NJSIAA Girl Basketball Brackets; MaxPreps Picks GHS To Win
Thursday, February 24, 2011
By: Brian Falzarano | MaxPreps.com
The TOC field before picking the Garden State's finest.
MaxPreps New Jersey girls basketball freeman Rankings
Our annual trek through the NJSIAA girls basketball brackets begins Feb. 28, with dozens of schools harboring hopes of capturing a sectional title. Or, better still, winning the Tournament of Champions on March 21 at East Rutherford's Izod Center.
Before we get to see whether there will be a Shabazz-Neptune battle in the TOC title game, though, which other contenders will emerge? The two biggest challengers could come emerge from the state capital in Trenton Central (Group 4) and Trenton Catholic Academy (Non-Public A).
Here is our breakdown of this year's tournament, from the sectionals all the way through the TOC. We give you the favorites, dark horses (only squads seeded outside of the top four), best brackets in group, top players, group winners and the TOC field before picking the Garden State's finest.
MaxPreps New Jersey girls basketball freeman Rankings
GROUP 1
Favorites: Fourth-seeded New Providence is a slight favorite to repeat in North 2, while top seeds Emerson (North 1), New Egypt (Central) and Haddon Township (Westmont) (South) have a small edge in their wide-open brackets.
Upset Possibilities: Audubon (No. 5, South), Cedar Creek (Egg Harbor City) (No. 10, South), Midland Park (No. 7, North 1), Palmyra (No. 5, Central), University (Newark) (No. 7, North 2), Weequahic (Newark) (No. 6, North 2).
Best Bracket: University is much better than its No. 7 seed in North 2, which No. 2 Secaucus will learn in the second round. Don't be surprised if any of the top seven seeds celebrate a sectional title here as No. 1 Dunellen, No. 3 Whippany Park and No. 5 Dayton (Springfield) are also quite capable.
Players to Watch: Emily Bausher and Morgan Knigge, New Egypt; Jewel Brown, Clayton; Lavon Childress, Paulsboro; Cori Conner and Gabrielle Cooper, Gloucester City; Shaqui Coppage, Salem; Olivia Dudley, Whippany Park; Nicole Fleck, Wood-Ridge; Brandi Harvey-Carr, LEAP Academy; Taneequa Hester and Nicole Kiett, Weequahic; Andrea Innis, Secaucus; Amanda Langan, Verona; Meghan Nowak, Gateway; Brittney Sykes and Amber Thompson, University.
Fearless Forecasts: After ending Cresskill's quest to repeat, No. 3 Verona will derail Emerson in the North 1 final before bowing to University, which will edge New Providence in North 2. Second-seeded Gloucester City will eliminate Haddon Township in the South before dispatching Central champion New Egypt, which won its bracket by defeating No. 3 Highland Park.
Final Thought: Gloucester City over University.
