North Non-Public A & B – Preview and Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In just over 3 months, NJ girls high school basketball has gone from tryouts to lose and go home. We've seen 64 games over 2 days in North Groups 1-4 with 9 upsets including #16-Livingston taking down #1-Paterson Eastside in North 1 Group 4. Today starts the state tournament for Non-Public A and Non-Public B. Here are the players and teams to watch in the North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Non-Public A</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Contenders</span></strong><br><strong>#1-Pope John</strong> comes into States on a 12-game winning streak with a 22-4 overall record and youth leads the way for the Lions. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='559820' first='Addy' last='Platt'] is leading the team with 15+ppg, 7+rpg, 4+apg, 3+bpg and 2+spg. Fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='601267' first='Mia' last='Washington'] has upped her scoring in her 2nd year. Already one of the top defenders in North Jersey she is averaging 14+ppg with a team high 26 3-pointers and also 3+rpg. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='651485' first='Kaitlyn' last='Platt'] is averaging 9+ppg, 6+rpg and 3+apg. She has upped her scoring lately scoring in double figures in 11 of her last 15 games. Junior Katie O'Keefe averages 6+ppg, 2+rpg and 2+apg and is 2nd on the team with 17 3-pointers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2-IHA</strong> has won 5 of their last 7 and enters States at 14-9. Senior floor general [player_tooltip player_id='488849' first='Selena' last='Cieszko'] leads the Blue Eagles with 14+ppg, 2+apg and 2+spg. She is also averaging 3+rpg and her motor is what makes IHA go. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='333354' first='Sofia' last='Valente'] is averaging 13+ppg with a team high 59 3-pointers and also 3+rpg. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='559818' first='Samantha' last='Grella'] leads the team with 5+rpg while contributing 6+ppg. IHA has experience and has played in many tough games, but they will need a 3rd scorer to step up to compete with <strong>#1-Pope John</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3-Holy Angels</strong> is 16-6 and has won 7 of their last 9 games. They may have the most dynamic scorer in this section in senior [player_tooltip player_id='488858' first='Samantha' last='Serrano']. With over 1,300 career points she leads the team with 26+ppg, 69 3-pointers and 4+spg. She also averages 7+rpg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='488859' first='Celeste' last='Harper'] leads the team with 2+apg. She is 2nd on the team with 12+ppg, 29 3-pointers, and 2+spg. She also averages 5+rpg and is a lock down defender. Junior Daria Coll leads the team with 9+rpg and also averages 5+apg and 2+apg. An <strong>IHA</strong> vs Holy Angels semifinal matchup is very likely with IHA having won the previous meetings by 3 and 13 respectively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4-Newark Academy</strong> is 17-8 and has won 7 of their last 9 games. They have 2 dynamic players that combine to score over 70% of their team's points. Senior Central Connecticut commit [player_tooltip player_id='325183' first='Dagny' last='Slomack'] has scored over 1,400 points in her career. She leads the team with 19+ppg, 63 3-pointers, 4+apg and 4+spg. She is also 2nd on the team with 4+rpg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='462152' first='Katerina' last='Dakos'] is over 1,100 career points. She leads the team with 5+rpg and 1+bpg. She is 2nd on the team with 17ppg, 18 3-pointers, 2+apg and 2+spg. Their offense against the defense of <strong>#1-Pope John</strong> would be a very interesting semifinal matchup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Sleepers</span></strong><br><strong>#10-Montclair Kimberley</strong> is 14-10 and has won their last 5 games. They have senior leaders in [player_tooltip player_id='859143' first='Aeryn' last='Curren'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488735' first='Salange' last='Bell']. Curren leads the team with 15+ppg, 35 3-pointers and 2+spg while also averaging 4+rpg. Bell leads the team with 8+rpg and 2+apg while also averaging 12+ppg and 2+spg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION</strong><br>#2-IHA at #1-Pope John</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Non-Public B</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Contenders</span></strong><br><strong>#1-Morris Catholic</strong> had their 23-game