Let the Madness Begin!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's March baby! Playoff basketball is heating up as teams look to survive and advance as they chase Sectional, and ultimately, State glory! Saturday saw both big individual performances, with spicy matchups in Groups 1 &amp; 3 as well as some Non-Public play. Let's dive in:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>South Jersey, Group 1 &amp; Group 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Wildwood's sizzling 3-point shooting...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3rd seeded Warriors faced a test from 6th seeded Pennsville, with both teams shooting lights out in the 3rd quarter, putting up 24 points each. The story of the afternoon was Wildwood's efficiency from 3-point land, where they nearly set a program record with 19 triples! Senior star and West Chester commit [player_tooltip player_id='414340' first='Macie' last='McCracken'] sank six, scrappy lead guards [player_tooltip player_id='601414' first='Angela' last='Wilber'] also sank six, while sophomore sniper [player_tooltip player_id='651514' first='Rebecca' last='Benichou'] knocked down five, leading the way for Wildwood. McCracken led the game in scoring and rebounding with 27 and 12. They advance to play #7 Clayton in the semis at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Spicy 4-5 Quarterfinal Clash...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4th seeded Toms River East pulled off the dub over #5 Clearview thanks to a strong first half. After being down 25-11 at halftime, the ladies of Clearview came out of the lockerroom and kicked it into another gear, winning the second half 30-29, but ultimately fell short 54-41. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1266495' first='Libby' last='Dickman']'s 21-point, 10-rebound double-double was a big reason why TRE was able to secure the win and a spot in the semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>A one-woman show...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='601276' first='Analyse' last='Intenzo'] was in total takeover mode as #2 Moorestown dispatched #10 Ocean City 40-22 in the SJ3 quarters. She drained three triples en-route to 21 points, just 1 point off from matching the opponent's total! Her efforts secured the Quakers' third consecutive sectional semi appearance, where they will take on 3rd seeded Gami.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Central Jersey, Group 1 &amp; Group 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The State's leading scorer...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='559077' first='Sidney' last='Smith'] did all she could to help keep #6 Roselle Park in the fight against #3 Bound Brook but ultimately fell short. She came in averaging just under 33.0 points per contest, and went on to drop 35 in RP's 58-47 loss in the quarters. Her sensational junior campaign ends with 729 points scored in 22 games, good for a 33.1 ppg average, good for Top 10 nationally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Balanced scoring...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#2 Thrive Charter has certainly made a statement so far in their public school classification debut. Today's 77-33 takedown of Dayton featured four players scoring in double-figures, including two double-doubles. [player_tooltip player_id='600911' first='SondJane' last='Daudin'] led the way with 19 points, followed by [player_tooltip player_id='789187' first='Heziah' last='Kinston'] with 16. [player_tooltip player_id='559081' first='Olivia' last='Moore'] in the back court and Adris Oppong-Kyekyeku in the front court each recorded a double-double, with 12 points &amp; 10 assists and 12 points &amp; 11 rebounds, respectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Triple-Double QUEEN...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='878692' first='Akeelah' last='Lafleur'] did it again! For the fifth time this season, the senior star has recorded a monster trip-dub, with 31 points, 15 rebounds and 11 blocks. Arguably the best rim protector in the state, she continues to put her team on her back and guide them to big wins. In a win-or-go-home setting, she seems to be thriving more than ever! She outscored Jackson Memorial entirely by herself in WT's 51-30 quarterfinal win. A two-way terror!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>4-5 upset...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The (5) next to Neptune's name doesn't mean a thing, if you ask them! They used a big opening quarter and 3rd quarter to slide past Colts Neck 48-43. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='913916' first='Tyeera' last='Howard'] continues to impress in her first ever playoffs, leading the way with 18 points. Her efforts on defense was the difference-maker in this one, notching a game-high 5 steals and anchoring down when Colts Neck went on a 4th quarter surge!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Middletown South has the upset bug!...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='929541' first='Ava' last='Loucopoulos'] and [player_tooltip player_id='651483' first='Sam' last='Orlando'] put up 16 points a piece and held off a super scrappy 3rd seeded Ewing to pull off the upset for #6 Middletown South. High pressure defense didn't seem to face the dynamic duo as they put the Eagles on their back to set up a date with #5 Neptune in the CJ3 semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 &amp; Group 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>A second consecutive triple-double...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior [player_tooltip player_id='414430' first='Allie' last='Shenloogian'] recorded her second triple-double in as many playoff games this season, going off for 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals to avoid an upset at the hands of 9th seeded Lenape Valley, 43-37. Oh yeah, and throw in 8 assists too for the near quadruple-double! Top seeded Park Ridge also got a major 20-point contribution from junior Lori Graham who is enjoying a breakout season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>The 5 prevails over the 4...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='414433' first='Paige' last='Sonzogni'] led a balanced scoring attack to help guide #5 Hasbrouck Heights over #4 Waldwick 41-31. With 11 points this afternoon, she helped the Aviators win three out of four quarters and set up a semifinal clash with #1 Park Ridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>A strong 2 seed...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abigail Hawes led all scorers with 21 points in Mountain Lakes' 59-22 blitz of Butler. She also led a strong defensive effort which saw her rack up 6 steals, also a game-best. Kaylin Oey chipped in 13 points and [player_tooltip player_id='832357' first='Shea' last='Sutter'] finished with 11. They set up a showdown with #3 Cresskill in the semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Major upset alert...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='871365' first='Madelyn' last='Schlosser'] led #5 West Essex to a monumental win over the 4-seed, Ramapo, with a 21-point effort that included three triples. She ignited a 4th quarter spark that saw the Knights go on a 20-15 surge and turn the game around for the win. [player_tooltip player_id='1199485' first='Jordan' last='Salisbury'] chipped in 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 &amp; Group 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>A 6 beats a 3...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='601339' first='Natalie' last='Sroka'] and [player_tooltip player_id='871512' first='Ashley' last='Losco'] sent #3 Secaucus packing earlier than expected, leading the way for Belvidere with 12 points and 10 points, respectively. A date with defending champ University looms in the NJS2G1 semis on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Curanovic leads the charge...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='414349' first='Bella' last='Curanovic'] led all scorers with 22 points in #6 Cranford's big upset dub over #3 Summit, 38-36. She was in beast mode from start to finish, including a rock solid 4th quarter that saw Cranford tip it 10-9 and snatch the big win. Can they do it again vs #2 Somerville in the semifinals?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>South Jersey, Non-Public A</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Playoff opener...</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ladies of St. Thomas Aquinas began their postseason with a convincing win over Camden Catholic, 69-41. [player_tooltip player_id='559080' first='Jordan' last='Barnes'] led three players in double-figures with 18 points, followed by [player_tooltip player_id='600922' first='Trista' last='Whitney'] and [player_tooltip player_id='976652' first='Adriana' last='Summersett'] with 11 each. STA is an extremely dangerous 6 seed who now meets powerhouse #3 Red Bank Catholic in the semis, a game which could honestly go either way. Both teams are loaded with talent and boost an extremely strong starting five!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->