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NJSIAA STATE TOURNAMENT
Tuesday, March
Sectional Final

Central Jersey

Group 4

1-Middletown South 80, 2-Marlboro 77 (OT)

Junior swing Kayla Richardson erupted for all 23 of her points after halftime as Middletown South (24-5) rallied from a significant deficit in the fourth quarter to prevail in overtime, providing coach Tom Brennan with his 400th career win, one he will always remember.

The Eagles, who claimed their fourth sectional title in the last six years and first since winning Central Jersey, Group 3 in 2016, faced an uphill climb, trailing 63-54 with 2:53 left in regulation. However, a pair of 3-pointers from senior Sam Keenan and two clutch foul shots by Richardson with 25 ticks left in the fourth knotted the game at 64 and forced the extra session.

A three-point play by Richardson with 1:49 showing staked Middletown South to a 72-69 advantage and she followed up with a powerful drive through the paint that split two defenders, increasing the gap to 74-69 with only 1:24 remaining.

Keenan ended with a career-high 20 points, fueled by four triples, senior point guard Isla Brennan scored 15 and senior forward Eve Pirie and junior guard Stephanie Mayerhofer each delivered 10 apiece.

Sophomore forward Jessica Riepe led five players in double figures for Marlboro (23-8) with 16 points, including four of the season-high 18 3-pointers hit by the Mustangs. Sophomore forward Laura Moreheas sank five and totaled 15 points, sophomore guard Sammy Jay scored 15, senior guard Gisella Romeo had 13 and freshman guard Dani Schlesinger finished with 11.

Middletown South, which went 1-2 against Marlboro in its previous three meetings and finished second to the Mustangs in A North, will face South Jersey champ Lenape in the Group 4 state semifinal on Thursday at Central Regional at 7 p.m.

Group 2

1-Manasquan 60, 2-Rumson-Fair Haven 38 - Check out complete game story & highlights

Senior swing Faith Masonius accounted for 23 points, nine boards and six assists while senior guard Lola Mullaney pumped in 21 points, grabbed seven boards and dealt out three assists to power Manasquan (22-6), which hoisted its sixth consecutive sectional title and 14th overall.

The victory marked the third time this season the Warriors have downed Rumson-Fair Haven (19-11), a rival in A Central.

South Jersey

Group 2

2-Manchester 61, 5-Middle Twp. 35

Senior guard Leilani Correa exploded for 15 of her 22 points during a 24-2 outburst in the second quarter that powered the Hawks (29-2) to a 36-9 halftime lead and paved the way to a third straight sectional title.

The win also extended Manchester's win streak to 21 and punched its ticket to the group semifinal on Thursday at Central Regional where it will tangle with defending state champion Manasquan for the third straight year.

Junior point guard Kemari Reynolds pumped in 15 points while sophomore swing Destiny Adams and junior reserve Nakaleigh Hayes-Jones scored seven apiece.

Non-Public A

South Jersey

At Jackson Liberty

1-St. Rose 61, 2-St. John Vianney 54 - Check out complete game story and highlights

Senior guard Lauren Lithgow shot a sizzling 9 of 12 from behind the arc and 10 for 13 overall en route to a career-high 29 points to spark the Purple Roses (26-2) to their second straight South Jersey sectional title.

Junior guard Brynn Farrell provided 17 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore point guard Abby Antognoli supplied 11 points and five assists for the Roses, who will face the winner of tomorrow's North Jersey final between Pope John and Immaculate Heart Academy in the state championship on Saturday at RWJBarnabas Health Arena in Toms River.

St. Rose owned a 24-22 lead at the break but St. John Vianney (23-4) put together a 9-3 burst to seize a 31-27 advantage with 2:59 showing in the third. However, a three from Lithgow and two perseverant putbacks by Farrell lifted the Roses to a 34-33 edge heading into the fourth.

Lithgow opened the final period with a 3-pointer and Antognoli and Farrell nailed back-to-back bombs to widen St. Rose's cushion to 45-37. Another trey courtesy of Lithgow pushed the margin to 48-37 with 2:45 to play.

Senior forward Sajada Bonner finished with 12 points and five rebounds and freshman guard Madison St. Rose came off the bench to score 11 for St. John Vianney. Senior forward Brelynn Bellamy had seven points and 11 rebounds.

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