Fierce Competition
In South Jersey high school girls’ basketball, the Olympic Conference races have a similar look to the Tri-County boys’ races that we outlined last week.
Both leagues have quality teams that were so talented the division races were dominated by just one school each.
In the Olympic Conference, there are three divisions. Here is a look at how the races went as the teams now turn their attention to the sectional playoffs which begin Feb. 26:
Olympic American
This is annually one of the most competitive divisions in South Jersey. This year defending state Group 4 champion Lenape won the American Division, going 8-0.
Both Cherry Hill East and Cherokee still need to face each other, but it won’t factor in the championship. Here are the standings at press time:
Lenape 8-0
Cherokee 5-2
Eastern 4-4
Cherry Hill East 2-5
Rancocas Valley 0-8
Coming off a state championship year, Lenape had high hopes and the Indians have delivered to this point. Lenape won seven of the eight division games by double digits. The lone exception was a 39-31 win over Cherry Hill East on Jan. 16. Lenape then beat East in the rematch, 55-30 on Feb. 12
The Indians have one of the best sophomores and players in South Jersey in guard El-Anita Joe-Samuel, who entered the week averaging 16.5 points.
Olympic National
Paul VI was not only the class of the division, but also the consensus No. 1 team in South Jersey. The Eagles began the week 22-0 and recently earned a 65-57 win over nationally ranked Long Island Lutheran.
Here are the National Division standings:
Paul VI 6-0
Bishop Eustace 4-2
Camden Catholic 2-4
Camden 0-6
Paul VI’s biggest challenge came from Bishop Eustace, which played the Eagles to their two closest division games. Paul VI won 64-47 at Eustace and then 55-41 at home. Sophomore guard Brooke Stagliano (14.6 ppg.) has been the leading scorer of a very balanced Paul VI team.
Olympic Patriot
Like Lenape and Paul VI, Cherry Hill West didn’t lose in winning the division crown. The Lions are expected to be a major contender in the upcoming South Jersey Group 3 tournament.
Here are the Patriot Division standings:
Cherry Hill West 8-0
Moorestown 6-2
Shawnee 4-4
Seneca 2-6
Winslow Township 0-8
Not surprisingly, West’s biggest challenge came from Moorestown, and it wouldn’t shock anybody if these two met in the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs, possibly in the final.
Cherry Hill West won 39-35 at home against Moorestown in its second game of the season on Dec. 19. Sophomore Kirsten Gibson, who is West’s leading scorer, had a team-high 10 points in this defensive struggle. In the rematch, the Lions won 38-35 at Moorestown on Jan. 29. Senior Julia Lewis scored a team-high 12 points for West. Moorestown received 22 points, six rebounds and three steals from junior guard Analyse Intenzo.
Photo courtesy of Lenape Girls Basketball X/Twitter
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Author: Marc Narducci
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