#GirlsTopTen - #4 Manasquan

 By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Twitter and Instagram 

Team:  Manasquan

Ranking: 4th 

Record Last season:  32-2

Key players:  Faith Masonius, Senior

Lola Mullaney, Senior

Potential emerging stars: Annie Mako, Senior

Team analysis: The 2018 T.O.C. winners are back and ready to defend their title.

For the first time in close to a decade, Manasquan will not have one of the Mabrey girls on the floor for the Warriors. With that being said, there is still a lot of talent left on this roster. One of the focal points of the offense will be All-State forward Faith Masonius. Faith is one of the most versatile players in the state. She does everything on the floor. The Maryland commit will play every position from the 1 to the 5 for this team. Her partner in crime will be Lola Mullaney. The Harvard commit is set for a breakout year. Mullaney is one of the best shooters in the state. Lola is also a solid defender and will showcase that portion of her game a lot this year. Senior Annie Mako is ready to carve out a bigger role this year. Mako is a very solid play who has shown she has the skills to play on the collegiate level.

The key for this team will be the supporting cast. Manasquan has a couple freshman and sophomores coming in who should work into big roles on this team. As the season progresses, they will get more comfortable with the speed of the game and will make an impact. This team has been to the mountaintop and has the talent to win group and make it to T.O.C. again this year. 

Stat to know: Manasquan won the Tournament of Champions last year. They have been to the T.O.C. Final three years in a row.

#GirlsTopTen - #5 Manchester Township

 By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on twitter 

Team:  Manchester Township

Ranking: 5th 

Record Last season: 25-6 

Key players:  Leilani Correa, Senior

Destiny Adams, Sophomore

Dakota Adams, Senior

Potential emerging stars: Kemari Reynolds, junior

Team analysis:  Manchester Township was one of the best surprise teams that emerged last year. This year, they won’t be taking anyone by surprise. Everyone knows this team is legit.

Manchester got a great off-season in the addition to the roster in All-State guard Leilani Correa. The West Virginia commit has smoothest offensive skill set in the state. Correa is a natural scorer. She has a  fluid shooting motion and is an amazing finisher. Correa is good for 20 plus a night with ease.

Destiny Adams was considered by many the best freshman in the state. Adams is one of the most exciting forwards in the state. The sensational sophomore has a Candace Parker type of game offensively. She’s electric in the open floor as she can push the ball on the break or finish it on her own. Adams is a solid rim protector and rebounder. Her partner in crime is her sister Dakota Adams. Dakota has a nice mid range game and is a beast on the glass. At the point guard spot is junior Kamari Reynolds. Kemari is an stellar floor general. She does everything well. She’s great in the pick and roll, shoots the ball well and attacks the rim hard.

If this team can get solid production from the bench and rebound,  they can compete for the Shore championship and make a deep tournament run. With a all-state shooting guard on deck in Correa, anything is possible with Manchester.

Stat to know: Senior Leilani Correa is committed to West Virginia University. 

#GirlsTopTen - #6 St.Rose

 By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Twitter 

Team:  St. Rose

Ranking: 6th 

Record Last season:  27-4

Key players:  Brynn Farrell, junior

Makayla Andrews, junior

Lauren Lithgow, senior

Potential emerging stars: Abby Antogonoi, sophomore

Samantha Mikos, Senior  

Team analysis: While St. Rose has graduated a deep class of senior players this past summer, this new group of players have the talent to be as good, if not better,  than last years team.

Two of the reasons many people are so excited about St. Rose are the additions of two players to the roster via transfer in Makalya Andrews (from Neptune,) and Brynn Farell (from Metuchen.) Andrews is an amazing defender with great length and athleticism. The junior guard finishes well in traffic and has a sweet mid range game. Farrell is one of the most dynamic offensive players in the state. The junior wing has amazing range on her jumper. Brynn attacks the rim with reckless abandon and has flawless footwork.

Two players returning from last years roster that will have a major role are Lauren Lithgow and and Abby Antognoli. Lithgow is one of the best kept secrets in the state. The Army commit can do it all. Lithgow has great range on her jumper and is very crafty when finishing near the rim.  Antognoli is going to be a household name in the New Jersey girls basketball scene in a couple years. Abby is a pure point guard. The sensational sophomore plays with great pace. She can score when needed but does a great job controlling and running the offense. Senior Samantha Mikos is in for a very solid season. She can defend multiple positions defensively and play numerous positions offensively. She will be a big role to their success this year.

The team will also have their coach Mary Beth Chambers on the sidelines. Coach Chambers is one of the most well respected coaches in the game. She knows her stuff. St. Rose has the talent to make a serious push at the Shore Championship and a T.O.C. run. 

Stat to know: Coach Mary Beth Chambers will be back on the sidelines this year.

St. Rose was the Non-Public A Champions and reached the Tournament of Champions for the first time since 2015 last year.

#GirlsTopTen - #7 West Orange

 By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop on Twitter 

Team:  West Orange

Ranking: 7 

Record Last season:  22-8

Key players:  Mya Bembry, senior

Bianca Fede, senior 

Potential emerging stars: Kiley Capstraw, freshman

Team analysis:  West Orange had a banner year, pulling in their first sectional championship in school history.

