NJBCA Tip-Off Classic: MUST SEE GAMES and TOP PLAYERS

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams around the state are prepping for the start of the season less than two weeks away. Some of the state's top teams will flock to Somerset on December 14th in what should be an amazing day of season-opening hoops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Verona vs Hackettstown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hackettstown's Ryder Broking returns after a stellar freshman campaign that saw her lead the team in every stat across the board. In fact, the Tigers return a large portion of their scoring from a year ago, with guards Evangelina French and Naia Deithorn now seniors and 3-point specialist Katie Cooper a sophomore. Lots of options in the back court will have to try and slow down a Verona squad that brings back versatile scoring threat [player_tooltip player_id='871381' first='Jada' last='Bednar'] and a trio of juniors in Leah Haggerty, [player_tooltip player_id='835496' first='Eliana' last='Marateo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1157958' first='Morgan' last='Rossi']. The Hillbillies have a size advantage and more depth, but Hackettstown boasts an electric back court. This game is sure to be a good one to kick off the event!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gill St. Bernard's vs Westfield</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westfield returns nearly 90% of their scoring from last season and looks to assert themselves as one of the top teams in the state this season. The ladies of GSB will look for a new identity after losing a bulk of their scoring with the graduation of stars Gandy Malou-Mamel, Maya Abramson, Tessa Lozner, Cassidy Moore and Sidney Quinn. Their entire starting lineup will be revamped, spearheaded by Swiss-Army knife [player_tooltip player_id='559820' first='Addy' last='Platt'] and her sister Kaity Platt. Reserves last year, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1047234' first='Nadia' last='Mikalainis'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='651498' first='Melina' last='Miller'] will likely see roles in the starting lineup and look forward to breakout campaigns. Both teams feature long guards/wings who are capable of sinking shots from just about anywhere. Defense will be huge in this one, with Westfield featuring shot blockers [player_tooltip player_id='871374' first='Sophie' last='Lane'] and [player_tooltip player_id='601333' first='Megan' last='Logan'], as well as scrappy on-ball defender [player_tooltip player_id='835824' first='Catherine' last='Oliveira']. The Platt sisters give the Knights a strong inside-out defensive presence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rumson-Fair Haven vs Chatham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chatham has a lot to make up for after losing one of the best players in school history (Ella Kreuzer) to graduation and two other dynamic seniors in Mia Semioli and Arden Alvarez. It'll be a young and fairly inexperienced group looking to rebuild, but still a bunch of girls that won't back down no matter the opponent. Gritty guard [player_tooltip player_id='1247712' first='Ava' last='Paone'] and wing [player_tooltip player_id='651479' first='Noelle' last='Grady'] are bound to be major contributors and will look to make a statement in this one. For RFH, they'll be without the scoring prowess of Sylvie Notine who accounted for 22% of the team's scoring last season as a senior. They have the luxury of returning some major players, including the dynamic Brown-bound [player_tooltip player_id='559133' first='Erin' last='Reid'] and stretch forward [player_tooltip player_id='651486' first='Grace' last='Smith']. Junior guard Chloe Kelly gives the Bulldogs reliable 3-point shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Red Bank Catholic vs Neumann Goretti</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RBC kicks off one of two premier early evening games, taking on PA power Neumann Goretti. Stacked from top to bottom, the Caseys boast an incredible lineup with size, speed and elite inside-out scoring. [player_tooltip player_id='559085' first='Addison' last='Nyemchek'] spearheads the offense and defense, with dynamic twin sister duo [player_tooltip player_id='559043' first='Katie' last='Liggio'] and [player_tooltip player_id='559041' first='Tessa' last='Liggio'] adding an incredible boost in the back court. [player_tooltip player_id='559031' first='Daniela' last='Maletsky'] has developed into a dangerous mid-range shooter and [player_tooltip player_id='559084' first='Sophie' last='Smith'] is coming off a strong summer. The bounty is plentiful with this team! They'll have to use all of their weapons to slow down a group of Goretti girls that love to beat you with run and gun offense. This will likely be one of the most electric teams RBC faces all year long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morris Catholic vs Rutgers Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This marquee matchup promises to bring it all! Physicality, high-powered offense and lockdown defense.The Argos will rely on a trio of guards in [player_tooltip player_id='981918' first='Hailey' last='Benbow'], [player_tooltip player_id='601341' first='Sophia' last='Georgiades'] and [player_tooltip player_id='559046' first='Ava' last='LaMonica'] to do the heavy lifting, but will certainly look to [player_tooltip player_id='601401' first='Natalia' last='Valdez'] and and [player_tooltip player_id='981942' first='Bri' last='Duque'] for added offense, especially from 3-point range. [player_tooltip player_id='559030' first='Ava' last='Frith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='651515' first='Hannah' last='Fraser'] will steady the front court, with Frith also capable of delivering from deep; arguably their most versatile player and can certainly be an x-factor in this one. Morris Catholic boasts one of the most impressive players in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jacqueline' last='Edelman'], their do-it-all star. She's backed up by a pair of ultra tough guards in [player_tooltip player_id='601266' first='Kennedy' last='Brown'] (Manhattan) and [player_tooltip player_id='559076' first='Jayah' last='Curtis'] (UPenn). 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='789169' first='Morgan' last='Fulston'], one of the state's premier shot blockers, poses a menacing threat on the interior. Get the popcorn ready for this one!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->