South Jersey Public School Girls’ Basketball Playoff Recap

by Marc Narducci | Mar 13, 2026

None of the champions of the South Jersey public school girls’ basketball tournament were repeat winners.

It just added to the unpredictability of the tournament, where only one of the four top seeds emerged as champion.

Here is a look at the four public school South Jersey champs. Team seedings are in parenthesis.

SJ Group 4

Final: (1) Lenape 59, (3) Howell 40.

Lenape has continued to be a recent postseason force. The Indians won the Group 4 state title in 2024 and last year advanced to the sectional final before falling to division rival Cherokee. This year the Indians got revenge by earning a 55-33 semifinal win over Cherokee.

Lenape was dominant in winning this year’s sectional title. The closest of the four playoff games was the 19-point win over Howell. The average margin of victory for Lenape in the four playoff games was 26.7 points.

Lenape junior El-Anita Joe-Samuel, among the top players in the state, recorded 20 points, 17 rebounds and six assists in the championship game. Senior Ryleigh Nichols added 14 points.

Joe-Samuel, averaging 23.9 points this season, took her play up another notch in the postseason. In Lenape’s four playoff wins, she averaged 28.5 points.

Before meeting Lenape, Howell had been impressive, winning its first three playoff games by an average margin of 21 points, including a 43-30 semifinal win at No. 2 seed Egg Harbor Township.

SJ Group 3

Final: (2) Moorestown 48, (1) Cherry Hill West 38.

These two Olympic Conference Patriot Division foes split their two games in the regular season.

Moorestown enacted revenge in the championship game after losing to Cherry Hill West, 50-43 in last year’s South Jersey Group 3 final. (Cherry Hill West would go on to win last year’s state Group 3 title).

During this year’s championship, Moorestown senior Analyse Intenzo contributed 23 points and nine rebounds, which were game-high totals in both categories.

Intenzo had an outstanding South Jersey tournament. In the four playoff wins, she averaged 21 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Junior Elyse Anstey was Moorestown’s other double-figure scorer in the final with 10 points.

West junior Kirsten Gibson, one of the top players in the state, led the Lions with 17 points.

Another major reason for Moorestown’s title was the strong defense The Quakers allowed teams an average of just 26.7 points in the four playoff wins.

SJ Group 2

Final: (2) Cinnaminson 48, (1) Middle Township 35

Cinnaminson improved to 30-1 with its win over Middle Township. It was the first sectional title in school history. Junior Gabby Harvey led Cinnaminson with 17 points. Harvey had an excellent South Jersey tournament, averaging 19 points. She was especially dominant with a 26-point effort in Cinnaminson’s 49-40 semifinal win over Haddon Heights.

Cinnaminson’s defense was a major obstacle for postseason opponents. The Pirates held teams to just 28.7 points in the four playoff wins.

Senior Shiloh Moore added 14 points in the championship win for Cinnaminson.

In the title game, Middle Township senior Sarah Farrow had 13 points and six rebounds to lead the Panthers in both departments.

SJ Group 1

Final: (2) Wildwood 38, (1) Haddon Township 28.

This was the reverse of last year’s sectional final when top seeded Haddon Township beat second seeded Wildwood, 42-32.

Wildwood has been to seven straight sectional finals, having won three titles in that span.

Junior Joelle Murphy led the Wildwood effort with a double-double, 14 points and 13 rebounds. Classmate Rebecca Benichou added nine points and six rebounds, while sophomore Addison Troiano had nine points and four rebounds for the Warriors.

Haddon Township received nine points apiece from senior Kiersten Callahan and freshman Julianna Martin.

Wildwood’s stingy defense allowed just 30.7 points per game in the four playoff wins.

Lenape girls basketball / Photo courtesy of Lenape girls basketball

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Author: Marc Narducci

South Jersey Public School Girls’ Basketball Playoff Recap

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