NJSIAA Public Sectional Semifinals Recap: 2/25

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we've tried to do on this open day between playoff games, we've done our best to recap with you about what's going on and what's going down in New Jersey. Sixteen NJSIAA playoff games took place on Saturday, so it's time to talk about the most notable performances, biggest upsets and everything in-between.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Atlantic City stuns Shawnee for South Jersey Group IV final berth</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a game we had in store between Atlantic City and Shawnee in the South Jersey Group IV semis, the No. 1 seeded Renegades looking to host a sectional final. However, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321557' first='Nir' last='Nir Cherry-Montague']</strong>, the Vikings shocked on the road for a 10-point win. What a performance it was for the senior forward with 13 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481547' first='Sasha' last='Lemons']</strong> led the team in scoring with 15 points as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Cherokee out-lasts Lenape in defensive battle</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The team Atlantic City will be playing in the sectional final will be Cherokee, returning to the final after defeating Lenape in a close 34-31 game, very much dictated by their lock-down press defense. [player_tooltip player_id='404209' first='Kaitlyn' last='King'] might have led all scorers with 14 points for Lenape, but it was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='134757' first='Gabby' last='Recinto']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481508' first='Courtney' last='Furman']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='559132' first='Brielle' last='Alaba']</strong> who led the Chiefs, scoring a combined 25 points in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Francsico's career day carries Monroe</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big performance from Monroe would be needed to take down No. 2 seeded South Brunswick, so leave it to <strong>Evangeline Francisco</strong> to get the job done, scoring a career-high 26 points as Monroe advanced to the Central Jersey Group IV final with a 59-42 win. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='859818' first='Nicole' last='Turco']</strong> also had 10 points in the win, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404224' first='Katie' last='Rausch']</strong> leading South Brunswick with 12 points and 3 three-pointers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Jaguars upset Hightstown for spot in sectional final</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the semifinal matchups we were very much looking forward to in Central Jersey, a matchup between Jackson Memorial and Hightstown in the Group IV semis. Sure enough, the No. 1 seeded Rams were taken down by the No. 5 seeded Jaguars thanks to a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='482255' first='Zoie' last='Maffei']</strong> and another double-double, an 18-point, 12-rebound game from<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='404220' first='Kamile' last='Makselyte']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404218' first='Kyla' last='Glasser-Hyman']</strong> led the Rams with 20 points and 3 made three-pointers in the loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Secaucus, Madison advance behind 20+ point performances</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Secaucus and Madison will be seeing each other in the North Jersey Section 2, Group 2 final after some spectacular performances from their star players. For the Patriots, it was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='407040' first='Alyssa' last='Craigwell']</strong> again, scoring 22 points along with six rebounds and five steals and for the Dodgers, it was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414424' first='Charlotte' last='Tuhy']</strong>'s 22-point, 14-rebound double-double, recording three blocks in the win. Also worth mentioning <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414343' first='Amiel' last='Dillard']</strong> from Dayton, who put up 20 points against Secaucus in the loss and Tuhy's teammate, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='483101' first='Alex' last='Reigle']</strong>, putting up 16/10 for Madison in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Raiders' cinderella run reaches sectional final</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you aren't on the <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325204' first='Amanda' last='Baylock']</strong> train by now, join in because she's carried Scotch Plains-Fanwood to the North Jersey Section 2, Group IV title with a 28-point performance against Watchung Hills. The next-closest scorer for SPF had seven points, which just shows the impact Baylock has had for this team recently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Tucker, Vasquez power Pequannock</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looks like Pequannock will find itself in the Group II final for North Jersey, Section 1 after two great games from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404227' first='Faith' last='Tucker']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325185' first='Chloe' last='Vasquez']</strong>, giving the Panthers an 18-point win. The two combined for 35 points and 10 rebounds, the offensive backbone of this team in a crucial win for the program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Kinum does it again for New Providence</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll be seeing New Providence take on Manasquan in the Central Jersey Group II sectional final thanks to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325196' first='Grace' last='Kinum']</strong> and what she was able to do on Saturday. Kinum scored a season-high 26 points along with six rebounds and four assists in a six-point victory over Rumson Fair-Haven. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321569' first='Meghan' last='Lamanna']</strong> was also spectacular with 17 points, a block and two steals. New Providence finished with nine blocks and five steals in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Cinnaminson continues fantastic season into SJ Group II title game</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That 15-0 start to the season was no fluke for Cinnaminson as the Pirates find themselves a win away from a South Jersey Group II title as the Pirates defeated Haddon Township, 35-23, in the semifinals. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='481586' first='Rhochelle' last='Johnson']</strong> had another fantastic game, scoring 12 points, most of them coming in the paint. Her and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404204' first='Brooke' last='Sztenderowicz']</strong> combined for 20 points in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->