NJSIAA State Tournament Preview from the North – Non-Public

The last of the sectionals start today with Non-Public A and Non-Public B. Here's our preview.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Non-Public A</h2>   Morris Catholic in Non-Public is just a mismatch in the North but they will see some competition in the state championship   The Favorite #1 – Morris Catholic The last time Morris Catholic lost a game to a New Jersey opponent was 1/13/23 against Paul VI. The last time they lost to a team that they could play in this section was 3/5/21 against Pope John. They come into this game undefeated on the season and I just don't see how anyone in this section can contend with them. This roster is loaded, and it all starts at the top with the Tennessee bound twins Mia and [player_tooltip player_id='333305' first='Mya' last='Pauldo']. Mia (19+ppg, team high 64 3-pointers, 5+apg, 3+rpg, 3+spg) is a 2,000-point scorer and this backcourt plays at a tempo that most cannot match. Mya (15+ppg, 38 3-pointers, 4+apg, 3+rpg, 2+spg) is a 1,400-point scorer. Loyola-Chicago bound [player_tooltip player_id='333309' first='Daniella' last='Matus'] (13+ppg, 35 3-pointers, 3+rpg) is a 1,200-point scorer and is back after a year at St. John Vianney. The others leading the charge are sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jacqueline' last='Edelman'] (10+ppg, 46 3-pointers, 6+rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='601266' first='Kennedy' last='Brown'] (6+ppg, 23 3-pointers, 4+rpg, 2+apg, 2+spg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='789169' first='Morgan' last='Fulston'] (4+ppg, 8+rpg, 2+bpg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='676823' first='Anastasia' last='Bonfante'] (4+ppg, 25 3-pointers). Nobody in this section is stopping this freight train.   The Sleepers #2 – Pope John Last year, Pope John represented the North in the state championship where they fell to Red Bank Catholic. Their roster has changed and now Morris Catholic has entered the section so they face an uphill battle in defending the title. At 19-6, leading the way for Pope John are junior, 1,100 point scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='601267' first='Mia' last='Washington'] (19+ppg, team high 41 3-pointers, 5rpg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='879590' first='Katie' last='O'Keefe'] (9+ppg, 2+rpg), freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1199464' first='Natalija' last='Novkovic'] (7+ppg, 4+rpg) and senior Marisa Captoni (7ppg, 25 3-pointers).   #3 - IHA IHA comes in at 17-9 and hopes that playing a very tough regular season schedule will help them in this postseason. Filling up the stat column for IHA are senior [player_tooltip player_id='333354' first='Sofia' last='Valente'] (12+ppg, team high 62 3-pointers, 3+rpg, junior [player_tooltip player_id='559818' first='Samantha' last='Grella'] (8+ppg, 28 3-pointers, 6rpg), sophomore Addison Valdez (6ppg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='677063' first='Lucie' last='Schell'] (5+ppg, 2+rpg, 2+apg, 2+spg), freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1201469' first='Casey' last='McCauley'] (4+ppg, 2+rpg) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='959847' first='Nassiah' last='Cole-Haricha'] (3+ppg, 3rpg). The future is bright with this young roster.   #5 - DePaul DePaul enters states at 18-6 and they are the true young guns of this section with a host of dynamic backcourt players. If this group stays intact, they will be making noise in this section in the future. Leading the charge for DePaul are freshman [player_tooltip player_id='981887' first='Giovanna' last='Burress'] (20+ppg, 29 3-pointers, 4+rpg, 2+spg), freshman [player_tooltip player_id='995787' first='Breya' last='LeTennier'] (9+ppg, team high 36 3-pointers, 4+apg, 4rpg), freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1198649' first='Maya' last='Morrison'] (9+ppg, 6+rpg, 3+apg, 2+spg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='835253' first='Gisela' last='Tapia'] (7+ppg, 6+rpg) and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1116141' first='London' last='Reese'] (6+ppg, 3rpg, 2+appg, 2+spg). The future is here.   