NJSIAA Tournament: Group 3 Playoff Preview
Central Jersey Group 3
Shore Teams in the Field: No. 1 Colts Neck, No. 2 Neptune, No. 3 Middletown South, No. 5 Brick, No. 6 Red Bank, No. 12 Freehold Boro, No. 13 Middletown North, No. 14 Brick Memorial, No. 15 Matawan
Top Seed: Colts Neck
Defending Champion: Neptune
Favorite: No. 1 Colts Neck. The Cougars haven’t received a sectional title since 2014, however behind probably the perfect sophomore class in the Shore Conference, they are going to be favored to vary that this season. Colts Neck received a robust Class B North division outright matched up towards the likes of Trinity Hall and Howell who’re each ranked in the Shore Sports Insider Top 10. They took a robust Rumson-Fair Haven workforce right down to the wire in the Shore Conference Tournament. Sophomores Julianna Jasina and Allison McAndrew are the highest scorers averaging over 13 factors per recreation.
Colts Neck’s Allison McAndrew (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Contender: No. 2 Neptune. The defending sectional champions in all probability would have been the favourite to repeat if not for some devastating accidents in the direction of the top of the season. Star sophomore ahead Tyeera Howard has been out since late January with a knee harm. Sophomore guard London Carey has been out with a hand harm since early February. Despite the accidents, the Scarlet Fliers have persevered with a 16-3 file behind the scoring of junior guard Lana Ellington who has averaged over 14 factors per recreation and the inside presence of sophomore heart Bryanna Edgerson.
Neptune profitable the 2025 Central Jersey Group Championship at Red Bank Regional on 03/07/25. Photo by Nick Lowe
Contender: No. 4 Ewing. The Blue Devils completed with a 15-8 file towards a robust schedule that included a number of Shore Conference opponents. Ewing misplaced to Trinity Hall by a rating of 62-55 early in the season. They defeated Shore 66-44 and Marlboro 65-48. Ewing has had a robust presence in this part in current years and look like the highest workforce from outdoors the Shore Conference. Senior guard Lillie Alston (5-foot-7) averages over 13 factors per recreation because the workforce’s main scorer.
Dark Horse: No. 6 Red Bank. The Bucs had been thrown into the gauntlet this season ending 1-9 in Class A North, the highest division in New Jersey. The excellent news for Red Bank, there aren’t any groups in this part fairly like Red Bank Catholic, St. John Vianney, and Manasquan. Senior guard Synai Blychanton is the workforce’s high scorer averaging simply shy of 12 factors per recreation. This workforce has as a lot expertise towards top-level competitors as anybody and has an opportunity to point out everybody why they had been thrown into the Shore Conference’s high division.
Red Bank’s Synai Blynchanton drives to the basket Photo Credit: Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com
The Shore’s Bracket Breakdown: Colts Neck will likely be closely favored to beat Northern Burlington and the winner of the Allentown/Westampton Tech recreation. Things may get difficult in the sectional semifinal the place Ewing or Brick seems to be the more than likely workforce to advance after matchups towards Freehold Boro and Middletown North. Brick has rounded into type in the latter-half of the season profitable 12 of their remaining 13 video games behind sophomore guard Ariana Wissen’s scoring. Wissen is scoring a formidable 19.5 factors per recreation. If we picked an additional contender, it might probably be Brick.
On the underside half of the bracket, Brick Memorial and Matawan have daunting duties having to journey to Middletown South and Neptune respectively. Red Bank will likely be favored towards Hopewell Valley earlier than probably touring to Middletown South, a workforce they beat 41-31 on the street already this season.
Nothing is assured for a Neptune workforce that has been cursed with accidents, however ought to they win the primary two video games they’re favored in they’d probably want to see a Middletown South workforce they’ve overwhelmed two occasions to date this season over a Red Bank workforce in search of revenge from final yr’s sectional remaining.
While Colts Neck is the clear favourite in the highest of the bracket, the underside of the bracket seems to be large open.
First Round
(16) Northern Burlington at (1) Colts Neck
(9) Westampton Tech at (8) Allentown
(12) Freehold Boro at (5) Brick
(13) Middletown North at (4) Ewing
(11) Hopewell Valley at (6) Red Bank
(14) Brick Memorial at (3) Middletown South
(10) Steinert at (7) Lawrence
(15) Matawan at (2) Neptune
Doug’s Predicted Champion- Colts Neck
Nick’s Predicted Champion- Colts Neck
South Jersey Group 3
Shore Teams in the Field: No. 6 Toms River East, No. 7 Toms River South
Top Seed: Cherry Hill West
Defending Champion: Cherry Hill West
Favorite: No. 1 Cherry Hill West. The Lions stormed by way of this part final season, profitable three video games by double-digits with the lone exception being a 50-43 win over Moorestown in the sectional remaining. Cherry Hill West then went on to knock off Neptune and Chatham to win the Group 3 State Championship. The Lions misplaced 5 seniors from final season, however return junior scoring sensation Kirsten Gibson (5-foot-8) who has over 1,300 profession factors.
Contender: No. 2 Moorestown. The Quakers completed with a 17-9 file this season towards a frightening schedule that included the likes of Red Bank Catholic, Manasquan, Paul VI, and different South Jersey powers. Moorestown break up with Cherry Hill West in the common season. Senior guard Analyse Intenzo (5-foot-10), a Fairleigh Dickinson commit, is Moorestown’s high participant with over 1,600 profession factors.
Contender: No. 3 Mainland. The Mustangs didn’t play both of the highest two seeds in the common season, however did pretty effectively towards a robust schedule ending with a 17-9 file. Mainland defeated Southern 57-49 and Toms River East 54-23. The Mustangs high scorer is junior guard Brielle Smith (5-foot-7).
Dark Horse: No. 4 Shawnee. The Renegades completed with a 16-11, however break up with top-seeded Cherry Hill West in the common season. Junior ahead Olivia Gasik (5-foot-11) and senior ahead Maggie Lutz (5-foot-10) are the workforce’s high scorers.
The Shore’s Bracket Breakdown: Toms River East will likely be a slight favourite towards Triton. Should they win, a rematch with Mainland looms. The Raiders misplaced that matchup 54-23 earlier this season and would wish to play their finest recreation of the season to have an opportunity.
Toms River South will likely be a slight favourite towards Timber Creek. A win would probably ship them right down to Moorestown the place they’d be vital underdogs.
First Round
(16) Cumberland at (1) Cherry Hill West
(9) Clearview at (8) Delsea
(12) Absegami at (5) Hammonton
(13) Ocean City at (4) Shawnee
(11) Triton at (6) Toms River East
(14) Winslow at (3) Mainland
(10) Timber Creek at (7) Toms River South
(15) Seneca at (2) Moorestown
Doug’s Predicted Champion- Moorestown
Nick’s Predicted Champion- Mainland