South Jersey Invitational Tournament: Players to Watch
Photo by ELIZABETH ROBERTSON/Philly.com/TNS The Elite 8 is set for the South Jersey Invitational Tournament. There are seven games from here on out and they are all expected to be full of excitement and talent all over the floor. Heading…
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The Elite 8 is set for the South Jersey Invitational Tournament. There are seven games from here on out and they are all expected to be full of excitement and talent all over the floor. Heading into Saturday’s action, these are the top players to keep an eye on during the Elite 8 round and throughout.
Lauren Punk (2020) | Bishop Eustace
Punk enters the tournament as the top scorer on the No. 1 seed in the tournament. Bishop Eustace finished 14-3 this season led by Punk. She averages 13.3 points per game and is the team’s leading foul shooter. Punk is also a force on the glass and knows how to get her teammates involved throughout a game.
Veyoni Davis (2022) | Moorestown Friends
Davis has led Moorestown Friends to a 13-3 record and No. 2 seed in this tournament. She is averaging 18.3 points per game. Davis has scored in double-figures in 15 of 16 games this season. She has six games with 20 or more points including a season-high 35 points in a win over Friends Central (PA). She is a dynamic player who is also averaging three steals per contest.
Isabella Runyan (2020) | Moorestown Friends
Davis has controlled the outside while Runyan has been a big time force inside. She is second on the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game and is the leading rebounder. She has seven double-doubles on the season. Runyan is grabbing 8.8 rebounds per game this season. Moorestown Friends is set up to make a long run in this tournament.
Kelli McGroarty (2020) | Eastern
Eastern is 11-4 overall this season and will come is as the three-seed in the South Jersey Invitational Tournament. McGroarty has been their leader all season long. She is averaging 15.6 points per game this season including a 25 point game against Washington Township. She has two double-doubles this season. Eastern will need McGroarty to have a big tournament if they want to make a splash.
Bella Steidle (2020) | Clearview
Steidle has been a scoring machine all season for Clearview. They are 15-1 and will enter the tournament with intentions of making some noise. Steidle is averaging 17.2 points per game this season. That includes seven 20 point games and a season-high 25 against Deptford. Steidle is a player that can score from deep or draw contact and get some easy points from the line.
Lexi Linton (2021) | Rancocas Valley
Linton has been the true catalyst for Rancocas Valley since the beginning. In her junior campaign, Linton is scoring 12.8 points per game and has been the clear-cut No. 1 option for her team. Rancocas Valley is 9-7 on the season and will need Linton in their first-round matchup against Clearview.
Latanya Berry (2020) | Sterling
Sterling is 11-5 this season and will head into the tournament as the No. 6 seed. Berry has been a force on the inside all season. She is scoring 11.7 points per game and has multiple double-doubles throughout. She is not a threat from three-point range but she is one of the top inside threats in the tournament.