Potential Bracket Busters in Group 3

The cutoff date for power points was Saturday, February 15th with the seeding meeting being held on Tuesday the 18th to determine the official NJSIAA playoff brackets. If these seeds hold, the postseason could make for some great basketball with potentially shocking upsets! Which team could write their own Cinderella story in a few weeks? Let's dive in and take a look at the state's Group 3 classification:   Timber Creek | South Jersey   Projected Seed: 8   Timber Creek has a strong core trio who has led them to fifteen wins so far this season. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='522661' first='Nicholle' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1196085' first='Asha' last='Gray'] have put their best foot forward on both sides of the ball, averaging 17.3 ppg & 3.6 spg and 9.3 ppg & 1.6 spg, respectively. Nicci has controlled the point with precision passing and scorching scoring. At nearly 5 steals per contest, she delivers dimes to Gray and junior [player_tooltip player_id='671343' first='Samiyah' last='Puckett'], who both do a great job finishing inside and out. Puckett completes this squad's core 3, averaging 9.4 ppg and leading them in 3-point baskets. At 5'8", she makes commendable contributions on the glass, with a fearless mentality battling for boards against much bigger, taller players. The same can be said for Gray, also clocking in at roughly 5'8". These girls share the ball really well, and aside from these three, three others have made notable efforts in the scoring column: Tori Eubanks at 8.7 ppg, [player_tooltip player_id='1196086' first='Julianna' last='Stuckey'] at 5.1 ppg and [player_tooltip player_id='1196087' first='Ly'Airrah' last='Sanders'] at nearly 3 points per game. Interestingly enough, Eubanks, Stuckey and Sanders also make valiant efforts on the glass, combining for nearly eleven rebounds per contest. If the Chargers want to show what they're fully capable of, everyone will have to do their part. Green's excellent court vision will set up others, who must knock down shots. She can fully takeover, if need be, and be a one-woman show... but in the postseason, it takes a total team effort to survive and advance. Big regular season wins over Atlantic City, Clearview and Clayton should provide them with a boost of confidence as they get into playoff mode.   Freehold Borough | Central Jersey   Projected Seed: #11   If you're a team in the Central Jersey, Group 3 sectional, this is an 11 seed you certainly do not want to face in the early rounds, if at all. Led by sensational seniors (and thousand-point scorers) [player_tooltip player_id='583949' first='Christina' last='Sikaras'] and [player_tooltip player_id='583950' first='Sayuri' last='Penaranda'] at 16.8 ppg and 16.1 ppg, the Colonials have serious firepower in both the back and front court. They are complemented by sophomore lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='651512' first='Olivia' last='Batchelor'], averaging 10.0 ppg, and front court duo [player_tooltip player_id='651494' first='Avery' last='Wyatt'] and Jordyn Strong, putting in work at 3.6 ppg and 3.0 ppg. Strong and Wyatt have been big on the glass all season long, establishing themselves as this team's second and third best rebounders at 7.8 rpg and 6.6 rpg, respectively. Double-double machine Penaranda is pulling down just over 11.0 rpg in addition to her 16.1 ppg scoring average. She's been playing much bigger than her 5'8" frame suggests, with stretches this season of six and seven consecutive double-doubles. There's weapons across the board on this team, with all five players on the court playing disciplined basketball on both sides of the ball. Strong ball distribution, several scoring options both inside and out, lockdown perimeter defense and impressive interior defense to protect the rim. This team doesn't have just one Swiss-Army knife, they have several. With a 17-5 record and statement wins over Long Branch and Manalapan, look for their confidence to be at an all time high when First Round action kicks off next week.   