SJIBT Elite 8 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The South Jersey Invitational Girls Basketball tournament is back. Showcase games will be Saturday and Sunday at Eastern Regional High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Elite 8 Preview, Picks:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Saturday:</strong></em> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 1 Paul VI vs. No. 8 Wildwood Catholic</em></strong>, <strong><em>7:15 p.m.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:&nbsp;</strong>Paul VI (12-0) will look to continue its undefeated start against one of the top teams in the Cape-Atlantic League in Wildwood Catholic. Led by junior sharp-shooter [player_tooltip player_id='789189' first='Brooke' last='Stagliano'], the Eagles have won the last two SJIBT titles and enter as the heavy favorite to repeat. [player_tooltip player_id='1124977' first='Dani' last='Daley'] is averaging a team-high 20 points for the Crusaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Pick:</strong> <em>No. 1 Paul VI 77, No. 8 Wildwood Catholic 39.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 2 Gloucester Catholic vs. No. 7 Cherry Hill West, 5:30 p.m.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> Gloucester Catholic recently suffered a 58-42 loss to Paul VI last weekend. If the Rams win this game, they'll likely get a rematch with the Eagles. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='601413' first='Jahzara' last='Green'] is averaging 17 points for the Rams. The lone returning starter for the defending Group 3 state champions, [player_tooltip player_id='835898' first='Kirsten' last='Gibson'], leads the Lions with 24 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Pick:</strong> <em>No. 2 Gloucester Catholic 57, No. 7 Cherry Hill West 34.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Sunday:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 3 Lenape vs. No. 6 Bishop Eustace, 7:15 p.m.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview: </strong>One of the best players in the region, [player_tooltip player_id='835906' first='El-Anita' last='Joe-Samuel'], is averaging 23 points for Lenape, leading the Indians to a 14-3 record. The Indians have won eight of their last nine games. Bishop Eustace is led by junior duo [player_tooltip player_id='1048687' first='Angelina' last='Pena'] and [player_tooltip player_id='865698' first='Acadia' last='Walters'], who have combined for over 500 points this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Pick:</strong> <em>No. 3 Lenape 56, No. 6 Bishop Eustace</em> <em>40.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 4 Cherokee vs. No. 5 Middle Township, 5:30 p.m.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview:</strong> In what is expected to be the best matchup of the Elite 8, Cherokee enters with a 13-3 record and is coming off a 40-38 loss to Lenape. Led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='559132' first='Brielle' last='Alaba'], the Chiefs will look to end Middle Township's six-game winning streak. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='898071' first='Reagen' last='Powell'] has been the leading force for the Panthers, who enter with a 16-1 record as the top squad in the Cape-Atlantic League.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>The Pick:</strong> <em>No. 4 Cherokee 54, No. 5 Middle Township 48.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->