NJSIAA Tournament: Group 4 Playoff Preview
Central Jersey Group 4
Shore Teams in the Field: No. 5 Jackson, No. 7 Marlboro, No. 8 Freehold Township, No. 16 Manalapan
Top Seed: Franklin
Defending Champion: Hillsborough
Favorite: No. 1 Franklin. The Warriors have been one of the crucial spectacular groups in the state the place they’re at the moment ranked quantity 10 in keeping with NJ Advance Media after an 18-8 report in opposition to an especially robust schedule. Franklin defeated defending sectional champion Hillsborough 72-44 earlier in the season. Their lone Shore Conference opponent was St. Rose who they defeated 70-29. Franklin’s solely in-state losses embrace prime 20 groups together with Rutgers Prep, Gill St. Bernard’s, Demarest, Immaculate Heart, and Morris Catholic. Junior guard Aleah Sunkins (6-foot-0) is the group’s prime scorer with over 1,200 profession factors.
Contender: No. 3 Hillsborough. The Raiders completed the common season with an 18-6 report which features a convincing 70-52 win over second-seeded East Brunswick. With Franklin on the opposite aspect of the bracket, Hillsborough can be favored to satisfy them in the sectional closing. Their prime scorer is junior middle Isabella Ruh (5-foot-11).
Dark Horse: No. 5 Jackson: The Jaguars have come on robust in direction of the tip of the season, profitable six of their closing eight video games which coincided with the return of senior Avery Brooks who missed many of the season with an harm. Senior Isabella Finer has 850 profession factors and has been a gradual scorer for the Jaguars this season. While profitable a bit that features Franklin could be a really tough process, the Jaguars may have the chance to present it their greatest shot if they’ll proceed to play in addition to they’ve not too long ago in opposition to Monroe after which the winner of Hunterdon Central/Trenton.
Isabella Finer completed with 16 factors and 11 rebounds in opposition to Wall in the Coaches vs Cancer Showcase at Donovan Catholic High School.1/10/26 Photo by Tom Smith
The Shore’s Bracket Breakdown: Manalapan drew the brief finish of the stick having to journey to Franklin in the primary spherical. The solely excellent news for the Braves is that there is no such thing as a stress on them to allow them to go on the market unfastened and compete one play at a time as greatest as they’ll.
Freehold Township and Sayreville is a comparatively even recreation on paper. The Patriots competed in opposition to a tough common season schedule which included ranked groups corresponding to Howell, Manasquan, and Neptune. The winner would have a frightening process forward of them having to journey to Franklin.
As said above, Jackson has two winnable video games if they’ll proceed to play at a excessive stage.
Marlboro will host a 14-12 Montgomery group that performed some actually good opponents together with Franklin, Gill St. Bernard’s and Rutgers Prep, however weren’t shut in any of these video games. Marlboro’s outdoors capturing will dictate how far they go in the event as they’re able to getting actually sizzling from behind the arc. Sophomore guard Mackenzie Klatsky has knocked down 69 three-pointers whereas junior guard Maddyn Callow has transformed on 63 three-pointers. A win would seemingly setup the Mustangs to journey to East Brunswick which might be a rematch of a recreation Marlboro misplaced 67-46 earlier this season.
First Round
(16) Manalapan at (1) Franklin
(9) Sayreville at (8) Freehold Township
(12) Monroe at (5) Jackson
(13) Trenton at (4) Hunterdon Central
(11) Old Bridge at (6) Princeton
(14) WWP-South at (3) Hillsborough
(10) Montgomery at (7) Marlboro
(15) Hightstown at (2) East Brunswick
Doug’s Predicted Champion- Hillsborough
Nick’s Predicted Champion- Franklin
South Jersey Group 4
Shore Teams in the Field: No. 3 Howell, No. 8 Southern, No. 10 Central
Top Seed: Lenape
Defending Champion: Cherokee
Favorite: No. 1 Lenape. The hole between Lenape and several other of the opposite prime groups in this bracket almost non-existent though the Indians have been probably the most constant group this season ending with a 23-4 common season report. Lenape is at the moment ranked sixteenth in the state in keeping with NJ Advance Media. They maintain three wins over fourth-seeded Cherokee, the primary two which had been slim two-point victories. All 4 of their losses are to non-public colleges together with two losses to Gloucester Catholic, a lopsided loss in opposition to Red Bank Catholic, and a 64-62 loss in opposition to Trinity Hall. The group’s main scorer is junior guard El-Anita Joe-Samuel (6-foot-0) who has over 1,500 profession factors.
