SJ2 Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NJSIAA basketball state tournament is almost here. The South Jersey Group 2 playoffs are set to begin on Feb. 24.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out our full preview below to see which teams have the best chance to make it out of the South Jersey Group 2 bracket victorious and potentially compete for a state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seeds</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1- Middle Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2- Cinnaminson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3- Haddon Heights</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4- Haddonfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5- Collingswood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6- Manchester Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7- West Deptford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8- Cedar Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9- Pleasantville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10- Lower Cape May</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11- Sterling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12- Gloucester</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13- Barnegat</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14- Willingboro</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15- Medford Tech</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Favorite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Middle Township (22-4):</strong> The three-time defending South Jersey Group 2 champs are the clear favorite to defend their title. The Panthers are on a four-game winning streak entering Saturday's Cape-Atlantic League final vs Wildwood Catholic in a playoff tuneup. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='898071' first='Reagen' last='Powell'] is averaging 16 points for the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Contenders</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cinnaminson (25-1):</strong> The Pirates can't seem to get over the Middle Township hump come playoff time and will have to make the 90-minute trek to Cape May County in the projected final if seeds hold. Led by [player_tooltip player_id='871368' first='Shiloh' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='835862' first='Gabby' last='Harvey'], the Pirates will look to make a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Haddon Heights (17-9): </strong>A couple of upsets in this bracket allowed the Garnets to reach the final as the third seed last winter, and they're in the same position this time around. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='835864' first='Emma' last='Harris'] is having her best season yet, averaging 22 points for the Garnets this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Underdog</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Haddonfield (18-8): </strong>Led by freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='1634857' first='Sara' last='Guveiyian'], Haddonfield is a young squad that has surely gone through growing pains this season, but the Bulldawgs were still able to earn the No. 4 seed. The Bulldogs have dropped three of their last four games and will hope to get back on track in their first-round matchup with Barnegat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Top Five Players</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='835864' first='Emma' last='Harris'], Haddon Heights</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='898071' first='Reagen' last='Powell'], Middle Township</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='871368' first='Shiloh' last='Moore'], Cinnaminson</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='835862' first='Gabby' last='Harvey'], Cinnaminson</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1634857' first='Sara' last='Guveiyian'], Haddonfield</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->