NJSIAA State Title Game Underrated Performances

Over the weekend, New Jersey high school girls basketball fans saw the end of the 2022-23 season culminate with state championship weekend in Toms River. What a great weekend of basketball it was, and while we can talk about the big names who went off, in this article, we're going to discuss the players who put together underrated performances.   [player_tooltip player_id='559028' first='Gigi' last='Battle'] - Rutgers Prep (2026)   Battle has been one of the go-to players for the Argos throughout the season and her talents were needed in a big way in the Non-Public B title game against Morris Catholic. She capped off a great freshman season with 11 points and six rebounds, knocking down two threes and providing consistent pressure on the defensive end of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='333309' first='Daniella' last='Matus'] - Morris Catholic (2025)   It's hard to call anyone in the Rutgers Prep/Morris Catholic game underrated, but Matus went a bit under-the-radar next to the success of Mia and [player_tooltip player_id='333305' first='Mya' last='Pauldo'] during the game. However, what they didn't do is knock down threes, something Matus took over with. She finished with 16 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Those threes were major as the Crusaders went home as Non-Public B state champions.   Aaliyah Tillman - University (2023)   Tillman got some much-deserved playing time this season for University, something that we've definitely been looking for. She's relished in that playing time and in the Group I title game, she scored four points, but helped to control the boards with nine rebounds. University out-rebounded Shore by four, so credit Tillman for helping to shift the tides.   [player_tooltip player_id='601517' first='Ava' last='Coyle'] - Shore (2026)   Coyle has been a three-point specialist for Shore this season and she came through again for the Blue Devils in the state title game, hitting two threes and finishing with six points, one rebound and one assist. A strong freshman season for sure is going to give way to great success down the road for the guard.   Aliyah Lambo - Randolph (2025)   Lambo burst onto the scene for Randolph this season in a big way, really turning up the heat as a significant contributor for the Rams. We saw that throughout their state playoff run into the state title game against Ewing, where she finished with seven points, five rebounds and four steals. That defensive prowess has come to play earlier in the year, so it's great to see it translate until the very end.   [player_tooltip player_id='414302' first='Mekyla' last='Durham'] - Ewing (2025)   When Ewing has needed help in the middle, who else to go to but Durham to get the job done and she was spectacular defensively for the Blue Devils in their state title game on Sunday, finishing with two blocks, three rebounds and four points. It was her sixth multi-block game of the season for Ewing as she finished with 25 blocks on the year.   Daniela Peschetti - Secaucus (2023)   With all eyes on [player_tooltip player_id='407040' first='Alyssa' last='Craigwell'] for Secaucus, that allowed players like the senior Peschetti to benefit during Saturday's Group II state title game. Shooting a perfect 3-of-3 from the line, Peschetti finished with nine points, seven rebounds and two assists, showing great versatility on the floor and putting it all out there for the Patriots, laying it on the line.   [player_tooltip player_id='406935' first='Jasmine' last='Miller'] - New Providence (2024)   Oftentimes, it's the little things that make the biggest difference and for New Providence, it was defensive stability. Miller gave the team just that, finishing with a team-high 12 rebounds and three blocks. On her own, she accounted for nearly half of New Providence's rebounding and half of its total blocks in a state-title winning effort on Saturday.   [player_tooltip player_id='414294' first='Giselle' last='Davis'] - Bayonne (2025)   It's safe to say that Davis has greatly impressed during her sophomore season at Bayonne, recording three double-doubles and becoming a focal point in the offense while finding quite a niche down low for the Bees. In Saturday's Group IV state title game, Davis nearly had her fourth of the season, finishing with eight points and 11 rebounds, a strong game from the sophomore forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='583702' first='Olivia' last='Selverian'] - Cherokee (2025)   If you don't score in a game, the best thing you can try to do instead is to contribute and facilitate any way you can. Selverian might have been held scoreless on the night, but with four rebounds and two assists, she was far from being uninvolved in the flow of the game. She was right there in the thick of things for the Chiefs, who came up short against Bayonne.   Selena Cieszko - Immaculate Heart (2024)   One of IHA's better shooters throughout the season, Cieszko certainly kept up that moniker against St. John Vianney in the Non-Public A state title game, knocking down a three en route to a seven-point night, also recording three rebounds. Cieszko also got to the line twice, going 2-of-4 on free throws.   [player_tooltip player_id='325217' first='Julia' last='Karpell'] - St. John Vianney (2024)   If you haven't seen what Karpell has been able to do beyond the arc for SJV this season, her 56 three-pointers should speak for themselves, including two in the state title game against IHA. Karpell, who averaged around 7.5 PPG this season, finished with eight points against the Blue Eagles, plus great defensive play with a block and two steals.

Over the weekend, New Jersey high school girls basketball fans saw the end of the 2022-23 season culminate with state championship weekend in Toms River. What a great weekend of basketball it was, and while we can talk about the big names who went off, in this article, we're going to discuss the players who put together underrated performances.