winning streak come to an end when they lost their last game to nationally ranked Long Island Lutheran (NY). They have beaten every NJ opponent they have played, and they have a deep roster of talent. It all goes thru twin juniors [player_tooltip player_id='333302' first='Mia' last='Pauldo'] and [player_tooltip player_id='333305' first='Mya' last='Pauldo']. Mia has scored over 1,500 career points and leads the team with 20+ppg, 82 3-pointers and 5+apg. She also averages 3+rpg and 2+spg. Mya leads the team with 2+spg and is 2nd on the team with 15+ppg, 51 3-pointers and 4+apg while also averaging 3+rpg. Manhattan commit, senior [player_tooltip player_id='325219' first='Alexis' last='Rosenfeld'] leads the team with 8+rpg and 1+bpg while also averaging 7+ppg. Senior USC-Upstate [player_tooltip player_id='325223' first='Madison' last='Miller'] is averaging 7+ppg and 5+rpg with 21 3-pointers in 16 games. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='601266' first='Kennedy' last='Brown'] is averaging 7+ppg with 24 3-pointers, 3rpg and 2+apg. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='667787' first='Jax' last='Edelman'] is averaging 6+ppg with 30 3-pointers and 3+rpg. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='333550' first='Tatianna' last='Collins'] is averaging 5+ppg and 4+rpg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#2-Montclair Immaculate</strong> is 23-4 and winners of 11 straight games. A deep roster has propelled them this season. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='583758' first='Nila' last='Giraud'] is 93 points shy of 1,000 for her career and leads the team with 15+ppg and 10+rpg. She also has 26 3-pointers. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='406937' first='Brenae' last='Jones'] leads the team with 2+spg and is averaging 10+ppg and 8+rpg. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='325210' first='Mia' last='Lewis'] is averaging 8+ppg with a team high 33 3-pointers. She is also averaging 2+apg. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='878997' first='Camille' last='Wiley'] leads the team with 3+apg and also is averaging 8+ppg, 3+rpg and 2+spg. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='666727' first='Nilah' last='Rivera'] is averaging 7+ppg, 3+rpg and 2+apg and fellow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='601402' first='Lena' last='Most'] is averaging 5+ppg, 3+apg, 2+rpg and 2+spg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3-Gill St. Bernard's</strong> comes into states at 23-4. They have a ton of length and talent in their starting 5. Junior UConn commit [player_tooltip player_id='591477' first='Gandy' last='Malou-Mamel'] leads the team with 16+ppg, 10rpg and 2+bpg. Senior 1,000-point scorer and BU commit, [player_tooltip player_id='488671' first='Brooke' last='Baisley'] leads the team with 43 3-pointers and 3+spg. She is also averaging 14+ppg, 6+rpg and 3+apg. Junior Navy commit, [player_tooltip player_id='333351' first='Sidney' last='Quinn'] is averaging 10+ppg, 6+rpg and 3+apg. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='591476' first='Maya' last='Abramson'] is averaging 9+ppg, 5+rpg and 2+apg while junior [player_tooltip player_id='591478' first='Tessa' last='Lozner'] leads the team with 6+apg and is averaging 8+ppg, 3+rpg and 2+spg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4-Saddle River Day</strong> is 21-3 and has won 11 straight including their 8th straight Bergen County Tournament Championship. Senior Navy commit, [player_tooltip player_id='325218' first='Julianna' last='Almeida'] is 38 points shy of 1,000 and is averaging a team high 16+ppg and 7rpg while also averaging 3+apg. Senior Princeton commit, [player_tooltip player_id='325189' first='Cristina' last='Parrella'] leads the team with 58 3-pointers and 4+apg while also averaging 16+ppg and 4+rpg. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='333330' first='Faith' last='Williamson'] is 25 points shy of 1,000 for her career. She is averaging 13+ppg with 53 3-pointers, 2+rpg and 2+apg. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='583951' first='Brooke' last='Braen'] is averaging 8+ppg with 29 3-pointers, 3+rpg, 3+apg and 2spg. Ultimately, I don't think the Rebels have the depth or coaching experience to win this section. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Sleepers</span></strong><br>I just don't see how a team outside the top 4 can make noise in this section. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION</strong><br>#3-Gill St. Bernard's at #1-Morris Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->