Best Week One Performances from South Jersey

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With games beginning last week, this is technically the second week of high school girls basketball in New Jersey despite games beginning on Thursday. So much has happened in a short span of time, and we have to talk about it. We're going to split up our weekly performers by region in the state, so why not start with the best Week 1 performances from players in South Jersey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='414395' first='Reese' last='Downey'] - Absegami (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arguably one of the most impactful players in the state over the past few days has been the junior guard out of Absegami. Not only did she help guide her team to a big win over Rancocas Valley, but she knocked down 5 threes a game through her first two games. Downey hasn't missed a step offensively, averaging 25 points a game to begin this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583460' first='Madeline' last='Wylie'] - Bordentown (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bordentown is off to a hot 3-0 start, winning all three by 15 or more points, but over her first two games, Wylie has put together quite the standout showing. It began with a career-high 28 points in a 60-34 win over Doane Academy and continued, a 15-point game against Moorestown Friends. Two games, 21.5 points per game average and a big statement to the rest of the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='559132' first='Brielle' last='Alaba'] - Cherokee (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We already spoke about Alaba in our best performances from Sunday article, but she deserves yet another mention after a career-high 29 points against St. Thomas Aquinas. Alaba is averaging 24 points a game through her first two games of the year, and the sophomore seems to have found another gear for arguably the best team in South Jersey in Cherokee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='583760' first='Tamia' last='Smith'] - Glassboro (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we write this, Smith just tied a career-high with a 30-point night on Monday for Glassboro, but her first two games of the season warrant an admission onto this list. Over two games, Smith averaged 18 PPG, 8 RPG, 3 APG, 1.5 BPG and 3.5 SPG, as Glassboro went 2-0. The Bulldogs are now 3-0 to begin the season, and with a player like Smith on their team, they're incredibly difficult to stop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='414340' first='Macie' last='McCracken'] - Wildwood (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there was anyone we had to include on this list, it was McCracken, coming off quite the weekend of basketball. She averaged 22 PPG, 10 RPG, 4 APG, 3 SPG and three made 3-pointers a game for Wildwood as the Warriors have started the season 1-1. This also includes a 14-of-15 performance from the foul line in Sunday's loss against Egg Harbor Township.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601275' first='Rachel' last='Thatcher'] - Paul VI (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another player who we've previously talked about in the early going, Thatcher played a big role in three big wins for Paul VI to begin the season. Through three games, she's averaging 12 PPG, 5 RPG, 2.7 APG and 3.3 SPG for the Eagles. People certainly had their doubts on how a player like Hannah Hidalgo would be replaced, but it seems Thatcher is going to help in a big way to fill part of that void.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='564264' first='Callie' last='Smith'] - Ocean City (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through her first two games of this season, Smith has nearly reached her entire point total in 17 games played last season. Ocean City has found a gem in the sophomore guard, averaging 13.5 points a game to begin the season, and she brings with her youthful energy in a team expected to be upperclassmen-led. Definitely a great sign for the Red Raiders, who are 1-1 to begin the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='488768' first='Savannah' last='Prescott'] - Our Lady of Mercy (2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prescott has come out of the gates strong for OLMA, averaging 19 PPG through her first three games of the season as the Villagers are 3-0 to start the year. That includes a pair of strong performances last week where she averaged 17 PPG, 4 RPG, 4.5 APG and 4 SPG. It already looks like she's shown some great improvements from last season and is ready to ball out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='525409' first='Darby' last='Chhabria'] - Cherry Hill East (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The former Camden Catholic product has transferred to Cherry Hill East as a junior and what a fantastic move it's been for her as she's not only gotten more playing time, but has dominated while on the floor, averaging 19 PPG in her first two games. The Cougars have been searching for a playmaker like her to end a near decade-long streak of losing seasons, and she's the right person to help right the ship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->