Wednesday/Thursday’s Public NJSIAA State Semifinals Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've nearly crowned state champions amongst the four public school groups in New Jersey, with state semifinals taking place on both Wednesday and Thursday. Coming up later in the week, state championships will be won, but in the meantime, here are some standout performers from the state semifinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325169' first='Morgan' last='Marshall'] - University (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>University now finds itself in the Group I finals after a dominant performance on the hardwood, coming out with a 38-point win. Marshall led the way with 24 points, five rebounds, four assists and six steals, doing everything and anything for a chance to play for a state championship. Really impressive game from the junior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='155445' first='Rylee' last='Drahos'] - Shore Regional (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's just light work at this point for Drahos, advancing to the Group I state final in a game where she scored 21 points for the Blue Devils. One of our recent PGH NJ Players of the Week, Drahos has played with poise and maturity this season and is exactly the leader that Shore has needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='489483' first='Katie' last='Lynn Schneider'] - Secaucus (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We don't hear much about players like Schneider, mainly because [player_tooltip player_id='407040' first='Alyssa' last='Craigwell'] has had such an incredible season for the Patriots, but the junior forward was crucial in a seven-point win, finishing with six points, 10 rebounds and three steals. It's her third game with 10+ rebounds this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321569' first='Meghan' last='Lamanna'] - New Providence (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Consistency is the name of the game in the playoffs, and Lamanna has been a steady presence for New Providence. Boy did she come up big in the state semis against Middle Township, scoring a season-high 25 points along with five rebounds and two steals, going a perfect 9-for-9 from the line. What more can you ask from the senior guard?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325184' first='Joi' last='Johnson'] - Ewing (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Down one-point late in the fourth quarter, Ewing stormed back, ending the game on an 11-1 run to clinch a spot in the state championship game. Johnson had the best night of the bunch for the Blue Devils, finishing with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double, her sixth-such game this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='879026' first='McKenzie' last='Neal'] - Bayonne (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you have a 6-3 center on your team, you utilize that 6-3 center, and that's the formula Bayonne used to clinch a spot in the Group IV title game. Neal was fantastic on the post, recording her fourth double-double in six games with 11 points and 13 rebounds. She also recorded 3+ blocks for the fourth-straight game, finishing with four for the Bees.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='404235' first='Madison' last='Jenisch'] - Randolph (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a thrilling game, the senior was able to redeem herself after recording a steal just before time expired against Teaneck. Not even 7 seconds before, she missed a pair of free throws to ice the game for the Rams, but that steal turned the narrative around of what could have been a disastrous finish. She finished with 12 points and six rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='134757' first='Gabby' last='Recinto'] - Cherokee (2023)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Apparently, you cannot stop the Cherokee train as the Chiefs advanced to a second-straight Group IV final after a 54-39 win over Jackson Memorial. Who else but senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='134757' first='Gabby' last='Recinto'] to come up big for Cherokee as she's done time and time again, finishing with 22 points, shooting 6-of-8 from the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->