Sparta | North Jersey, Section 1   Projected Seed: 6   Sparta has really turned it around from a season ago. With senior [player_tooltip player_id='879784' first='Molly' last='Chapman'] leading the way, the Spartans have compiled a 17-6 record, including big wins over Colts Neck, Villa Walsh, Jefferson and Voorhees. Chapman has been a consistent scoring threat, averaging 14.0 ppg, including back-to-back 20-point performances to start the new year. Their turnaround can be directly attributed to a breakout season from seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1196088' first='Katie' last='Sutton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1196089' first='Abby' last='Connors'] who are averaging nearly 15.0 ppg combined. The back court has been special, but tremendous efforts made by 6'2" forward [player_tooltip player_id='868732' first='Brooke' last='Shust'] has given this team a formidable interior presence. She's proven tough around the rim, putting up 7.1 ppg to go along with 5.0 rpg. Her versatiltiy, however, has been a total game-changer because she's shown off the ability to knock down 3's as well. If she can remain tough at the rim and begin knocking down 3's more consistently, this team might have all the tools to send shock waves throughout NJ, S1. Perimeter defensive anchor Connors will have to lock down and force turnovers at a high clip (2.7 spg) to get the transition game flowing for the Spartans. A team with this many pieces is a difficult draw for any team!   South Plainfield | North Jersey, Section 2   Projected Seed: 9   With veteran leadership and an immediate-impact freshman, the Tigers of South Plainfield will look to cause a stir in NJ, S2. Senior (& thousand point scorer) [player_tooltip player_id='525405' first='Stella' last='Sweeney'] serves as the captain of this ship, averaging nearly 14.0 ppg while banging in just over two 3's per game. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='672130' first='Samantha' last='Moench'] and MaKenzie Harris have been excellent in the scoring and rebounding columns, with Moench averaging 9.0 ppg & 6.4 rpg while Harris contributes 7.0 ppg & [a team-best] 6.7 rpg. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='982734' first='Jiselle' last='Lennon'] has made significant contributions in Year 1, putting up 4.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg & 1.0 spg. A small, quick guard, Lennon brings a lot of electricity to the court and can really turn it on at the drop of a dime. She's recorded three games in double-figure scoring and whether she's starting or coming off the bench, serves as this team's x-factor and fifth scoring option. The girls will have to be at the top of their game next week if they want to shake off 8 seed Payne Tech and possibly set up a date with #1 Chatham in the Quarterfinals. With great balance in the front and back court, they are certainly capable of causing more than a few upsets. If Kapolka sticks to her strengths, corrals rebounds and protects the rim, and Sweeney scores it at furious pace, you'd be mistaken to count them out!   SUPERSTARS IN THE FIELD   [player_tooltip player_id='878692' first='Akeelah' last='Lafleur'] | Westampton Tech   18.5 ppg, 12.2 rpg & 6.5 bpg   [player_tooltip player_id='559044' first='Synai' last='Blychanton'] | Red Bank Regional   15.1 ppg   [player_tooltip player_id='871893' first='Angelina' last='Tirado'] | Demarest   14.2 ppg   [player_tooltip player_id='600897' first='Gabriella' last='Mittelman'] | Demarest   13.4 ppg   [player_tooltip player_id='559047' first='Lexi' last='Carnegie'] | Teaneck   17.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg & 4.5 spg   [player_tooltip player_id='559136' first='Camden' last='Epstein'] | Ramapo   14.9 ppg & 4.6 rpg   [player_tooltip player_id='879784' first='Molly' last='Chapman'] | Sparta   14.0 ppg & 6.0 rpg   [player_tooltip player_id='333348' first='Ella' last='Kreuzer'] | Chatham   16.9 ppg   [player_tooltip player_id='601343' first='Kaylee' last='Lauber'] | Somerville   16.6 ppg & 5.3 rpg   [player_tooltip player_id='414349' first='Bella' last='Curanovic'] | Cranford   16.1 ppg & 7.9 rpg   [player_tooltip player_id='414421' first='Kayla' last='Butler'] | Payne Tech   17.7 ppg, 11.4 rpg & 4.9 spg   [player_tooltip player_id='835898' first='Kirsten' last='Gibson'] | Cherry Hill West   17.7 ppg   [player_tooltip player_id='601276' first='Analyse' last='Intenzo'] | Moorestown   15.4 ppg & 5.0 rpg   [player_tooltip player_id='414395' first='Reese' last='Downey'] | Absegami   23.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 4.3 apg & 5.4 spg   [player_tooltip player_id='827087' first='Juliette' last='Mirigliani'] | Clearview   15.0 ppg & 7.1 rpg   [player_tooltip player_id='522661' first='Nicholle' last='Green'] | Timber Creek   17.3 ppg & 6.4 rpg

The cutoff date for power points was Saturday, February 15th with the seeding meeting being held on Tuesday the 18th to determine the official NJSIAA playoff brackets. If these seeds hold, the postseason could make for some great basketball with potentially shocking upsets! Which team could write their own Cinderella story in a few weeks? Let's dive in and take a look at the state's Group 3 classification: