Early-Season Games to Watch

The New Jersey high school basketball season is less than two weeks away. There are some intriguing matchups early on to start the six-week season that will not feature a state tournament. Let’s take a look at some of the early-season games to watch. <strong>Florence at Burlington Township, Jan. 26: </strong>Florence edged Burlington Township in the Burlington Township Tournament final, 42-40, last season. Florence finished the year 16-10, while Burlington Township was 21-8. A pair of freshmen made an impact last season for Florence in Alexa Taylor and [player_tooltip player_id="134656" first="Gabby" last="Loftin"]. Taylor hit double figures in 11 games. Loftin averaged 14 points per game and had 107 steals defensively, including 15 in the season opener against STEM Civics. Loftin dropped 30 points against Asbury Park last January. Burlington Township reached the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 3 tournament last season. Burlington Township’s Jaylyn James averaged 13.6 points per game to lead the team a season ago. <strong>St. Thomas Aquinas at Monroe, Jan 26: </strong>Heading to Middlesex County, St. Thomas Aquinas takes on Monroe on the road on Tuesday, Jan. 26. St. Thomas Aquinas is coming off 25 wins but lost some key production in the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="134586" first="Emma" last="Boslet"], Madison Ruddy and Kelsey Ransom. Akyia Baker leads the team in her senior year after hitting double figures in 15 games. Monroe went 23-5 a season ago, making the Greater Middlesex Conference tournament final before falling to St. Thomas Aquinas, 64-41. Monroe loses [player_tooltip player_id="134598" first="Madison" last="Carey"] and Brielle Fitzpatrick, but Nina Branchizio takes over as the leader for the team after hitting 48 3-pointers last season and averaging just under 10 points per game. <strong>Montville at Pope John, Jan. 26: </strong>Montville is coming off a tremendous 27-1 season, winning the Morris County Tournament. While the Mustangs lose [player_tooltip player_id="156153" first="Emma" last="Wax"] to graduation, senior [player_tooltip player_id="155551" first="Bella" last="Vito"] returns. Vito, a Vermont commit, was a top perimeter shooter, defender, rebounder and facilitator on the team last season. She had three double-doubles with rebounds. Other contributors are sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="159079" first="Grace" last="Kowalski"] and senior Dani Vito. Pope John is coming off a 19-win season, reaching the semifinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Non-Public A tournament. Notables on Pope John are junior [player_tooltip player_id="134641" first="Alana" last="Robinson"], junior [player_tooltip player_id="134633" first="Faith" last="Pappas"], junior Ahjionae Cobb and senior Chloe Captoni. <strong>Manasquan at St. Rose, Jan. 27: </strong>Manasquan and St. Rose will battle early on in a battle of two Shore Conference powers. St. Rose has won the last four in the series, including twice in 2020. Manasquan last defeated St. Rose Feb. 10, 2018. St. Rose is off a 22-8 campaign, playing a national schedule and reaching the South Jersey, Non-Public A final before falling to St. John Vianney. The Belmar school loses the tremendous production of [player_tooltip player_id="134582" first="Brynn" last="Farrell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="134594" first="Makayla" last="Andrews"], who are both playing at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="134621" first="Abigail" last="Antognoli"] takes over as a senior leader. For Manasquan, juniors [player_tooltip player_id="155468" first="Brooke" last="Hollawell"], [player_tooltip player_id="134632" first="Georgia" last="Heine"], Mary Elizabeth Donnelly and Dorothy Loffredo all return. Sophomore guard Rylyn Orlando should have a larger role and freshmen Hope Masonius, McKenna Carlson and Katie Collins are all new additions. <strong>Rutgers Prep at Montgomery, Jan. 30: </strong>The top team in Somerset County heads to Montgomery on Jan. 30. Rutgers Prep will be loaded once again with the likes of senior and Villanova commit [player_tooltip player_id="134611" first="Christina" last="Dalce"], who will be one of the top players in the state this year. Katherine Donahue, Kaylie Favours and Isabella Pellecchia will also be contributors for Rutgers Prep. The Argonauts made the South Jersey, Non-Public B final before falling to Trenton Catholic. Montgomery will have a stiff challenge after losing four starters. Senior Andrea Katramados leads the group after averaging 11.2 points per game last year.