WO-Town will look to  build upon last years season of success. This year they return all-state wing Mya Bembry. The Penn-State commit is one of the smoothest offensive players in the state. Bembry can shoot it and is extremely crafty in the open floor. Bianca Fede is also back for her senior year. The talented point guard can shoot it from three and sets the tone defensively. Look for incoming freshman Kiley Capstraw to burst on the scene this year. Capstraw is a solid wing player that can score in a variety of ways.

This team is well coached and love to play fast. Look for this team to compete for a county championship and battle against Franklin in the Group 4 championship. 

Stat to know: All-State guard Mya Bembry has committed to Penn State University

#GirlsTopTen - #8 The Patrick School

 By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop

Team:  The Patrick School

Ranking: 8th 

Record Last season:  22-7, 9-1 in conference play

Key players: Lashae Dwyer, sophomore

Asonah Alexander, Senior 

Potential emerging stars: Tink Davis, junior 

Dana Hill, senior 

Quanijah McDowell, senior 

 Team analysis:  The Patrick School is one of the most dynamic teams in the state.

The party is always started by sophomore point guard LaShae Dwyer. The talented point guard is one of the most innovative ball handlers and finishers in New Jersey. Dwyer uses her kyrie-like moves and finishes to captivate the audience. She’s box office for sure. The addition of “Tink” Davis from Delaware via transfer is a major move as well. Davis can shoot it from deep is is very creative off the bounce as well. Temple commit Asonah Alexander is one of the most versatile players in the state. She’s a strong defender that can play multiple positions on the floor. 

​This team has an abundance of talent. Players Q. Mcdowell and Dana Hill all play major minutes and produce when their number is called. There has also been a lot of talks about the promise of Helena Lasic. The depth (and very good coaching,) of this team allows them to run a wide array of defenses and press the entire game.

If TPS can remain composed and efficient when the game is slowed down, this team could make a big time run. They have the talent to win the county chip and make some noise in March. Watch out for this team!

Stat to know: TPS made it to the UCT final last year but lost a close one 55-52 to Roselle Catholic.

#GirlsTopTen: #9 Hudson Catholic

 By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop

Team:  Hudson Catholic

Ranking:

Record Last season:  21-4, 13-1 in division play

Key players:  Haylee Ramirez, Senior

                        Zanai Jones, Sophomore

Ineysiah Surrell, senior

Potential emerging stars: Jayden Watson, sophomore

Team analysis:  Hudson Catholic is onto something special.

This 21 win squad is a year older and looks more experienced across the board. Sensational sophomore point guard Zanai Jones is one of the best floor generals in the state. Jones does a fantastic job creating for herself and for others. In the 2018 season, Jones averaged a whopping 8 assists per game. Another key player on HC is sophomore Jayden Watson. The Stretch forward is a lethal shooter from three and will attack you off the bounce in a hiccup if needed. Look for Watson to produce very solid numbers in a bigger role this year.

The heartbeat of this team is senior guard Haylee Ramirez. The NYC Exodus guard is one of the best shooters in the state. Her ability to knock down shots from WAY behind the three point line make it virtually impossible to sit in a zone for long against this team. Ramirez has also taken great strides in her ability to attack and rim and create points for herself and others off the bounce.

Hudson is at their best playing fast. Look for this team to throw a bunch of different defensive looks at teams in an effort to create turnovers and keep the game in transistion. If Hudson can continue to improve in the half court and rebound the ball at a strong clip, this team could win the County Chip and make a deep run come tourney time.

Stat to know: Haylee Ramirez is on pace to break the 1,000 point mark early in the season.

#GirlsTopTen - #10 Trenton Catholic

​By Christian Mordi / @thedribbledrop

Team: Trenton Catholic

Ranking:

Record Last season: 26-3, 8-0 in conference play

Key players: Giana Boulden, junior

Leiyana Massenat, junior

Potential emerging stars: Maniya Custis, junior

Jasmin Boyd, sophomore

Team analysis: TCA was one of the best surprises of last year, posting a massive jump in wins from 2017 to 2018. Much credit is due to coach Bob Fusik, the newly hired head coach last year who was previously an assistant as Rutgers Prep.

TCA is a very tough team to matchup with. They have great length, speed and athleticism at all spots on the floor. They use that to their advantage by relinquishing a wide array of defensive looks to befuddle their opponents. With the turnovers they create, TCA gets the game going at a faster pace than most teams are comforatable with in transistion.

TCA returns a solid nucleus from last years 26-3 team.  Giana Boulden is back after a sensational AAU summer and has taken her offensive game to another level.

​TCA has a new edition at point guard in Maniya Custis. Custis is a dynamic player who will make a lot of noise in New Jersey this year. TCA’s style of play is perfect for the crafty floor general. Custis is incredible in the open floor and dynamic in pick and roll situations. 

With that being said, in order to win the big games, TCA will have to show their ability to be extremely effective in a slower paced game. Many teams will look to slow them down and force them to be very efficient in the half court. If TCA can figure that out come tournament time, this team could make some major noise down the stretch.

Stat to know: With a slight uptick in her average this year, Boulden should break the 1,000 point mark this year.