Non-Public A & B Sectional Championships: Impact Players

With the State Tournament in full swing, we take a moment to look at players who understand the assignment and deliver in the biggest moments, when the lights shine their brightest… and in high school basketball, it doesn't get any bigger and brighter than surviving and advancing in the playoffs! These are players who make major contributions, be it by filling up a stat sheet or by intangible attributes crucial to their team's success. Whether it's senior leadership and experience, scrappy defense and diving for loose balls, excellent perimeter play, solid mental toughness or just sheer athleticism, these young ladies can all swing the game in their team's favor and take home the title!   <h2>North Jersey A: #1 Immaculate Heart v #2 Pope John</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='321549' first='Isabella' last='Asencio'] - Immaculate Heart (2023)   Isabella's elite handles and quickness make for crafty, acrobatic finishes through traffic. She is a total team player and is excellent at dishing dimes. Her Olivia Miles-esque no-look passes are showstopping and difficult to read.   [player_tooltip player_id='321599' first='Ava' last='Naszimento'] - Immaculate Heart (2023)   Her role as rim protector is vital to this team's success. Ava is superior at blocking shots and pulling down big rebounds. At 6'2", her sheer athleticism and agility allows her to run the length of the court with ease. Her height, coupled with her excellent court vision makes for effective outlet passes, efficiency fighting through double team and the ability to set powerful screens.   Addison Platt - Pope John (2026)   Addison is Pope John's freshman phenom. She is a long and athletic player with tremendous offensive firepower from just about anywhere on the court. She can make it rain from the perimeter or cut inside and finish at the rim with a pretty Euro step. Her defense is just as impressive, as she is a solid rim protector with excellent weak side help ability.   Kylie Squier - Pope John (2023)   Kylie makes big plays when her team needs them most. She thrives playing on the biggest stages in high school basketball. Kylie attacks the defense off the bounce and finishes through contact with authority. Defensively, she is a tough cookie! She dives and scraps for 50/50 balls, tallies up steals and positions her body well to draw the charge.   <h2>South Jersey A: #1 St. John Vianney v #2 Paul VI</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='482271' first='Ashley' last='Sofilkanich'] - St. John Vianney (2023)   Ashley has immense talent on the defensive end. Her presence almost entirely closes the lanes to opponents looking to score. Her rotations in the lane have made points in the paint few and far between for the opposition. Her elite skill-set includes an impressive vertical, nifty footwork, tireless agility and an enviable competitive nature. If you're here teammate, the name of the game is "feed the beast inside."   [player_tooltip player_id='559039' first='Madison' last='Kocis'] - St. John Vianney (2026)   One of the best freshmen in New Jersey, Madison's bag is deep. She is cool and calm under pressure and is not easily rattled, fazed or flustered. She sees the floor well, is lightning quick and can finish in a number of ways; attacks the rim through contact, a floater, a tear drop, you name it! She handles defensive pressure well and escapes traps with ease.   [player_tooltip player_id='134645' first='Hannah' last='Hidalgo'] - Paul VI (2023)   The Notre Dame commit has a highlight-reel bag of tricks. She is an electric, slashing guard with acrobatic finishes through contact that often invokes audible gasps from the crowd. She can score it in buckets, but defensively she is an even bigger menace. Her team feeds off her scrappy & tenacious defensive energy. She is the heart and soul of this squad, who loves her team, loves the big stage and loves this sport.   [player_tooltip player_id='325212' first='Eva' last='Andrews'] - Paul VI (2024)   Eva can be difficult to defend because she can beat you in a number of ways. She's good off the dribble and she can bury you with her quick-release spot-up 3-point shooting. Her and Hannah are frequently the beneficiaries of each other's incredible rocket-like dimes.   <h2>North Jersey B: #4 Montclair Immaculate v #2 Morris Catholic</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='134648' first='Tyonna' last='Bailey'] - Montclair Immaculate (2023)   Is there anything Tyonna can't do? A sniper from 3, strong muscling her way inside the lane for 2, intercepts passes and turns stellar defense into quick-hitting transition offense, distributes and dishes with laser-like precision, etc. She does it all, and does it at an elite level.   [player_tooltip player_id='583758' first='Nila' last='Giraud'] - Montclair Immaculate (2025)   Put Nila on the court with anybody and she'll show you why she's a standout player. A force down low in the paint, she is quick, agile and locks down the post and protects the rim. Offensively, she has a solid mid-range and soft touch under the basket. Her strength and relentless pursuit allows her to finish through contact.   [player_tooltip player_id='333302' first='Mia' last='Pauldo'] - Morris Catholic (2025)   Mia is a highlight tape waiting to happen every time she takes the court. One half of the famous "Twin Back Court," Mia only knows one speed, and that's FAST. She is off to the races on layup opportunities and hard to get away from on defense. Her shifty handles and elite hesitation moves often freeze the defender, allowing her to blow by for an easy basket.   [player_tooltip player_id='333309' first='Daniella' last='Matus'] - Morris Catholic (2025)   Daniella's basketball IQ is wildly impressive. She makes smart decisions, which in turn makes for high percentage shots and a low turnover rate. Her length poses a problem for opponents trying to get around her in the lane or shoot over here from the elbow. She can light it up from 3 and her defense is absolutely suffocating.   <h2>South Jersey B: #1 Wildwood Catholic v #3 Rutgers Prep</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='408039' first='Kaci' last='Mikulski'] - Wildwood Catholic (2024)   Kaci's tank is always full, and she brings high energy and high basketball IQ to this Crusaders squad. She is fearless on the court, and blends high athleticism and shooting ability with elite defensive prowess. As deflating as her mid-range game is to opponents, her stifling defense is even more intense! She is an all-around stud of a basketball player.   Ava Vodges - Wildwood Catholic (2024)   The tallest player on her team, Ava commands the post and demands the ball. The offense flows through her, and the more touches she gets, the greater the chances are her team racks up the points. She has expanded her game nicely out to the perimeter and can occasionally knock down a big 3-pointer when her team needs it most!   [player_tooltip player_id='325201' first='Mikayla' last='Blakes'] - Rutgers Prep (2024)   Mikayla's game can prove too much to handle for defenders. She is as devastating from 3 as she is off the drive. She uses her impressive handles to shake-and-bake the defender and create space to nail the jumper or drive inside and finish with a comfortable layup. Her all-around game is hard to read and even harder to stop, as she can do it all, and do it at an elite level. She is one of those players you can't necessarily control, but only hope to contain.   [player_tooltip player_id='321576' first='Katie' last='Ledden'] - Rutgers Prep (2023)   Katie's versatility creates a world of problems for anyone tasked with the assignment of guarding her. Her 6'0" frame allows her to post up and score under the rim. Her remarkable shooting is on full display as she can bury consistent mid-range jumpers and step out beyond the arc and drain multiple 3's per game. Her length is crucial in her ability to reject and deflect shots, disrupt passes and force a slew of turnovers.

With the State Tournament in full swing, we take a moment to look at players who understand the assignment and deliver in the biggest moments, when the lights shine their brightest… and in high school basketball, it doesn't get any bigger and brighter than surviving and advancing in the playoffs! These are players who make major contributions, be it by filling up a stat sheet or by intangible attributes crucial to their team's success. Whether it's senior leadership and experience, scrappy defense and diving for loose balls, excellent perimeter play, solid mental toughness or just sheer athleticism, these young ladies can all swing the game in their team's favor and take home the title!