NJSIAA State Playoffs First Round Recap: 2/20-21
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We got a great taste of playoff action over the past two days in the Garden State with state playoff basketball ongoing. That means plenty of fantastic performances, upsets and more. Here’s a quick recap at some of that action…
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Continue ReadingWe got a great taste of playoff action over the past two days in the Garden State with state playoff basketball ongoing. That means plenty of fantastic performances, upsets and more. Here’s a quick recap at some of that action in this article.
Five players reach 1000 point plateau on Tuesday
An incredible five players: Scotch-Plains Fanwood’s Amanda Baylock Amanda Baylock 5'6" | PG Scotch Plains-Fanwood | 2024 State NJ , Westfield’s Annie Ryan Annie Ryan 5'8" | SG Westfield | 2023 State NJ , Cherokee’s Gabby Recinto Gabby Recinto 5'10" | SF Cherokee | 2023 State NJ , Jackson Memorial’s Zoie Maffei Zoie Maffei 5'11" | SF Jackson Memorial | 2023 State NJ and Cinnaminson’s Brooke Sztenderowicz Brooke Sztenderowicz 5'7" | PG Cinnaminson | 2023 State NJ , all reached the 1000 point plateau on Tuesday. That is easily the most in a single day this season and it might have set a single-day record for most 1000 point scorers in New Jersey girls basketball history, at least recent history.
Medford Tech wins first state playoff game in program history
Medford Tech has been around the block a bit, but on Tuesday, the Jaguars reached a new milestone in program history. With a 64-29 win over Lower Cape May, Tech recorded its first state playoff win in program history. Sole’il Casseus Sole’il Casseus 5'9" | SG Westampton Tech | 2024 State NJ and Jada Jacobs Jada Jacobs 5'7" | PG Medford Tech | 2023 State NJ carried Tech to victory, with Casseus scoring a career-high 29 points and Jacobs scoring 22 points for the Jaguars.
Lewis scores 34 for Fort Lee in win
We’ve mentioned just how impressive of a season it’s been for Jah’Nel Lewis Jah’Nel Lewis SG Snyder | 2023 State NJ , and once again, she showed off that scoring prowess in a first-round win over North Hunterdon. Lewis recorded her eighth 30-point game of the season hitting 3 three-pointers en route to scoring a game-high 34 points for the Bridgemen.
Sweeney goes off for Sparta
When has Ally Sweeney Ally Sweeney 5'8" | SG Sparta | 2023 State NJ not had a big moment this season for Sparta because she did just that on Tuesday against Wayne Valley. Hitting five three-pointers, Sweeney scored 26 points along with nine rebounds, six assists and a steal. She’s had her fair share of 25-point games this season, but it was only her second game with five or more made three-pointers as a senior.
Blocker powers Clayton to victory
Things were far from easy for Clayton, playing Audubon in the first round of the South Jersey Group 1 NJSIAA playoffs, but Rainelle Blocker Rainelle Blocker 5'9" | PF Clayton | 2025 State NJ made sure the Clippers continued their playoff run. She scored 24 points to lead Clayton, seemingly doing everything and anything on the floor. A fantastic individual performance and a great end result.
Kittatinny upsets Saddle Brook
Talk about expecting the unexpected, what a performance from the now 7-19 Kittatinny Cougars, playing a Saddle Brook team that was 19-7 coming in. Behind three players in double-figures, Taylor Hough Taylor Hough 5'7" | PG Kittatinny | 2025 State NJ leading with 14, and an 11-point, 16-rebound double-double from Olivia Lombardo Olivia Lombardo SF Kittatinny | 2024 State NJ , the Cougars held tough and came out with a seven-point victory. An impressive performance on the other side of the floor we need to mention from Ella Marchesani Ella Marchesani 5'7" | SG Saddle Brook | 2023 State NJ , who scored 26 to pace Saddle Brook.
West Orange obliterates Memorial
Memorial, having gone 15-3 in conference play, stood no chance against West Orange on Tuesday, losing by 32 to the Mountaineers, who had things going offensively. Kyley Gary-Grayson Kyley Gary-Grayson 5'7" | PG West Orange | 2025 State NJ led the team in scoring with 19 points, one of three players with 10+ points, and Anaya Karreim nearly missed out on a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds, adding in an incredible six blocks to the fold.
McCracken dominates for Wildwood, hitting milestone as sophomore
We mentioned above the players who reached 1000 points all on Tuesday, but McCracken did the same on Monday, doing so in grand fashion. The sophomore became the second player in Wildwood history to reach the 1000 point mark as a sophomore and just this season, she’s hit 91 three-pointers, including six on Monday as she scored a game-high 26 points.
Montclair, Vernon both suffer upsets in first round
The theme of upsets continued on Monday as a pair of teams in Montclair and Vernon both were knocked out in the first round of play in 15+ point losses. Columbia defeated Montclair, 46-21, led by Talia Baptiste Talia Baptiste 5'7" | CG Columbia | 2024 State NJ ‘s 14 points, four rebounds and five assists. She also had two blocks and four steals. Her, Bella Galatt Bella Galatt 5'5" | SG Columbia | 2023 State NJ and Shana Desir Shana Desir 5'8" | SF Columbia | 2023 State NJ each had three assists or more in the win. Mahwah took care of business against Vernon, holding them to 20 points in a 36-20 win. Marissa LaVerghetta Marissa LaVerghetta PG Mahwah | 2024 State NJ and Taylor Tremblay Taylor Tremblay 5'4" | SG Mahwah | 2026 State NJ combined for 12 steals and Ava Comer Ava Comer 5'4" | SG Mahwah | 2026 State NJ led the team offensively with 11 points, hitting 2 three-pointers in the win.