NJSIAA State Playoff Quarterfinals Recap: 2/23
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Thursday saw over 30 quarterfinal games take place around New Jersey with a number of upsets, upset bids and absolute chaos around the Garden State. While we won’t be able to recap every game, here are some highlights from Thursday’s…
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Continue ReadingThursday saw over 30 quarterfinal games take place around New Jersey with a number of upsets, upset bids and absolute chaos around the Garden State. While we won’t be able to recap every game, here are some highlights from Thursday’s action, a great day of girls basketball in the Garden State.
Haddon Township defeats Sterling in low-scoring OT thriller
If you would have told us there would be a final score in the playoffs with both teams scoring under 20 points, we would have thought you were insane, but Haddon Township and Sterling did just that and then some as the game went to OT. Freshman Kiersten Callahan Kiersten Callahan SG Haddon Township | 2026 State NJ was the hero for the No. 6 seeded Hawks, hitting a game-winning three in OT for the three-point win, her only points of the game. Alli Kamulda Alli Kamulda PG Haddon Township | 2025 NJ led HT with six points in the win while Bridget Dickson Bridget Dickson PG Sterling | 2024 NJ led the No. 3 seeded Silver Knights with seven points.
Cinnaminson continues dominance into semis
Devyn Quigley Devyn Quigley 5'10" | SG Manchester Township | 2024 State NJ might have put on an absolute show for Manchester Township, scoring 37 points in her final game of the season, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the well-oiled machine that has been Cinnaminson. Rhochelle Johnson Rhochelle Johnson PF Cinnaminson | 2023 State NJ and Brooke Sztenderowicz Brooke Sztenderowicz 5'7" | PG Cinnaminson | 2023 State NJ combined for 36 points as four Pirates finished with six or more points in the win. Just a note about Quigley’s season: she finishes 23 points short of 1,000 for the year and is just 321 points away from 2,000. She finished the season with a scoring averaging of 34.9 PPG.
Rausch powers South Brunswick to double-digit win
What a performance Katie Rausch Katie Rausch 5'6" | SG South Brunswick | 2023 State NJ had herself in the quarterfinals for South Brunswick, one of two players on the team with 20 or more points along with Leilani Pinder Leilani Pinder 5'8" | SF South Brunswick | 2024 State NJ , but she led all scorers with 27 points in a 76-64 win. Her 27-point performance was a career-high as she and Pinder combined for 51 points and 10 made three-pointers. Not to be out-done, but Long Branch had four players finish in double-digits in scoring, led by Leilani Andrews Leilani Andrews 5'6" | CG Long Branch | 2024 State NJ ‘ 20 points and a 13-point, 17-rebound double-double from Alayah Vincent Alayah Vincent 5'9" | PF Long Branch | 2024 State NJ .
Elston continues historic end-of-season tear for Middle Township
It was almost too easy for Middle Township in a 74-29 win over Haddon Heights in the quarterfinals on Thursday, with Jada Elston Jada Elston 5'8" | SG Middle Township | 2023 State NJ doing Jada Elston Jada Elston 5'8" | SG Middle Township | 2023 State NJ things again, scoring a game-high 26 points for the Panthers. It’s her fourth 24+ point game in her last five games as she’s currently averaging a career-high 17.1 PPG for Middle Township this season. Hannah Cappelletti Hannah Cappelletti 5'4" | PG Middle Township | 2024 State NJ also had herself a strong performance, hitting 2 three-pointers en route to a 10-point evening.
