West Essex has lost 9 of its last 10 games, but is certainly a very capable team which operates out of the SEC’s top division. Coach Amber Tobia’s Knights are set to meet second-seeded and defending champion West Orange in Saturday’s 1 p.m. quarterfinals.

Wessex is led by 6-foot-1 sophomore center Jordan Salisbury (11.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg), while the Knights are hoping to welcome back standout senior guard Ava Brignola (10.8 ppg) from an ankle injury this weekend which has prevented her from playing in the last five games.

Hard-working senior forward Maddie Schlosser (7.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and exciting freshman guard Riley Guevara are others to watch for Wessex.

In the 1:30 p.m. ‘nightcap’ of action in the Coaches Vs. Cancer event, Morris Hills (8-11, 5-5 in the NJAC-National) will look to emerge victorious vs. Nutley (3-15, 0-8 in the SEC-Colonial). Coach Dillon’s Scarlet Knights, who fell to Hanover Park, 41-33, in a hard-fought MCT second-round contest earlier this week, are led by senior guard Nicole Rivera (14.1 ppg) and senior forward Faith Bode (8.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg).

Nutley, guided by coach Kara McNish-Natoli, has a ‘double-double’ machine in junior forward in Kaitlyn Nellegar (10.9 ppg, 15.2 rpg), who is one of the top rebounders in the SEC.

Anyone wishing to contact St. Jude Chilren’s Research Hospital can call 1-800-608-8795 or log on to stjude.org/donatetoday     

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