NORTH NON-PUBLIC A FINAL PREDICTION #1-Morris Catholic over 3-IHA – Just too much talent to handle here. Morris Catholic already has their eyes set on a loaded South Non-Public A bracket to see who they will battle for a 3rd consecutive state championship.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Non-Public B Preview</h2>   This is a two-horse race with one clear favorite and a couple others lurking.   The Favorite #1 – Gil St. Bernards This is an experienced roster with size very few can match. Gil St Bernards comes in at 22-3 having won 16 of their last 17. They are led by senior, 1,100-point scorer and UConn commit, [player_tooltip player_id='591477' first='Gandy' last='Malou-Mamel'] (17+ppg, 9+rpg, 2+bpg), senior, Navy commit, [player_tooltip player_id='333351' first='Sidney' last='Quinn'] (9+ppg, team high 30 3-pointers, 5+rpg, 3+apg), junior, 1,000-point scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='559820' first='Addy' last='Platt'] (10+ppg, 3+rpg, 2+apg, 2+spg), senior, Stevens commit, [player_tooltip player_id='591476' first='Maya' last='Abramson'] (7+ppg, 4+rpg, 2+apg), senior, Tufts commit, [player_tooltip player_id='591478' first='Tessa' last='Lozner'] (6+ppg, 4+apg, 2+rpg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='686429' first='Cassidy' last='Moore'] (5+ppg, 27 3-pointers).   The Contender #2 – Montclair Immaculate In their last season since the school will be closing for financial reasons, Montclair comes in with a deep roster and a 17-9 record. The leader is senior, 1,100-point scorer, [player_tooltip player_id='583758' first='Nila' last='Giraud'] (14+ppg, 17 3-pointers in 14 games, 5+rpg). Do not sleep on the rest of this roster as they prepare for one last tournament together. That group includes junior [player_tooltip player_id='559076' first='Jayah' last='Curtis'] (10+ppg, team high 60 3-pointers, 3+rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='559042' first='London' last='Caldwell'] (8+ppg, 3+rpg, 2+apg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='666727' first='Nilah' last='Rivera'] (8+ppg, 24 3-pointers, 3+apg, 2+rpg, 2+spg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='878997' first='Camille' last='Wiley'] (8+ppg, 2+rpg), junior Daiya Anderson (7+ppg, 38 3-pointers). The Sleepers #3 – Saddle River Day Fresh off a 9th straight Bergen County Championship, this team is the last link to what Danny Brown built at Saddle River Day. Coach Joe Pedone has come in and ridden the wave of his predecessors, but their lack of size will spell trouble in this section. Their leader is senior, 1,400-point scorer and Johns Hopkins commit, [player_tooltip player_id='413778' first='Faith' last='Williamson'] (19+ppg, team high 78 3-pointers, 2+apg, 2rpg), freshman [player_tooltip player_id='862966' first='Grace' last='Darling'] (11+ppg, 33 3-pointers, 6+rpg, 2+apg, 2+spg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='583951' first='Brooke' last='Braen'] (10+ppg, 40 3-pointers, 3apg, 2+rpg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='583948' first='Isabella' last='Pedone'] (6+ppg, 32 3-pointers, 2+rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='669307' first='Giada' last='Celetti'] (4+ppg, 6+rpg) and Bella Ratsprecher (4+ppg, 24 3-pointers, 2+rpg).   #4 - Hudson Catholic At 18-8, this group is talented, but they just don't have enough in this section. Here are the leaders for Hudson Catholic. Sophomore Susan Gentile (11+ppg, team high 29 3-pointers, 4+rpg, 3+spg), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='677603' first='Arielle' last='Edwards'] (9+ppg, 9rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='600928' first='Kharington' last='Schwindt'] (9+ppg, 26 3-pointers, 4+rpg, 2+spg), senior [player_tooltip player_id='333550' first='Tatianna' last='Collins'] (9+ppg, 7rpg, 2+spg) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='771777' first='Lauren' last='Gentile'] (7+ppg, 28 3-pointers, 3+apg, 2+rpg, 2+spg).   NORTH NON-PUBLIC B FINAL PREDICTION #1-Gil St. Bernards over #2-Montclair Immaculate – This will be a game, but I think Gil takes the trophy in Montclair Immaculate's last game.

The last of the sectionals start today with Non-Public A and Non-Public B. Here's our preview.