Previewing Non-Public A and B Sectional Finals
Which four non-public squads will win sectional championships on Wednesday night? Here are our predictions. At Long Branch High School South, Non-Public B Rutgers Prep vs. Trenton Catholic, 5 p.m. ET Trenton Catholic has been the best team in New…
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Continue ReadingWhich four non-public squads will win sectional championships on Wednesday night? Here are our predictions.
At Long Branch High School
South, Non-Public B
Rutgers Prep vs. Trenton Catholic, 5 p.m. ET
Trenton Catholic has been the best team in New Jersey all season. Simply put, no team can match a lineup of Maniya Custis Maniya Custis 5'3" | PG Trenton Catholic | 2020 State NJ , Giana Boulden, Zoe Brooks Zoe Brooks 5'8" | CG St. John Vianney | 2023 State NJ , Aalyah Del Rosario Aalyah Del Rosario 6'5" | C Webb- Bell Buckle | 2023 State #5 Nation TN and Ciara Bailey. The only way TCA doesn’t win this game is if they have a terrible shooting game AND Rutgers Prep shoots lights out.
Trenton Catholic defeated Rutgers Prep by 20 points earlier in the season. In that game Custis and Brooks combined for 30 points. If Prep focuses on slowing that duo down, TCA has three other stars capable of having big games.
Rutgers Prep has had a great season and has enough outside shooting to keep things close with TCA. Jasmine McDuffie Jasmine McDuffie 5'11" | PF Manchester Regional | 2020 State NJ , Charlie Baldwin Charlie Baldwin 5'8" | CG Woodstown | 2020 State NJ and Kylie Favours can all light it up from deep and handle the ball-handling duties for Prep. The problem in this matchup is size. Christina Dalce Christina Dalce 6'2" | SF Rutgers Prep | 2021 State NJ is one of the best low-post players in New Jersey but she is the only Rutgers Prep player with length.
Prediction: Trenton Catholic 70, Rutgers Prep 54
South, Non-Public A
St. Rose vs. St. John Vianney, 7 p.m. ET
Madison St. Rose Madison St. Rose 5'10" | PG St. John Vianney | 2022 State #65 Nation NJ is the favorite for state Player of the Year. Her name is probably the only player mentioned on the St. John Vianney scouting report. She defends, passes and scores and is the heart and soul for the Lancers. Katie Hill Katie Hill 6'0" | SF St. John Vianney | 2021 State NJ is the other star for SJV, which has a lineup full of players who know their roles.
SJV plays a run-and-jump type of defense which forces turnovers and leads to run outs.
St. Rose, which fell to St. John Vianney by seven earlier in the season features two of the best players in the Garden State. If stars Brynn Farrell Brynn Farrell 6'0" | SG St. Rose | 2020 State NJ and Makayla Andrews Makayla Andrews 5'11" | SG St. Rose | 2020 State NJ get hot and point guard Abby Antognoli can handle the press, St. Rose has a chance.
Prediction: St. Rose 55, St. John Vianney 54
At Passaic Tech
North, Non-Public B
Montclair Immaculate vs. Saddle River Day, 5 p.m. ET
Azatah Lawrence and Nasira Williams are the names to know for Montclair Immaculate, which is playing as well as anyone right now. Montclair Immaculate went 3-0 to reach the final. They have a deep rotation and the key to pulling off the upset is their ability to take care of the ball.
It is not a secret what Saddle River Day wants to do – defend and play fast. When you have a star backcourt of Saniah Caldwell Saniah Caldwell 5'8" | PG Saddle River Day | 2022 State #52 Nation NJ and Jordan Janowski playing that way makes a lot of sense. The duo cause havoc on defense and push the ball at every opportunity. Caldwell has had an all-state type of season. Cierra Pearson gives SDR another offensive weapon.
Prediction: Saddle River 80, Montclair Immaculate 61
North, Non-Public A
Hudson Catholic vs. Immaculate Heart, 7 p.m. ET
Hudson Catholic is searching for its first non-public sectional championship, while Immaculate Heart is trying to win its ninth in a row.
If Hudson Catholic is going to achieve its goal, it will be led by do-it-all point guard Zanai Jones Zanai Jones 5'5" | PG Hudson Catholic | 2021 State NJ . She is a ball-dominant guard who makes plays by setting up her teammates or scoring. She is also an underrated shot blocker and locks up on defense. Anasia Staton is a slashing-type player and will be counted on to do the dirty work in the paint. Alana Robinson Alana Robinson 5'10" | SF Pope John | 2022 State NJ gives the Hawks another ball-handler and shooter.
Anna Morris Anna Morris 6'3" | C Immaculate Heart | 2020 State NJ is a double-double machine and one of the elite post players in the state. What makes her different than most post players is her ability to knock down open jumpers. When she’s rolling, Immaculate Heart is rolling and Hudson Catholic doesn’t have the size to slow her down. A’Nyah Barker A’Nyah Barker 5'6" | CG Immaculate Heart | 2021 State NJ is a physically gifted guard and has the speed needed to slow down Jones. Barker also triggers the fast break for Immaculate Heart.
Prediction: Immaculate Heart 49, Hudson Catholic 46