Super Essex Conference 2021 Season Recap Pt. 5
Prep Girls Hoops New Jersey has been recapping the entirety of the 2021 high school girls basketball season up-and-down the state, specifically the Super Essex Conference. PGH NJ has finally made it to the last division in the conference, the…
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Continue ReadingPrep Girls Hoops New Jersey has been recapping the entirety of the 2021 high school girls basketball season up-and-down the state, specifically the Super Essex Conference.
PGH NJ has finally made it to the last division in the conference, the Liberty division, where we’ll recap the best players in the division this season.
Zahra Alexander – G/F, Columbia
Alexander had a strong freshman season for Columbia and quickly emerged as a superstar to watch in the coming seasons in the SEC. She averaged 17.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.5 SPG and 1.0 BPG this season, even showing the ability to shoot from distance, knocking down nine three-pointers on the season. Alexander’s game isn’t made from the perimeter, rather, inside the perimeter and the interior where she finds ways to attack the paint. Her biggest x-factor is her aggressive offensive play style that paid off in a big way. That’s going to continue throughout her high school career, so keep a close eye on her player progression.
Brielle Guarente – G/F, Caldwell
Guarente ended her high school career with a bang in her senior season, helping guide Caldwell to a 12-3 record overall and 10-2 record in divisional play. She averaged 17.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.5 APG and 3.1 SPG this season, becoming the newest member of Caldwell’s 1000 point club. Guarente is a jack of all trades on the court, showing a lot of positional versatility and ability to score from just about anywhere on the court. You can rely on her to get you a board as she swarms the interior when a shot is put up, and on defense, she’s been an incredible on-ball defender, giving her numerous chances to create turnovers and break out for a quick basket on the other end of the floor.
Clare Mulvihill – F/G, Mount St. Dominic
Mulvihill has shined over the past four seasons on Mount St. Dominic’s soccer team, but this season, she decided to add basketball to her resume, playing on varsity in her first and only season. However, she was very impressive as a forward presence, averaging 6.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.0 APG and 1.1 SPG this season, finishing up the season as the only player to post a double-figure average in rebounding. While Mulvihill’s main sport isn’t basketball, she showed that if she wanted to, she could be a two-sport star if she chose to explore it in college.
Ava Intile – G/F, Livingston
Intile made her senior season count in a big way for Livingston as this program struggled offensively during the 2021 season. She was the player who was able to right the ship as best she could, averaging 9.3 PPG. Roughly a quarter of Livingston’s offense came from Intile, a crafty guard who can score via a tough two from a dribble drive or a quick three-pointer from the perimeter. Pick a spot on the court and Intile will make it with ease as her confidence has shined through her game along with her maturity. Livingston will have a tough time replacing her come next season.
Jakiyah James – G, Newark Tech
James came a long way from her first season on varsity, her sophomore season where she played in just 13 games and came off the bench for Newark Tech. However, things changed for the better in a big way during the 2021 season as James averaged 10.7 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.7 SPG, improving statistically in all facets of her game. She made some wholesale improvements in the offseason, most notably her offense, and it paid off dividends as she was the go-to scorer on this Newark Tech team. Expect her to take even more steps forward going into next season.
Continue to follow Prep Girls Hoops for more recaps of the 2021 New Jersey high school girls basketball season.