Contender: No. 2 Egg Harbor. The Eagles completed the common season 19-8 splitting a pair of video games in opposition to Shore Conference competitors together with a 44-30 win over Jackson and a 51-37 loss in opposition to Colts Neck. Sophomore guard Siena Jaworski is the group’s main scorer averaging over 11 factors per recreation. Sophomore ahead Elayna Kraybill (5-foot-11) is a double-double menace averaging slightly below 10 factors per recreation and over 14 rebounds per recreation.
Contender: No. 3 Howell. The Rebels have met their demise in opposition to two of the highest groups in this part the previous two seasons. They fell to Lenape 64-31 in 2024 earlier than dropping to Cherokee 39-22 in 2025. Just as these groups are a lot totally different than the previous two seasons, Howell is a a lot totally different group this season. Junior ahead Kylee Beam is among the prime gamers in the Shore Conference and senior BellaRose Marino one of many higher defenders in addition to being the group’s second-leading scorer. The Rebels completed 21-5 and swept Trinity Hall who defeated Lenape.
Howell’s BellaRose Marino shoots a free throw on the 2025 Kevin Williams Christmas Classic (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Contender: No. 4 Cherokee. The defending sectional champions completed the common season 17-8 with some rocky losses, however some extremely aggressive video games in opposition to actually good groups. The Chiefs took Paul VI, ranked third in the state in keeping with NJ Advance Media, all the way down to the wire in their most up-to-date matchup earlier than dropping 39-33. They maintain double-digit victories over Red Bank and Marlboro. Senior guard Brielle Alaba (5-foot-10) is the group’s main scorer with slightly below 1,400 profession factors. Alaba is dedicated to Boston University.
Dark Horse: No. 10 Central. Despite having to go on the highway in the primary spherical, the Golden Eagles have proven a number of coronary heart this season ending with 16-6 report in the common season. Central misplaced simply 37-35 in opposition to Haddonfield, one of many higher groups in South Jersey Group 2. The Golden Eagles have solely allowed 40 or extra factors on 4 events this season. Senior ahead Emma Christensen is among the higher defenders in the Shore Conference. While they are going to be an underdog at Kingsway, Central has the potential of making an unsightly recreation with robust protection and inflicting issues. As they are saying, protection travels in the postseason.
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Central’s Emma Christensen (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
The Shore’s Bracket Breakdown: Howell has as a lot of an opportunity to win this bracket as the remainder of the highest 4 seeds. They can be closely favored in opposition to Bridgeton and a favourite in the second spherical in opposition to the winner of Atlantic City/Cherry Hill East. The Rebels at their greatest are able to competing for a sectional title, however they need to be constant from possession to possession in each recreation.
Southern has the expertise to defeat Washington Township, however the main concern is youth. Their prime three scorers are freshmen Mia Pratola and Mikayla Blahut in addition to sophomore Mackenzie Sininsky. Washington Township misplaced to Wall earlier this season, so it’s important to assume that Southern, who beat the Crimson Knights earlier this season, has an opportunity. After that, they might be a major underdog in opposition to Lenape, however would get the chance to make a press release to your entire part if they’ll knock off the highest seed.
As said above, Central might want to play gritty protection to advance in this event, however they’re greater than able to it. If they’ll handle to knock off Kingsway, they might seemingly journey to a high quality Egg Harbor group.
First Round
(16) Pennsauken at (1) Lenape
(9) Washington Twp at (8) Southern
(12) Millville at (5) Eastern
(13) Rancocas Valley at (4) Cherokee
(11) Cherry Hill East at (6) Atlantic City
(14) Bridgeton at (3) Howell
(10) Central at (7) Kingsway
(15) Vineland at (2) Egg Harbor
Doug’s Predicted Champion- Lenape
Nick’s Predicted Champion- Howell