Girls Jersey Live-IHA, Morris Catholic, Rutgers Prep Observations

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One last article on Girls Jersey Live 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Immaculate Heart Academy</span></strong><br>After a 5-point loss in the Bergen County Championship to Saddle River Day, the IHA seniors put this team on their back to go on an epic run with wins over Pope John and national powerhouse St. John Vianney to win the Non-Public A State Championship. A healthy [player_tooltip player_id='134644' first='Zoe' last='Brooks'] may have changed that championship result, but what's in the past is in the past and that will be part of the problem for IHA. Losing 3 seniors in D1 commit [player_tooltip player_id='321599' first='Ava' last='Naszimento'], D2 commit [player_tooltip player_id='321549' first='Isabella' last='Asencio'] &amp; D3 commit [player_tooltip player_id='321596' first='Julia' last='Schutz'], IHA will have some rebuilding to do. There have been rumors of a couple of backcourt transfers but going on what we know they may already have their next leaders in house. Taking over the PG position will be [player_tooltip player_id='488849' first='Selena' last='Cieszko']. She is not as physically strong as her predecessor, but she plays with a motor and knows how to run a team. She is a hardworking defender and a leader on both ends of the floor. Selena is very comfortable with the ball in her hands and distributing to scorers. She does a good job getting in the lane and finishing with a floater or initiating contact at the rim. If her 3-pointer continues to develop she can do a big part to replace the 900+ points that just graduated as she is their leading returning scorer. [player_tooltip player_id='333350' first='Gianna' last='Modica'] gave IHA some valuable minutes spelling Asencio and Cieszko last year and if they look to keep their 2 PG offense intact, she could be the one to step in. A patient offensive player, Gianna picks her spots offensively and is aggressive and vocal on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='333354' first='Sofia' last='Valente'] should be a more featured part of the scoring next year. After averaging just over 6+ppg as a sophomore, she could step into a high scoring place in this offense. She offers scoring versatility. She has a strong midrange game and the strength work inside and do the dirty work. I'd expect double figure scoring from her this year. With a team led by seniors, [player_tooltip player_id='559818' first='Samantha' last='Grella'] did not get a ton of minutes as a freshman but when she was on the floor there wasn't a drop-off in production. She is very active on the glass, a quick leaper and a good finisher inside. She has a nice lefty stroke from 3 and has been shooting it comfortably and with range all summer for the NJ Raptors. Grella is a long active defender and gets out in transition and fills lanes. These girls should lead IHA in the Post Big 3 era at IHA.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Morris Catholic</span></strong><br>Talk about a team with an embarrassment of riches. Did this team really lose [player_tooltip player_id='333309' first='Daniella' last='Matus'] and possibly get better? I don't think they added anyone as good as Daniella but they added a lot of talented pieces. Pope John's loss will be Morris Catholic's gain as [player_tooltip player_id='325223' first='Madison' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='601266' first='Kennedy' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jax' last='Edelman'] join a talented Crusader squad. Everything for this team starts and finishes with [player_tooltip player_id='333302' first='Mia' last='Pauldo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='333305' first='Mya' last='Pauldo']. With Mya on the shelf after hand surgery, Mia was in total control of this team and everything they do. Her tempo is absolutely relentless, and she can beat offensively in every way possible. Over 1,000 points in just 2 years she should blow past 2,000 for her career. With D1 commit [player_tooltip player_id='325219' first='Alexis' last='Rosenfeld'] also out with injury these games gave [player_tooltip player_id='325223' first='Madison' last='Miller'] extended time to get used to her new team. Madison looked good rebounding on D and getting a quick outlet while trailing the break and stepping into a bunch of 3-pointers. She has good hands and a soft touch. Morris Catholic likes to keep the middle open for the Pauldo twins to drive but with two 6+ footers you could see some twin tower hi-lo action this season. Miller is more polished offensively, but Rosenfeld is going to give you more on the defensive end and her athleticism makes her versatile in the rotation. She can guard the ball inside and out. Good luck rebounding against these two. [player_tooltip player_id='601266' first='Kennedy' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jax' last='Edelman'] will have to be comfortable shooting the 3 as the Crusaders are losing 130 3-pointers between transfer and graduation. Brown is much more comfortable slashing off the 3-point line than shooting it from there but her consistency from three has developed. I don't know if that is Edelman's game yet, but she is going to give you effort all over the court. With her height and length, she will develop into an asset in the rotation for this team. [player_tooltip player_id='325220' first='Bliss' last='Vimbor'] knocked down 35 3's as a junior and will have to ramp up that production to help replace the shooters Morris Catholic has lost. Coach Billy Lovett certainly has a lot of toys when everyone is healthy. Finding the right mix will determine if they repeat as Non-Public B State Champs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Rutgers Prep</span></strong><br>Losing a D1 do it all player like [player_tooltip player_id='321576' first='Katie' last='Ledden'] is never fun, but somehow watching [player_tooltip player_id='325201' first='Mikayla' last='Blakes'] just makes you think everything is going to be alright. Against Ewing, she did everything on the offensive end. She ran the offense, positioned her teammates, played with patience, distributed the ball when the D swarmed her and scored at will in one-on-one situations. Defensively, she plays fantastic team defense and is always in the right place. I'd sleep easy at night if she was running the show for my team. As she chases 2,000 career points in her senior year, she is surrounded by talent as they look to get back to the Non-Public B State Championship game. [player_tooltip player_id='559028' first='GiGi' last='Battle'] did not have her best game against Ewing but the bright side of it all is that she got every shot she wanted. They just weren't falling for her. However, GiGi should be the other main source of scoring for Rutgers Prep after scoring nearly 300 points as a freshman. She has a physical frame and uses her body well inside. She is strong off the bounce and scores at all 3 levels. [player_tooltip player_id='408702' first='Chloe' last='Escanillas'] was spotting up at the 3-point line and getting open shots all game long. If she can build on the 37 3-pointers she made as a junior she will be a perfect complement to Blakes and Battle. At 5'10" she has the length to get inside and rebound too. When Blakes takes a rare breather or moves off the ball to get more points, [player_tooltip player_id='559046' first='Ava' last='LaMonica'] comes in and runs the show for Rutgers Prep. She is a very good offensive facilitator and when she gets the chance to get downhill, she uses her body to create space and finish. She is an excellent offensive rebounder, and you can see her dash to the glass when shots go up. Defensively she is a key part of a strong press for the Argonauts. [player_tooltip player_id='414407' first='Leah' last='Crosby'] adds a lot of height and length to this squad. She had over 500 points and rebounds in 2 years at St. Thomas Aquinas before transferring to Rutgers Prep. Leah looked like she was still trying to find her place with the new team, but you can tell the talent was there and when she figures it out, she will be a key piece to their success this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->