NJSIAA State Tournament Preview from the North – Group 4

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>North 1 Group 4 Preview</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Group 4 action gets under way today. The big schools with big dreams. Let's take a look. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Favorite</strong><br><strong>#1 – West Orange</strong><br>West Orange comes in at 21-7 riding the high of an Essex County Championship in their last game over Montclair Immaculate. West Orange has played a tough schedule all year and with talent inside and out they are going to be a tough out in this section. They have shooters and they have size, and they are led by a 3-headed monster who have carried them all season and look to make their mark on the sectional after a semifinal loss last year. The leaders are sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='825463' first='Rhyan' last='Watt'] (16+ppg, team high 48 3-pointers, 4+spg, 3+rpg, 2+apg), senior 900+ point and 900+ rebound big [player_tooltip player_id='782573' first='Anaya' last='Karriem'] (14+ppg, 12+rpg, 3+bpg, 3+spg, 24 double doubles in 28 games) and senior, 1,200 point scorer [player_tooltip player_id='414431' first='Kyley' last='Gary-Grayson'] (12+ppg, 41 3-pointers, 4+rpg, 4+apg, 2+spg). This team is looking for their first sectional title since 2018.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders</strong><br><strong>#2 – Morristown</strong><br>The defending champs are back with a 17-8 record but this time they are led by a freshman. They are a physical defensive team, and that toughness can disrupt opposing offenses. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='919624' first='Nawel' last='Lefebvre'] (19+ppg, 3+rpg, 2+spg) is a long 6-foot athlete that can score at all 3 levels and will be a problem for other teams in this section for years to come. Other leaders are senior [player_tooltip player_id='636210' first='Kacie' last='Bush'] (9+ppg, team high 26 3-pointers, 4+rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='672132' first='Caroline' last='Condon'] (5ppg, 6+rpg, 2+apg, 2+spg) and senior Ella Watson (3+ppg, 3+rpg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 – Union City</strong><br>Entering states at 17-8, Union City is looking to win their 3rd sectional in the last 4 years. They are led by seniors but also have youth. Their depth could be trouble for teams in this section. Leading the way are senior 1,500-point scorer [player_tooltip player_id='414293' first='Jaida' last='Guerra'] (22+ppg, team high 72 3-pointers, 3+apg, 3rpg, 2+spg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='414300' first='Molly' last='Brown'] (8+ppg, 40 3-pointers, 5rpg, 2+apg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='835254' first='Yasmeen' last='El Hindi'] (7+ppg, 50 3-pointers), senior [player_tooltip player_id='414298' first='Alyssa' last='Stridiron'] (6+ppg, 2+apg, 2+spg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='976663' first='Ariana' last='Madrid'] (5+ppg, 4+rpg) and senior Zoe Mays (6+rpg). Don't be surprised to see this group right back in another sectional final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">The Sleepers</span></strong><br><strong>#5 - Kearny</strong><br>Kearny is 16-10 and led by a couple of young ladies that can shoot it. With multiple others playing strong supporting role, if the 3-ball is falling, this team could be dangerous and a lot of them will be back next year. The top dogs are sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='831178' first='Makayla' last='David'] (17+ppg, team high 83 3-pointers, 3+rpg, 3+apg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='871404' first='Mariel' last='Ruiz'] (13+ppg, 65 3-pointers, 4+rpg, 2+apg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='414297' first='Olivia' last='Covello'] (4+ppg, 3+rpg, 2+apg), junior Mason Gryckiewicz (3+ppg, 3+rpg), senior Kristel Gomez (3+ppg, 2+rpg) and senior Johanna Escalante (3+ppg, 3+rpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 - Paterson Kennedy</strong><br>With a 21-6 record and size that few teams can match, Paterson Kennedy could disrupt the chalk in this section. They can shoot it a little bit too so watch out. This group has an unquestioned leader and that is senior 1,400-point scorer [player_tooltip player_id='583453' first='My'Shayla' last='Clancy'] (19+ppg, 10+rpg, 18 double doubles, 3+spg). Other significant contributors are junior [player_tooltip player_id='601345' first='Juliana' last='Odum'] (10+ppg, team high 45 3-pointers). junior [player_tooltip player_id='559075' first='Zahniya' last='Castillo'] (9+ppg, 6+rpg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='879786' first='Yalanis' last='Jarrett'] (5+ppg, 6+rpg, 3+apg, 2+spg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH 1 GROUP 4 SECTIONAL FINAL PREDICTION<br>#1-West Orange over 3-Union City</strong> – West Orange finds a way, at home, to win their first sectional crown since 2018.