Here's what you need to know about all the NJSIAA girls basketball finals this weekend
Girls definitely rule the Morris and Sussex county basketball scene this winter. It's time to hand out NJSIAA hardware. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming girls hoops finals.
Non-Public A girls: Pope John vs. Red Bank Catholic
Friday, 1 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena (Rutgers)
It's a season of firsts for Pope John. New coach Peter Torres came north from Randolph and led the Lions to their first Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex title. Will their first NJSIAA crown be next?
Sophomores Addy Platt and Mia Washington average 14.8 points apiece. Platt adds 7.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.3 blocks and 2.9 steals. Her younger sister, freshman Kaity Platt, has contributed 9.1 ppg., 6.2 rpg. and 3.4 apg.
Addy Nyemachek, a 5-11 sophomore, has 15 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game for Red Bank Catholic.
Where Pope John hasn't played for the Non-Public A title in 26 years, the Caseys are tied for fourth with eight NJSIAA championships. They last won in 2017.
Both teams have only lost to NJSIAA finalists and out-of-state foes: Morristown, Chatham (twice) and University for Pope John, and Morris Catholic, Rutgers Prep, Manasquan, Long Island (N.Y). Lutheran and Westtown (Pa.) for Red Bank Catholic.
Non-Public B girls: Morris Catholic vs. Rutgers Prep
Friday, 3 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena (Rutgers)
Time for a rematch! Morris Catholic defeated Rutgers Prep in the 2023 Non-Public B final, claiming its first NJSIAA title since 2006. But the Crusaders have revamped the roster around "Twin BackCourt" Mia and Mya Pauldo.
Mia Pauldo averages 19.9 points – scoring in double figures in all but one game – along with 5.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game. Mya Pauldo adds 14.9 points, four assists and 2.9 steals.
Rutgers Prep senior guard Mikayla Blakes is the team's leading scorer with 20.5 points per game, 4.5 boards, three assists and 3.5 steals. Gigi Battle, a 5-foot-10 sophomore guard, averages 11.6 points and 6.6 boards, while 5-foot-10 senior guard Chloe Escanillas has 11.1 ppg.
These teams seem evenly matched on paper, each scoring 71 points per game. Rutgers Prep has allowed an average of 47 points, while Morris Catholic gave up 44. They each lost to Long Island Lutheran. Rutgers Prep's other three losses were to opponents from Virginia and Maryland. Their last in-state loss was against Morris Catholic almost exactly a year ago.
Group 2 girls: Madison vs. Manasquan
Saturday, 2 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena (Rutgers)
Charlotte Tuhy averages a double-double for Madison, a newcomer to the Group final. The junior forward, who reached 1,000 points back in December, averages 23.9 points and 11.8 boards per game. The Dodgers have scored 51 points per game, but allow only 32.
Seniors Hope Masonius (13 ppg., 6.9 rpg.) and Katie Collins (12 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) share the load for Manasquan, which is fourth all time with nine NJSIAA titles. The Big Blue Warriors last won Group 2 in 2022.
Group 4 girls: Morristown vs. Lenape
Saturday, 6:30 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena (Rutgers)
Morristown's Maya Summerville is having quite a senior year. She helped the Colonials' volleyball team win its first Morris County Tournament and sectional title before advancing to its first NJSIAA final. Now, the senior forward, who has seven straight double doubles, is trying to help the basketball team claim its first Group title. Summerville (11.4 ppg., 10.rpg.) also reached 1,000 career points early in Tuesday's semifinal.
Senior Cameron McGinley is Morristown's leading scorer, contributing 12.4 points per game. The Colonials have won nine in a row since losing to Morris Catholic in a MCT semifinal on Feb. 9.
Freshman El-Anita Joe-Samuel (15.2 ppg.) and junior Alexa Henry (14.3 pp.g) lead Lenape, the NJSIAA South Jersey and Burlington County Tournament champion. The team has won 14 straight.
Group 3 girls: Chatham vs. Mainland
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. at RWJ Barnabas Arena (Toms River North)
Down by seven points heading into the fourth quarter on Wednesday night, junior guard Ella Kreuzer scored 10 points in Chatham's 14-2 comeback run against Teaneck in a Group 2 semifinal. Kreuzer, who reached her 1,000th career point in late January, leads the Cougars with 17.8 points per game.
Mainland, meanwhile, reached the Group 3 final on a buzzer-beating layup by Sydney Stokes. Stokes, a 6-foot forward, averages 8.3 points and 8.2 boards. Mustangs senior Kasey Bretones is the leading scorer with 16.8 ppg. Seniors Bella Mazur (13.7 ppg.) and Ava Mazur (12.3 ppg., 5.2 rpg) are also significant threats.
The Mustangs' only loss came against St. John Vianney on Feb. 3. They've won 10 in a row since then.
Mainland defeated Chatham, 42-35, in the 2019 Group 3 final at the same venue. This is the Cougars' fifth trip to a Group final, aiming at their first victory.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ girls basketball: Morris/Sussex finals preview
