Girls Jersey Live-Ewing, Ramapo & Middle Township Observations

Ewing The defending Group 3 State Champions return 3, yes 3, 1,000-point scorers and D1 locks. [player_tooltip player_id='325195' first='Rhian' last='Stokes'] is the catalyst for this group. They got in a big hole early against the Rutgers Prep pressure, but Rhian kept her composure and the Blue Devils kept chipping away to make it a game. When your leader has no ego the rest of the team falls in line. Rhian is in total control of this offense. She is patient in the halfcourt and can push tempo in transition. She knows when to get hers and when to distribute the ball. She is a great passer in transition and when attacking the rim in the halfcourt. She can score at all 3 levels and knocked down some big 3s to keep them in the game vs Rutgers Prep. She led the team in points, assists and steals as a junior. Next up is [player_tooltip player_id='406940' first='Te'Yala' last='Delfosse']. 6'3" with long arms she affects the game on so many levels. Defensively she blocks and contests shots with ease. She can defend 1-5 and cleans the glass with the best of them. Offensively, she scores over people in the paint, gets rebounds and putbacks and finishes at the rack in transition. She also had 12 games with multiple 3s last season, and she looked comfortable stroking it on Saturday. Combine that with a good handle and she's comfortable inside or out on offense. I forgot how much I enjoy watching [player_tooltip player_id='325184' first='Joi' last='Johnson'] play. She is a throwback. She just gets in there and works hard against anyone the other team sends inside. With her toughness and defensive IQ she locks up bigger opponents on the interior. Nothing stops her from getting where she wants to go with the ball on the inside. She has a good interior touch. She passes very well out of the post and rebounds with an attitude and relentlessness. Add in [player_tooltip player_id='414302' first='Mekyla' last='Durham'] and its more trouble. She plays in the mold of the Big 3. Unselfish and tough. She is a great rebounder and a defender who continually gets steals and deflections. She is on her way to being the next Ewing 1,000-point scorer. The odds are good that the Group 3 trophy may be staying in Ewing for another year.   Ramapo Ramapo never quite figured it out last season. They played well in spots but lacked consistency, especially on D, while trying to manage a lot of seniors, a transfer and a talented freshman class. With a shorter rotation this year and the return of leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='488847' first='Cayla' last='Menicola'] and 3rd leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='559136' first='Camden' last='Epstein'] this group looked more cohesive already. Menicola can play inside out with a strong frame inside and a soft touch from 3. When she gets shots as part of the offense, she is a dangerous scorer and can do it in bunches. Epstein can shoot it and she was on fire in vs Middle Township after repeatedly getting open at the 3-point line and knocking them down. If she can find scoring consistency against aggressive defenses, she should make a leap this year. The biggest hole may be at PG for this team. Epstein is a scoring guard and is clearly more comfortable and more productive off the ball. Ashley DeLeo looked good in spots as a guard who is comfortable with the ball in her hands and capable of running an offense. She is also a tough on the ball defender which is the interesting part of the new wave of Green Raiders. Led by [player_tooltip player_id='564268' first='Toni' last='Pernetti'], this group should have the defensive identity it sorely lacked last year. Pernetti defends with continuous pressure and a fearless attitude. She locked up two excellent 6+ footers in [player_tooltip player_id='588710' first='Madison' last='Palek'] and Janie Preston and was just as comfortable and productive switching onto guards. If she can continue her offensive development, she could be the 3rd scorer this team needs to replace. With plenty of length, athleticism and versatility rounding out this roster, Ramapo should be more balanced at both ends of the floor this season.   Middle Township Losing [player_tooltip player_id='404202' first='Jada' last='Elston'] from a team that won the Group 2 South Sectional Championship hurts, but Middle Township has a strong stable of returning players. They got off to a slow start in vs Ramapo but battled their way back into it with patience and sharing the ball on offense and upping the pressure on D. Against Paramus Catholic, their press and defensive aggressiveness were the difference. [player_tooltip player_id='588710' first='Madison' last='Palek'] took advantage of the Paramus Catholic passing getting a ton of steals on the press. She attacked the rim and is clearly the athlete that will lead this team going forward. She is a hard worker on the glass and can affect shots in the paint. Her length allows her to finish over defenders inside when she can get to her spot. She got off to a tough start vs the Ramapo D but turned it on in game 2. [player_tooltip player_id='583712' first='McKenzie' last='Palek'] was their best player in game 1. She worked hard on both ends of the court. She is active on D trying to get in passing lanes and gets steals. Offensively she can get downhill to the rim and step out and shoot it. She was 2nd in assists last season and with leader [player_tooltip player_id='404202' first='Jada' last='Elston'] gone, she should be the main distributor for the Panthers. [player_tooltip player_id='488763' first='Hannah' last='Cappelletti'] will be the leading 3-point shooter returning this season and she can certainly shoot it. They do a good job of finding her and she works hard offensively getting open in spots where she can catch and shoot. [player_tooltip player_id='669303' first='Abbey' last='Cappelletti'] has shown that she could make big contributions. She can push tempo with the ball and is a very good passer. She is comfortable with the ball in her hands has a good handle and can step out and shoot the 3 as well. It will look different this year but the success should still be there for the Middle Township girls.

Ewing
The defending Group 3 State Champions return 3, yes 3, 1,000-point scorers and D1 locks. Rhian Stokes Rhian Stokes 5'8" | PG Ewing | 2024 State NJ is the catalyst for this group. They got in a big hole early against the Rutgers Prep pressure, but Rhian kept her composure and the Blue Devils kept chipping away to make it a game. When your leader has no ego the rest of the team falls in line. Rhian is in total control of this offense. She is patient in the halfcourt and can push tempo in transition. She knows when to get hers and when to distribute the ball. She is a great passer in transition and when attacking the rim in the halfcourt. She can score at all 3 levels and knocked down some big 3s to keep them in the game vs Rutgers Prep. She led the team in points, assists and steals as a junior. Next up is Te’Yala Delfosse Te’Yala Delfosse 6'2" | SF Ewing | 2024 State NJ . 6'3" with long arms she affects the game on so many levels. Defensively she blocks and contests shots with ease. She can defend 1-5 and cleans the glass with the best of them. Offensively, she scores over people in the paint, gets rebounds and putbacks and finishes at the rack in transition. She also had 12 games with multiple 3s last season, and she looked comfortable stroking it on Saturday. Combine that with a good handle and she's comfortable inside or out on offense. I forgot how much I enjoy watching Joi Johnson Joi Johnson 5'11" | PF Ewing | 2024 State NJ play. She is a throwback. She just gets in there and works hard against anyone the other team sends inside. With her toughness and defensive IQ she locks up bigger opponents on the interior. Nothing stops her from getting where she wants to go with the ball on the inside. She has a good interior touch. She passes very well out of the post and rebounds with an attitude and relentlessness. Add in Mekyla Durham Mekyla Durham 5'9" | SF Ewing | 2025 State NJ and its more trouble. She plays in the mold of the Big 3. Unselfish and tough. She is a great rebounder and a defender who continually gets steals and deflections. She is on her way to being the next Ewing 1,000-point scorer. The odds are good that the Group 3 trophy may be staying in Ewing for another year.