2/3/2011 - A Look At H/W/S Girls Hoops Tourney
When the Lenape Valley girls basketball team won the Mt. Olive Holiday Tournament in December, it was the first tournament championship of any kind for the Pats in almost three decades.
The young Pats have a chance to continue to make tournament history this season when they face off with Hunterdon Central in the first round of the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament this weekend and when the state tournament gets under way in three weeks.
Lenape Valley is off to an 11-4 start, its best recent history, and the fifth-seeded Pats will get a great test when they travel to face Group 4 titan Hunterdon Central (6-12, the No. 4 seed in H/W) in one of eight first-round tourney games set for this weekend at the home of the higher seed.
Lenape Valley has been paced by its outstanding first-year coach Kat Boger and a group of underclassmen with great potential.
Senior Devony DiMattia paces the squad with her fine all-around play, but its youngsters like Lindsay Sabo, Meagan Price, Marissa Quaglia that make the Pats go.
Lenape Valley will face a stern test from the Red Devils who are much better than their under .500 record. HC will look to Keri Steele and sharpshooter Michelle Foreman to lead the way.
Although I love the way the Pats are playing, I think the Red Devils win this one and advance, but it will be a great learning experience for Lenape Valley.
The following is a preview of the other seven games on tap. As always check with your local school for times and dates for the games. The quarterfinals are set for Feb. 12 and the semifinals Feb. 19 with the final slated for Feb. 25 at Hopatcong at 6 p.m.
(8) DELAWAREVALLEY AT (1) HIGH POINT—High Point is playing outstanding as its 15-0 record and top 20 ranking in the Star-Ledger would indicate. Senior Leanna Tallamy is having an outstanding final campaign, but it is the outstanding depth of Chris Dexter’s squad that will key the Wildcats.
The Wildcats will also be looking for some revenge as the Terriers (4-9) bounced High Point in the semifinals last year, 43-41.
Del Val is paced Taryn Mikulicz, Allie Norden and Shannon Croasdale and it topped No. 9 Hopatcong 59-19 to advance. But the High Point will get its revenge and move on to the quarters.
(7) WALLKILLVALLEY AT (2) PHILLIPSBURG—Wallkill has struggled this season after winning over 60 games the last three years. The Rangers (6-10) knocked off No. 10 North Warren 56-43 to advance and will look to seniors, center Kelsey Murray and guard Melissa Conrad, to lead the way.
But it will take a terrific effort for the Rangers to pull the upset over the Stateliners, who are having one of their best seasons ever at 14-1. P-Burg already owns an impressive 55-33 win over Wallkill this season and is paced by Loren Kaiser and Jen Napolitano.
P-Burg, which has only lost to a very good Somerville team, will hold off the Rangers once again and advance.
(6) HACKETTSTOWN AT (3) POPE JOHN—This is the most intriguing matchup of the weekend, in my opinion. Hackettstown has dominated the Freedom Division of the NJAC this season and is 9-5. But the Tigers have been without their top player and 1,000-point scorer, Sarah Kayal, the last few games, and if she is unavailable, the Tigers are in trouble.
H-Town will have to count on Brittany Drake, Amanda Aussems and Jenine O’Dell to pick up the slack against a very young and dangerous Pope John squad.
PJ is 9-5 and has struggled of late, but guard Alexis Breheny has the ability to take over a game, while Sam Mitchell, Toni Santonastaso, Meghan Baird and Tara Fisher are all capable.
Even if Kayal plays, I’m still going with Pope John in this one in a very tight contest.
(7) BELVIDERE AT (2) SPARTA—The County Seaters of Belvidere are 9-5 and own a win over Lenape Valley. The Seaters ousted No. 10 Sussex Tech 48-14 and look to Jessica Kiernan and Jessie Scharr.
But you have to love the way the Spartans (9-5) have played this season. I believe coach Fred Geffken is doing some of the best coaching in his Hall-of-Fame career with limited numbers.
The Spartans are physical and get the job done. Do-it-all guard Casey Cresbaugh leads the way as Sam Greiner, Kelly Glasson, Courtney Noone, and Julliana Vitolo have all contributed to the Spartans’ success.
Just like they have all season, Sparta will play a nail bitter, but will find a way to move on.
(6) NEWTON AT (3) VOORHEES---Newton (7-9) has played everyone tough this season and the Braves have really bought into coach Bridget Jones’ team-first mentality. Lexi Homa, Liz Conn, and Naderah Scott have propelled the Braves all season.
But Newton received a very tough draw in defending tourney champ Voorhees, which sports a very deceiving 7-8 record.
The Vikings only lost to P-burg 49-42 and they own a win over a very good West Morris club. Miller Hartsoe, the reigning MVP of the tourney, paces the attack along with Jess Kapral and Emma Ferraro. Look for the Vikings to advance, and despite their record, make a run in defending their crown.
(8) KITTATINNY AT (1) NORTH HUNTERDON---Kittatinny has been a tough team to figure out this season. The Cougars are a fine 10-6, but only have two wins in Freedom Division play.
So logic would dictate that when the Cougars play out of the Freedom they do well and they did just that when they bumped off No. 9 South Hunterdon 51-25 to advance.
Nicole Calella is a fine guard and makes the Cougars go. Alyse DePaola and Jenn Casterline are tough up front, while Kelsey Koch and Kelsey Osborne find ways to the basket.
But the Cougars’ run in the tourney ends here with a trip to Annandale to face the top-seeded Lions of North Hunterdon. Led by their outstanding coach Tom Hank, the Lions are 13-1 with their only loss coming to Newark Tech, 37-36.
Jess Pellechio, Allisa Tarsi and Jill Bellofatto key the defending Group 4 champs, who are looking to avenge their upset loss in the tourney semifinals last year to rival Voorhees. Look for the Lions to win here and move on.
(5) WARRENHILLS AT (4) VERNON---This is a rematch from last year when the Vikings won before falling to Del Val. Vernon (9-5) has been impressive in its last few games with big wins over Morris Hills and Pope John.
Bill Foley’s club has the ability to score big numbers if it is on from the perimeter where the Vikes tend to live or die. Guards Brittany Ast, Kellianne Baumann, Carrie McDonald and Jess Mills can all shoot. Forward Mallory Costello, an outstanding athlete, is the Vikes’ presence on the boards and inside.
Warren Hills is 8-11 and returns Laura Flannery, who played great against the Vikes last year in defeat. I look for Vernon to continue its fine play with a win.
All right, that is a look at the first round. So who will win it? I see a High Point-North Hunterdon final, but don’t be surprised to see P-Burg playing Voorhees as well. But as well as High Point has been playing, the Wildcats are my pick to win it all.
And in Morris County Tournament play, Jefferson (14-2) is the third seed and the Falcons will host No. 19 Villa Walsh on Saturday. Jefferson already beat Villa Walsh 57-45 earlier this season and will do it again.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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