Hot Weekend Matchups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've circled these five games as ones to keep a close eye on. Super competitive teams clashing this weekend from South to Central to North Jersey!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bayonne vs Hudson Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This HCIAL American contest should be spicy! 7-0 Bayonne clashes with 4-1 Hudson Catholic in a game that could go either way! Both teams have scoring balance across the roster and love to push the pace. [player_tooltip player_id='414294' first='Giselle' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='879026' first='McKenzie' last='Neal'] pose problems for any team in the state the way they can feed off each other and go off on any given night. At 6'0” and 6'3” respectively, they bring great size and the ability to score inside and out! Sisters [player_tooltip player_id='771777' first='Lauren' last='Gentile'] and [player_tooltip player_id='651503' first='Susie' last='Gentile'] give Hudson Catholic a spark in the back court. Two of the leading scorers on their team, they sure know a thing or two about making it rain 3's! They're also the Hawks' scrappiest defenders who love turning opponents over and igniting the fast break. 6'1” [player_tooltip player_id='677603' first='Arielle' last='Edwards'] brings size to the frontcourt and is currently averaging a near double-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Bayonne 60, Hudson Catholic 52.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wildwood vs Ocean City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tri-County &amp; CAL clash this weekend! Wildwood leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='414340' first='Macie' last='McCracken'] looks to decimate the Red Raiders with her scorching 3-point shooting (just under four per game) and claim a second consecutive win in this head-to-head (Wildwood beat OC 60-53 a year ago). If the Warriors want to pull this off, they'll need help from fiery PG [player_tooltip player_id='601414' first='Angela' last='Wilber'] to break Ocean City's stifling press and swarming defense! The Red Raiders are notorious for holding their opponents to few points, usually well below their average. In their twelve victories this season, they've kept teams mostly in the 30's with a few even held to teen totals! Senior Naomi Nnewihe spearheads a very balanced offense while junior Allie Hudson wreaks havoc on defense, swiping nearly 3.0 spg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Wildwood 48, Ocean City 38.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pingry vs Franklin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this Skyland clash, 9-0 (Raritan) Pingry and 4-3 (Delaware) Franklin are sure to put on a show in this rematch from January! With one of the state's most prolific scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='414401' first='Taylor' last='Francis'] and one of the top-ranked sophomores in [player_tooltip player_id='789188' first='Vale' last='Triana'], Pingry has given teams fits all season. One team they have yet to conquer is Skyland foe Franklin, whom they suffered a 59-49 loss to, to begin the new year. Taylor was unstoppable in that game, scoring 33 of their 49. This time around, I expect more production from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='959820' first='Rowan' last='Shapiro'] who was held scoreless last time. Franklin's schedule has been an absolute juggernaut this year. The best under .500 team in the state, in my opinion, they have faced the state's top teams in Morris Catholic, Red Bank Catholic, Rutgers Prep, Gill St. Bernard's, St. Rose, Hillsborough &amp; Montclair Immaculate. If any team is prepared for the postseason, it's certainly the Lady Warriors. Led by the state's top sophomore in [player_tooltip player_id='651517' first='Aleah' last='Sunkins'] averaging 16.6 ppg &amp; 10.2 rpg, this team has a little bit of everything. Dynamic scorers, fierce rebounders and lockdown defenders. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='981911' first='Nola' last='Bright'] is really coming into her own and senior [player_tooltip player_id='525477' first='Precious' last='Wheeler'] continues to get better and better in her return from injury. All the pieces will have to come together if Franklin wants to make it 2-0 this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Franklin 64, Pingry 50.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Manasquan vs Wildwood Catholic </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Part of the SJIBT, these two teams will surely put on a show at Eastern HS on Sunday morning! Both teams have lost only 3 games each this season and have played some great competition en-route to being top dogs in their respective conferences. Manasquan comes into this matchup as the more balanced team, with a strong rotation of about five players who can go off for 20+ on any given night. Led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='333318' first='Shea' last='Donnelly'] on both offense and defense, this team sure knows how to move the ball and get everyone involved! They'll have to cool off Wildwood Catholic's blazing 3-point shooting by snipers [player_tooltip player_id='1048715' first='Lola' last='McGonigle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='564266' first='Lily' last='King'] who have dominated from deep so far this season. If 6'2” post [player_tooltip player_id='677602' first='Joelle' last='Murphy'] can have a breakout game, it could get very interesting. She will be the tallest player on the floor and could see a double-team swarm on every touch! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Manasquan 60, Wildwood Catholic 50.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hightstown vs Middlesex </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big GMC/CVC clash will take place on Saturday morning featuring one of the state's hottest scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='414402' first='Jessica' last='Devine'] and a Hightstown team that features Howard commit [player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'] &amp; one of the most dynamic freshman in Hayley Dekok! It's going to be hard for any defense to stop Devine from lighting it up for the Bluejays. An efficient 3-level scorer, she has all the GOODS! She also happens to be one of the scrappiest defenders in the state, averaging 5.0 spg! She'll have help in the back court with hot 3-point shooter [player_tooltip player_id='601282' first='Mallory' last='Gianchiglia'], who is usually the beneficiary of many of Jessica's rocket-like dimes. 6'4” [player_tooltip player_id='844403' first='Penelope' last='Swarn'] will look to lock down the paint and deter any easy drives inside. At over 3 blocks per game, she's one of the state's leaders in rejections. Keeping her off the glass will be an arduous task, especially considering she's averaging a ferocious 11.3 ppg &amp; 10.4 rpg double-double. Arc assassin Hayley Dekok will look to drain triples at a furious pace, in what could turn into a 3-point shootout with her and Jess. A matchup of speed vs size coming in hot!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prediction: Middlesex 57, Hightstown 53.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->