Central Jersey NJSIAA Sectional Final Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll be talking plenty about the state semifinals and state finals upcoming, but now is the time for us to refresh your minds about the sectional finals that took place over the weekend. We're starting in Central Jersey with this one, focusing on the public schools before doing our non-public bracket look. Here are some of the best performances from those games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='525475' first='Kimi' last='Sayson'] - Shore Regional (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sayson's first year on varsity at Shore Regional has been nothing short of fantastic, and it's culminated in a sectional title for the Blue Devils. In the sectional final, she was fantastic, finishing with a team-high 13 points along with four rebounds and four assists. Easily one of the best passers in the Shore Conference, Sayson is bringing that prowess with her to the state semis this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='831440' first='Taylor' last='Lawrence'] - Middlesex (2027)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We decided to go in a bit of a different direction when looking for a player from Middlesex because while [player_tooltip player_id='414402' first='Jessica' last='Devine'] has been amazing game-in and game-out, we've talked about her plenty. However, her freshman teammate [player_tooltip player_id='831440' first='Taylor' last='Lawrence'] we haven't talked about much. She did a fantastic job in the sectional final of controlling the boards, finishing with a career-high 10 on the day. Really impressive stuff from her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='333317' first='Olivia' last='Shaughnessy'] - Manasquan (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was raining threes for Manasquan in the Group 2 sectional final in Central Jersey and Shaughnessy was the rain woman on the day, hitting four in the win to finish with a team-high 16 points along with two assists and two blocks. She came up big when 'Squan needed it most and helped this Shore Conference juggernaut bring a sectional title home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='601332' first='Annie' last='Conover'] - New Providence (2026)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A special shout out goes to [player_tooltip player_id='325196' first='Grace' last='Kinum'], who balled out with a 26-point effort in her final high school game, but we'll be talking about the sophomore from New Providence who had a well-rounded performance in the Group 2 sectional final. Conover finished with just four points, but supplemented her game well with eight rebounds, four assists, a block and two steals, a statline she achieved seldomly this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='782577' first='Jineen' last='Ayyash'] - Ocean Township (2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wasn't the way Ocean Township wanted this season to end, but facing a tough opponent in Ewing, it was a tough mountain to climb for a Group 3 sectional title. While the Spartans came up short, senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='782577' first='Jineen' last='Ayyash'] gave everything she could in her final high school game, finishing with 14 points, three rebounds and a pair of three-pointers. Her final six high school games were a revelation to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='488869' first='Shawnae' last='Biggs'] - Ewing (2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The three-headed monster of Ewing did their thing, highlighted by a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double from [player_tooltip player_id='406940' first='Te'Yala' last='Delfosse']. However, an underrated performer in its Group 3 sectional final win was [player_tooltip player_id='488869' first='Shawnae' last='Biggs'], the senior guard who knocked down a pair of threes, finishing with eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Smart basketball and big buckets, Biggs played a massive role in a big-time win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'] - Hightstown (2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wasn't [player_tooltip player_id='325190' first='Abby' last='Misier']'s day on the floor for Hightstown as Howell was able to contain the all-conference standout. Someone else needed to step up and that player was [player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'], especially defensively. A game-high 15 rebounds for her led the charge as she recorded a pair of blocks and steals as well. Not the ending to the season the Rams were looking for, but they have a gem returning next season in Swarn.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gabrielle Carpenter - Howell (2024)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howell dominated in a way no one expected to take home its first sectional title in program history, winning by 20+ points. With three players finishing in double-figures, the Rebs were on another level, and on this day, they were led by their senior, Gabrielle Carpenter. It was just the third time this season she scored in double-figures, but Carpenter led Howell with a season-high 14 points in a historic victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->