NJ Non-Public Sectional Finals PREVIEW

Monday will see Sectional champs crowned in Non-Public A & B, with some of the state's best teams going head to head. The winners will advance to the State Final in their respective classifications. Let's dive in and explore these upcoming matchups, as well as how they got here.   South Jersey, Non-Public A   #1 Paul VI v #3 Red Bank Catholic @ Lenape H.S.   Paul VI- First Round: BYE, QF: 67-42 over OLMA, SF: 56-52 over St. John Vianney   RBC- First Round: 72-26 over Princeton Day, QF: 67-39 over St. Thomas Aquinas, SF: 54-53 over St. Rose   Both teams narrowly escaped their respective semifinal matchups, going up against juggernaut opponents. Both teams have played an arudous regular season schedule, facing some of the toughest teams both in the state and around the country. The Caseys are the defending champs, having beaten Paul VI 44-26 a year ago. However, this is an entirely different Eagles squad, surging with confidence and holding an undefeated 26-0 record to this point. RBC boasts one of the most balanced scoring offenses in the state, with a strong rotation of eight players who are capable of going off on any given night. Led by superstar Addy Nyemchek in the back court and [player_tooltip player_id='333319' first='Tessa' last='Carman'] dominating the paint, RBC can score the ball from anywhere. The name of the game is VERSATILITY, with both Addy and Tessa capable of efficient three level scoring. Paul VI boasts a dynamic one-two punch in [player_tooltip player_id='789189' first='Brooke' last='Stagliano'] and [player_tooltip player_id='414234' first='Azanah' last='Campbell']. One of the hottest 3-point shooters in the state, Brooke has decimated teams all season long, sinking three triples per contest! Azanah's ability to score the ball inside and out poses a matchup nightmare; she's quick and strong! Both teams have dynamic guard play and depth, so I believe it comes down to whoever wins the battle inside between Hofstra commit [player_tooltip player_id='583705' first='Kiyanna' last='Blacks-Stewart'] and Monmouth commit [player_tooltip player_id='333319' first='Tessa' last='Carman']. This will be a matchup that features roughly twelve future D1 players!   Prediction: Paul VI 56, Red Bank Catholic 52   South Jersey, Non-Public B   #1 Gloucester Catholic v #2 Rutgers Prep @ Jackson Liberty H.S.   Gloucester Catholic- First Round: BYE, QF: 84-37 over Koinonia, SF: 59-44 over Ranney   Rutgers Prep- First Round: BYE, QF: 89-31 over Holy Cross Prep, SF: 90-61 over Wildwood Catholic   Rutgers Prep lost starters Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), Chloe Escanillas (Marist) and Zahra Alexander (NYU) to graduation, and former C/O 2026 #1 GiGi Battle to the transfer portal (DME Academy)... yet find themselves in familiar territory! They play one of the toughest schedules anywhere in the state and head into this Sectional Chip fully prepared and ready for battle with a loaded Gloucester Catholic team. RP is spearheaded by two of the best juniors and [the best] freshman in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='559046' first='Ava' last='LaMonica'], [player_tooltip player_id='601341' first='Sophia' last='Georgiades'] and [player_tooltip player_id='981918' first='Hailey' last='Benbow']. This squad has speed and size, doing equal damage inside and out. The Lady Rams of GC boasts one of the best forwards in the state regardless of Class in [player_tooltip player_id='601413' first='Jahzara' last='Green'] (2026), a double-double machine! Two other juniors, [player_tooltip player_id='601279' first='Talia' last='Shumate'] and [player_tooltip player_id='789537' first='Jalyn' last='Moore'], make up their three-headed monster and 63% of their scoring. Secret weapon and 3-point specialist [player_tooltip player_id='959812' first='Amanda' last='Eggers'] is playing her first season of high school hoops after sitting out freshman year with injury and boy is she making an impact! She's sinking in nearly three 3's per game and doing so from way behind the arc! Parking lot range!! This matchup features elite guard play and tremendous post play on both sides. One team is more elite in the back court and the other takes the cake in the front court. This one could go either way!   