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>North 2 Group 4 Preview</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everyone is chasing Bayonne in this section. There is talent throughout the section but is there enough to take down the Bees.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Favorite</strong><br><strong>#1 – Bayonne</strong><br>The 2023 Group 4 State Champions are back to take back their title and at 22-5, coming in on a 7-game winning streak, with 3 seniors and 2 juniors leading the way, they have the depth and experience to do it. It's a balanced attack led by senior 1,100 point scorer [player_tooltip player_id='414294' first='Giselle' last='Davis'] (13+ppg, 7+rpg), senior big [player_tooltip player_id='879026' first='McKenzie' last='Neal'] (10+ppg, 8+rpg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='413746' first='Janaya' last='Meyers'] (10+ppg, 5rpg, 4+spg, 3+apg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='600927' first='Tatyanna' last='Watson'] (7+ppg, 3+rpg, 3+apg, 2+spg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='559033' first='Charlize' last='Olmo'] (5+ppg, team high 22 3-pointers, 2+rpg) and freshman Samara Porch (4+ppg, 2+apg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Contenders</strong><br><strong>#2 – Westfield</strong><br>Westfield already has a 10-win improvement from last season and gave New Providence and Chatham all they could handle this season. They have a versatile roster, a proven ability to battle good teams and 4 of their top 5 will be back next year. Their fab 5 consists of junior [player_tooltip player_id='871374' first='Sophie' last='Lane'] (14+ppg, team high 41 3-pointers, 5+rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='601333' first='Megan' last='Logan'] (9+ppg, 6rpg, 2+apg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='739542' first='Mairin' last='Fowler'] (7+ppg, 32 3-pointers, 2+rpg, 2+apg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='835824' first='Catherine' last='Oliveira'] (6+ppg, 4+rpg, 2+spg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='414354' first='Catie' last='Carayannopoulos'] (4+ppg, 8+rpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 - Plainfield</strong><br>Plainfield is 15-11 and led by a dynamic backcourt. As everyone knows, you can never have too many guards come tournament time. If these ladies can control the ball and dictate tempo then we could see Plainfield make a run. The leaders here are junior [player_tooltip player_id='601280' first='Jah'nae' last='Lembrick'] (15+ppg, 22 3-pointers, 3+spg, 2+rpg, 2+apg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='635514' first='Imani' last='Mullings'] (13+ppg, team high 35 3-pointers, 3+rpg, 2+spg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='414341' first='Haszah' last='Ward'] (6+ppg, 6+rpg, 2+spg), junior Kazhae Casey (5+ppg, 2+rpg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='835820' first='Mackenzie' last='Anderson Cook'] (4+ppg, 2+rpg) and senior Renee Reid (4+rpg).<br><br><strong>The Sleeper</strong><br><strong>#7 – Piscataway</strong><br>Just 11-13, Piscataway has a young roster and a young team, that is unaware of how big the moment is, can always be dangerous. Piscataway's leaders are sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='835821' first='Sarae' last='Croley-Battle'] (16+ppg, 21 3-pointers, 10+rpg, 3+apg, 2+spg), freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1197364' first='Caelyn' last='Cook'] (11+ppg, team high 40 3-pointers, 2+rpg, 2+apg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='525416' first='Makayla' last='Williams'] (9+ppg, 7+rpg, 2+spg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1048714' first='Khloe' last='Thomas'] (8+ppg, 28 3-pointers, 4+rpg, 2+spg) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1197369' first='Alyssa' last='Iduh'] (7+ppg, 11+rpg). Even if this is not their year, they will be back with this roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH 2 GROUP 4 SECTIONAL FINAL PREDICTION<br>#1-Bayonne over #2-Westfield</strong> – The Bees are too much for the rest of this section.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Group 4 North Champion Prediction</strong><br>BAYONNE</h2> <!-- /wp:heading -->