PGH New Jersey's Players of the Week: 2/20-26

We apologize for the delays on our end in getting out last week's Players of the Week, but with it being playoff time across the state, we definitely got a great look at some primetime performances and elite-level players all on display. It was another impressive week, but now, it's time to make our picks. Here are the Players of the Week in the Garden State from Feb. 20 - 26.   <h2>North Jersey</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='489448' first='Lia' last='Manuel'] - Mendham (2024)   Manuel and Mendham went on a Cinderella run as the No. 11 seed in the Section 2, Group III tournament to the final. The junior led the way in a big way, posting two 27-point performances and averaging 24.3 PPG over three games. Mendham would unfortunately lose in the sectional final to Randolph, but what a run it was and what a backbone of the team Manuel was during that stretch.   [player_tooltip player_id='404226' first='Amanda' last='Tuohy'] - Boonton (2023)   What a run it has been for Boonton, a run still ongoing, and the Section 1, Group I champs are where they are as the No. 5 seed thanks to Tuohy. Not only did she post a triple-double against Kittatinny, but she nearly posted two-consecutive ones after putting up 12/10/9 in the semis against Cresskill. In three games, she averaged 14.7/8.3/7.7 and she's been one of the biggest leaders on a team that's now won eight of its last nine games overall.   [player_tooltip player_id='325204' first='Amanda' last='Baylock'] - Scotch Plains-Fanwood (2024)   If there was any a time for a player to break out, the state playoffs is the time to do it. Coming in as the No. 7 seed of the Section 2, Group IV tournament, Scotch Plains-Fanwood had quite the mountain to climb, so it went to Baylock, the junior, to deliver. Boy, did she deliver, posting three 24+ point performances, including two 28-point performances, to carry the Raiders to the sectional final. She averaged 26.7 PPG in three games.   [player_tooltip player_id='325182' first='Taylor' last='Derkack'] - Colonia (2024)   Derkack and Colonia came up short in the sectional playoffs, losing in the semifinals, but what a three-game stretch the junior had, especially in the semis, putting the team on her back in an OT loss against Randolph. She put up 32 in that game, recording three-straight 20-point games, two double-doubles and a triple-double in the first round. She averaged 24.3 PPG during the week.   <h2>Central Jersey</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='155445' first='Rylee' last='Drahos'] - Shore Regional (2023)   Shore ran the gauntlet in the Central Jersey Group I tournament, winning a sectional title on the backs of great performances from [player_tooltip player_id='414240' first='Reese' last='Fiore'] and Drahos, to name just two players. Drahos was as advertised and then some, averaging 18/8.5/6 in two games along with 7.5 steals a game for Shore. She's been filling up the stat sheet and dominating on the court at the same time.   [player_tooltip player_id='488740' first='Eli' last='Clark'] - Ocean Township (2024)   A regional final appearance was something long forgotten at Ocean Township, but the Spartans broke a 40+ year drought this year, thanks in large part to the play of Clark. In three games, she averaged 13.7/8/3.3 with 1.7 BPG and four steals a game. Her best game came in the semifinals against Red Bank Regional, where she put up 19 points along with nine rebounds and three assists, the Spartans coming through with a 38-36 win.   [player_tooltip player_id='482255' first='Zoie' last='Maffei'] - Jackson Memorial (2023)   At this point with Maffei, we've come to expect great performances game after game, and the senior did not disappoint last week as the Jags are now Central Jersey Group IV champs. She posted three-straight double-doubles, averaging 22 & 13 in three games for Jackson Memorial as she now has nine double-doubles on the season. Stability in the middle has taken this team far.   [player_tooltip player_id='525414' first='Evangelina' last='Francisco'] - Monroe (2025)   Monroe surprised as the No. 3 seed in the Group IV sectional tournament and Francisco, the sophomore, has blossomed in recent weeks, leading to a fantastic week in the playoffs for the Falcons. She posted a career-high 26 points in the semifinals against South Brunswick and extended her streak of double-digit scoring to what is now seven games including Feb. 27. Francsico averaged 19 PPG for the week.   <h2>South Jersey</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='155448' first='Kassidy' last='Thompson'] - Camden Catholic (2023)   The non-public tournaments in New Jersey are arguably some of the toughest in the entire state, and looking at the South Jersey Non-Public A field, what a stacked lineup. Camden Catholic came in as the No. 6 seed, but reached the semifinals thanks to Thompson, who scored in bunches and put the team on her back offensively, scoring 41.4 percent of the Irish's points over the week. She averaged 24 PPG and 6.5 RPG in two games.   [player_tooltip player_id='404202' first='Jada' last='Elston'] - Middle Township (2023)   Nominating Elston was a near-given as she carried Middle Township to a SJ Group II title over Cinnaminson. In three games, the senior averaged 21.7/4/4.7 for the Panthers, simply unreal on the floor. With two-straight 24+ point games in the first two rounds and a strong performance in the semis over Haddonfield, she put on a clinic.   [player_tooltip player_id='321557' first='Nir' last='Nir Cherry-Montague'] - Atlantic City (2023)   Atlantic City had a big task on its hand, having to go to Medford to play the No. 1 seed in the SJ Group IV tournament, Shawnee. However, behind the play of its center, Cherry-Montague, the Vikings advanced to the sectional final. She also reached 1000 career points in the sectional final, which happened on Feb. 27, but we wanted to mention anyways. It was easy work in three games, averaging 19/15.7/4 with four BPG and 1.7 SPG.   [player_tooltip player_id='414340' first='Macie' last='McCracken'] - Wildwood (2025)   It's hard to overlook the names that constantly come across our site because they're there for a reason and McCracken was here, there and everywhere for Wildwood last week. Averaging 24.7 PPG and 8.7 RPG in three games, she accounted for nearly 35 percent of the team's scoring and added on 6 SPG just for good measure.

We apologize for the delays on our end in getting out last week's Players of the Week, but with it being playoff time across the state, we definitely got a great look at some primetime performances and elite-level players all on display. It was another impressive week, but now, it's time to make our picks. Here are the Players of the Week in the Garden State from Feb. 20 - 26.