Lenape comes back from 14 down to advance to semis
Down 11 points headed into the fourth quarter and as many as 14 points in the second half, No. 6 seeded Lenape battled back to upset No. 3 seeded Toms River North in a 59-57 stunner. Kristen Cortese Kristen Cortese SF Lenape | 2023 State NJ , one of Lenape’s best shooters this season, hit the game winner with 0.3 seconds left, her second three-pointer of the game. Kaitlyn King Kaitlyn King 5'9" | PG Lenape | 2023 State NJ led Lenape in scoring with 19 points while Ava Doughtery and Sydney DeShields Sydney DeShields 5'8" | SG Lenape | 2023 NJ combined to hit 7 three-pointers, scoring 23 total points. Toms River North put up quite the effort, with Julia Grodzicki Julia Grodzicki 5'9" | SG Toms River North | 2023 State NJ ‘s 21-point, 10-rebound double-double and a 17-point night from Megan Sias Megan Sias 6'3" | SF Toms River North | 2024 State NJ .
Glasser-Hyman, Misier, ball out for Hightstown
The best players will show up and show out in the biggest moments, exactly what happened with Kyla Glasser-Hyman Kyla Glasser-Hyman 5'6" | PG Hightstown | 2023 State NJ and Abby Misier Abby Misier 6'4" | C Highstown | 2024 State NJ for Hightstown in Thursday’s quarterfinal game against Old Bridge. Glasser-Hyman scored a game-high 22 points along with five assists and eight steals while Misier put up a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, recording six blocks and two steals as well. Penelope Swarn Penelope Swarn 6'4" | PF Hightstown | 2025 State NJ also finished in double-figures for the Rams, who are headed to the semifinals.
Craigwell reaches 1000 career points in blowout win
We knew Secaucus junior Alyssa Craigwell Alyssa Craigwell 5'9" | SF Secaucus | 2024 State NJ would be reaching the 1000 point pedestal soon, but on Thursday, she crossed the milestone off her list, putting up 28 points for the Patriots in a 48-33 win over Rutherford, her second-straight game with 28 points. She now has 13 20-point games on the year, currently averaging 19.9 PPG for Secaucus. Let’s not forget to mention her seven steals in the win as well, not even leading the team as Daniela Peschetti finished with eight for the Patriots.
Monroe upsets Howell for spot in semis
All it took was a fourth-quarter comeback for Monroe, who trailed by 10 points at half, to secure its spot in the semifinals on Thursday. A balanced scoring effort led by Evangelina Francisco Evangelina Francisco CG Monroe | 2025 State NJ ‘s 12 points got the Falcons in business. Two finished in double-figures for Monrow: Francisco and Katelyn Louro Katelyn Louro CG Monroe | 2023 State NJ , who had 10 points. Nicole Turco Nicole Turco PG Monroe | 2024 State NJ and Haley Higgins Haley Higgins SF Monroe | 2023 State NJ also had five points or more, showcasing some balanced scoring in a 38-29 win.
Baylock, Murphy, help SPF upset Elizabeth
The No. 2 seed in the North Jersey, Group IV tournament went down as No. 7 seeded Scotch-Plains Fanwood upset a 23-2 Elizabeth team, 57-50. Amanda Baylock Amanda Baylock 5'6" | PG Scotch Plains-Fanwood | 2024 State NJ , who recently scored her 1000th point, scored a game-high 24 points for the Raiders, with teammate Alicia Murphy scoring 17 points in the win. While in a losing effort, Alexandra Koon Alexandra Koon 5'10" | PF Elizabeth | 2024 State NJ had herself a game, posting a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double for Elizabeth.
Double-double showdown ends in favor of Atlantic City
Talk about a showdown of talent in the South Jersey, Group IV quarterfinals between Atlantic City and Williamstown. Nir Nir Cherry-Montague Nir Nir Cherry-Montague 6'6" | PF Atlantic City | 2023 State NJ and Iriona Gravley Iriona Gravley 6'1" | PF Williamstown | 2024 State NJ had quite the 1-on-1 duel, Cherry-Montague finishing with 22 points, 18 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Gravley had 20 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. However, great supporting play from Atlantic City’s Bridget Roach Bridget Roach 5'8" | PG Atlantic City | 2025 State NJ , who had 13 points and four rebounds, and Sasha Lemons Sasha Lemons 5'3" | PG Atlantic City | 2023 NJ , scoring eight points, the Vikings stormed back in the second half for a 56-52 comeback win.