Both North 2, Group 1 state sectional finals feature a rematch of the Dec. 30th Newark Public Schools Holiday Tournament championship game matchups at Weequahic as top-seeded Arts entertains second-seeded University on the girls side, and top-seeded Shabazz entertains Arts on the boys side with the second contests between Brick City rivals set for Saturday at times still to be announced.
“It’s been more than two months now, and we certainly feel that we’re a stronger team than we were the last time we saw them,” said the Arts girls’ third-year head coach Tarik Brown.
"This an opportunity for us to win our first state title and we know that University has a lot of championship history in the Group 1 states.
“We respect them for sure, and we’re happy to have Saturday’s game at home, but regardless of where the game is played, we know it will be another intense battle between two talented teams.”
University (20-9) is ranked 15th in the state according to nj.com while Arts (24-4) is 20th in that same listing; however, the Phoenix recent rise up in the state rankings was fortified during the 7-game stretch in February of 6-foot-1 junior forward Arielle Edwards, an in-season transfer from Hudson Catholic, became eligible after an NJSIAA-mandated sit-out period.
Because Edwards transferred after the current season had began she is ineligible for the state tournament, again according to NJSIAA rules.
University went just 4-3 when Edwards played for them, beginning with a 45-40 Super Essex Conference-American Division loss vs. No. 8 ranked West Orange on Feb. 5, and ending with a 67-56 independent setback at No. 13 Demarest (24-4).
But, there were impressive results as well during that stretch, particularly a 48-46 win over 16th-ranked Caldwell in the Essex County Tournament semifinals, and the Phoenix certainly hung around all game long when they fell to defending champion West Orange, 51-48, in the Feb. 21 ECT final in the Mountaineers’ home gym.
What made University particularly challenging during that stretch when Edwards was in the lineup was that her presence inside alongside the team’s best player, 6-1 senior forward Briana Holt, gave the Phoenix a very difficult one-two inside tandem to deal with.
However, even with Edwards not available for the states, veteran coach Middy Baraka’s team is still quite the handful, and played Arts neck-and-neck and down to the wire without Edwards in their late-December NPSHT final at Weequahic.
Arts senior point guard Nilah Rivera, who leads the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game with 499 points so far this season, converted a game-winning floater with 5 seconds remaining to lift the Jaguars over University in that holiday clash.
Holt, a powerful 4-year starting post player, had 18 points and 12 rebounds in that contest and averages 17. 1 ppg and 12.8 rpg on the season as a veritable ‘double-double’ machine for University.
“Our 6-2 freshman Jalyana Conover-Smith played her tough in that game and she has matured a lot since then,” said Brown. “Briana is a decorated player, she’s been there before, and has the experience which helped her eventually take over in that one, and we know we have to find ways to try and deal with her again, which is certainly a challenge.
“Still, I like the way our ‘bigs’ like Jalyana and (6-foot junior) Makayla Allen have been coming along, plus we have other really good defenders like (5-8 ½ senior) Niaja Troutman, whose favorite defensive player was Dennis Rodman, and she doesn’t care how big the girl is she’s covering because she’ll challenge her in every situation.
“Against Glen Ridge (69-44 Arts N2G1 semifinal victory on Wednesday night), Niaja did a good job in neutralizing their best forward (Allison Snyder) even though she had her strong numbers (13 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 13 blocks) against us.
“We’ll look to our backcourt to help us set the tone and we have some really good guards who we rely on.”
Rivera, the 5-6 senior transfer from Immaculate Conception, had 16 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 7 steals in the sectional semifinal win vs. Glen Ridge, while Troutman added 12 points, 3 rebounds and 3 steals, and juniors Harmoni Burgess (team-high 17 points) and Ivyanah LaFontant (11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals) also shined for the deep and talented arsenal of Arts guards.
University also has solid talent beyond the irrepressible inside force Holt with players to watch such as senior forward Carryn Grand-Pierre, freshman forward Naylah Phillips, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds in her team’s dominant 76-48 N2G1 semifinal win vs. Newark Tech; sophomore guard Danasia Downer, who had 14 points vs. the Terriers, and junior guards Shanaa Manning-Cook, who averages 4.2 assists per game, and Skylar Clark.
“It could be another epic battle and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Brown. “We like our team and I’m sure University will come into Saturday with confidence about their abilities as well.”
NOTES- University has won 10 state sectional titles, including as recently as two seasons ago…Rivera and Troutman played on Immaculate’s Non-Public B state championship team last March before the Montclair Catholic school closed in June for good after 100 years due to financial issues…Makayla Allen is a transfer from Payne Tech…Burgess (10.7 ppg) was the leading scorer for Arts last season when the Jaguars finished 18-8 and lost to Verona, 50-47, in the N2G1 quarterfinals…LaFontant and current junior guard Nicole Rai Bogan were other key players back this season from that team which has been strengthened mightily with the arrival of Rivera and Troutman.
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