Rhian Stokes Rhian Stokes 5'8" | PG Ewing | 2024 State NJ , who posted her fourth of the season, all four including 10+ steals. The Blue Devils cruised to victory as Stokes finished with 21 points, 10 assists and 10 steals. She currently is averaging 6.6+ RPG, APG and SPG so far. Koss-Defrank her first career-triple double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals, also getting hers the hard way for Glen Ridge in a 16-point win over Brearley.
University dominates en route to another sectional final berth
35-0. You read that correctly. University led North Arlington 35-0 after the first quarter in an eventual 55-point victory, with three players: Zakiyyah Lindsay Zakiyyah Lindsay CG University | 2024 State NJ , Aaliyah Tillman and Destiny Bynum-Johnson Destiny Bynum-Johnson 5'10" | SG University | 2023 State NJ , all recording a double-double, and Paradise Fisher Paradise Fisher 5'6" | PG University | 2025 State NJ and Ki-Lin Thomas Ki-Lin Thomas 5'10" | CG University | 2025 State NJ combining for 36 points in the win. University had 55 rebounds and 23 steals in the semis.
Not one, not two, but three 30-point scorers
Across Friday’s semifinal games, we saw three different 30-point scorers, two of those three advancing to their respective regional final. We first begin with Neysa Aguilar Neysa Aguilar PG Middlesex | 2023 State NJ , who posted a 32-point, 12-rebound performance with six assists for Middlesex, who won by 27 over Dunellen. Following her, in South Jersey, Woodstown’s Megan Donelson Megan Donelson 5'6" | CG Woodstown | 2025 State NJ put up 31 in a 31-point win over Penns Grove, nearly out-scoring them on her own. Wrapping this up, we have Colonia’s Taylor Derkack Taylor Derkack 6'0" | SF Colonia | 2024 State NJ , who scored 32 in a thrilling four-point OT loss to Randolph. Special shout out to Randolph’s Allyson Kuridizawho had 12 PTS, 8 REB and 6 BLK.
No. 11 seeded Mendham reaches regional final
The dream is very alive for Mendham, the cinderella darling of the NJSIAA state playoffs so far as the No. 11 seeded Minutemen defeated Chatham behind a masterful game from Lia Manuel Lia Manuel 5'7" | PG Mendham | 2024 State NJ , scoring 27 points along with six rebounds and three steals. Riley Allen Riley Allen 6'0" | SG Chatham | 2023 State NJ led Chatham in the loss as she scored 20. Five players across both teams finished in double-figures.
Teaneck survives a close one against Montville
Flat-out, what a game between Teaneck and Montville in the North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 semis, With Lexi Carnegie Lexi Carnegie 5'9" | SF Teaneck | 2026 State NJ scoring a game-high 22 points and Erin Frazier Erin Frazier 6'0" | C Teaneck | 2024 State NJ and Demi Simpson Demi Simpson 6'0" | PF Teaneck | 2024 State NJ recording 10 rebonds each. Frazier had a double-double in the win as Teaneck won the rebounding battle, 35-22. For Montville, Grace Kowalski Grace Kowalski 5'6" | SG Montville | 2023 State NJ led with 16 points and five steals. Montville had three players with multi-steal games and two with three or more assists in the loss.
Ocean Township breaks 43-year sectional final drought
What a better place to end this article than with history being made with Ocean Township as the Spartans reached their first sectional final since 1980 with a two-point win over Red Bank Regional. Who else but Eli Clark Eli Clark 5'8" | PG Ocean Township | 2024 State NJ to carry the freight for Ocean, scoring 19 points along with nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Six Spatans steals made the biggest difference overall.