Prediction: Rutgers Prep 65, Gloucester Catholic 57   North Jersey, Non-Public A   #1 Morris Catholic v #2 Pope John @ Franklin H.S.   Morris Catholic- First Round: BYE, QF: 101-22 over Paramus Catholic, SF: 61-46 over DePaul   Pope John- First Round: BYE, QF: 39-23 over Oak Knoll, SF: 45-43 over Immaculate Heart   It might take a Herculean effort to knock off nationally ranked (and undefeated) Morris Catholic, but if anyone is up for the task, it's [player_tooltip player_id='601267' first='Mia' last='Washington'] & co. This game features the two best players in the Class of 2025, Tennessee commits [player_tooltip player_id='333302' first='Mia' last='Pauldo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='333305' first='Mya' last='Pauldo'] (Twin BackCourt) as well as the #2 ranked player in the Class of 2027 ([player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jacqueline' last='Edelman']) and #7 ranked player in the Class of 2026 ([player_tooltip player_id='601267' first='Mia' last='Washington']). No shortage of talent with several future D1 prospects clashing for Sectional glory! Stopping the Pauldo Twins is nearly an impossible task that no team in four years has been able to successfully do, because if they aren't both GOING OFF at the same time, one picks up the slack for the other! Pope John's defense will have to be flawless, but this is why we play the game because you just never know! Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='879590' first='Katie' last='O'Keefe'] will be playing in her third consecutive Final and will look to lean on that experience for the defending champs. Morris Catholic is the newcomer to Non-Public A, having ran through the competition a season ago on their way to the Non-Public B Sectional, and ultimately, State title. Rebounding machine [player_tooltip player_id='789169' first='Morgan' last='Fulston'] and versatile wing [player_tooltip player_id='1199464' first='Natalija' last='Novkovic'] will look to turn up the heat and be their respective team's x-factors.   Prediction: Morris Catholic 70, Pope John 50   North Jersey, Non-Public B   #1 Gill St. Bernard's v #2 Montclair Immaculate   GSB- First Round: BYE. QF: BYE, SF: 85-39 over Hudson Catholic   Montclair Immaculate- First Round: BYE, QF: 87-27 over Hawthorne Christian, SF: 68-56 over Saddle River Day   GSB has only had to play one game to land in the Finals, thanks to a double-bye in the first two rounds. They demolished Hudson Catholic, with UConn commit [player_tooltip player_id='591477' first='Gandy' last='Malou-Mamel'] leading the way, recording a 16-point, 10-round double-double. The Knights are an extremely deep team that features three players averaging double-digit scoring and another four who are capable of going off on any given night. The ladies of IC were tested in the semis by a feisty SRD squad, yet persevered thanks to a monster 32-point, 12-rebound game by [player_tooltip player_id='583758' first='Nila' last='Giraud'] (UAlbany), ranked #3 in the Class of 2025. She dominated inside and out, with a commanding interior game and newfound confidence from 3-point land. The Lions are one of the best defensive teams in the state and will rely on that stifling, suffocating pressure to slow down a high-powered GSB squad. All eyes point to the battle inside between Malou-Mamel and Giraud. Both teams come into this matchup very prepared, having played some of the toughest schedules in the state. Both teams will rely on their x-factors; [player_tooltip player_id='559076' first='Jayah' last='Curtis'] for IC and [player_tooltip player_id='686429' first='Cassidy' last='Moore'] for GSB. This might just be the best game of the day! An overtime decider wouldn't shock me one bit.   Prediction: Montclair Immaculate 58, Gill St. Bernard's 55- OT

Monday will see Sectional champs crowned in Non-Public A & B, with some of the state's best teams going head to head. The winners will advance to the State Final in their respective classifications. Let's dive in and explore these upcoming matchups, as well as how they got here.