South Jersey Group 3 Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The NJSIAA basketball state tournament is almost here. The South Jersey Group 3 playoffs are set to begin on Feb. 25.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Check out our full preview below to see which teams have the best chance of making it out of the South Jersey Group 3 bracket victorious and potentially competing for a state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Seeds</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1- Cherry Hill West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2- Moorestown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3- Mainland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4- Shawnee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5- Hammonton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6- Toms River East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7- Toms River South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8- Delsea</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9- Clearview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10- Timber Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11- Triton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12- Absegami</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13- Ocean City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14- Winslow</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15- Seneca</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16- Cumberland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Favorite</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Moorestown (16-8):</strong> When fully healthy, this Moorestown squad is hard to stop. The Quakers dropped their last matchup with top-seeded Cherry Hill West on Jan. 17, but they were missing star guard Julia Blong, who was out with an injury. At full strength, the Quakers rolled the Lions, 55-38, on Dec. 18. Led by star point guard [player_tooltip player_id='601276' first='Analyse' last='Intenzo'], this healthy Moorestown squad will look to get over the hump and make a run at a state title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cherry Hill West (18-5):</strong> Despite graduating four of their five starters from last winter, the defending Group 3 state champs have once again earned the top seed and are rolling into the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak. Star junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='835898' first='Kirsten' last='Gibson'] is averaging a team-high 23 points per game, and will have to have the best stretch of her career if the Lions want to make another championship run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mainland (17-9):</strong> After a below-average season last year, the Mustangs have flipped the script, earning the No. 3 seed in the bracket. Mainland is led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='835904' first='Brielle' last='Smith'], who is averaging a team-high 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Underdog</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shawnee (16-11): </strong>The Renegades are getting hot at the right time, winning their last three regular-season games. [player_tooltip player_id='1733334' first='Olivia' last='Gasik'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1247974' first='Maggie' last='Lutz'] have been the offensive leaders for Shawnee, averaging 11 and nine points per game, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Five Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='835898' first='Kirsten' last='Gibson'], Cherry Hill West</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='601276' first='Analyse' last='Intenzo'], Moorestown</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='835904' first='Brielle' last='Smith'], Mainland</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Julia Blong, Moorestown</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1247974' first='Maggie' last='Lutz'], Shawnee</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Projected Final</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cherry Hill West vs. <strong><em>Moorestown</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Note: </em></strong><em>predicted winner in bold.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->