These Morris County basketball teams will play for state titles this weekend at Rutgers

ELIZABETH — The Chatham girls basketball team was on a mission. The NJSIAA Group 3 semifinal was not going to be the Cougars’ last game.

No matter that everyone but junior guard Ava Paone was sick with a mix of colds, flu and other viruses. No matter that senior point guard Mia Semioli went down hard on her right shoulder two minutes in and spent the rest of the game on the bench.

Chatham pulled together and toppled Morris Knolls, 54-44, on Tuesday night. The Cougars return to the Group 3 final for the second year in a row.

Group 3 girls: Chatham vs. Cherry Hill West

Chatham (31-2) will play Cherry Hill West for the Group 3 title at 4 p.m. Saturday at Rutgers. Cherry Hill West defeated Neptune, 52-36, in the Central-South semifinal.

This is Cherry Hill West’s first time in a Group final. The Cougars, meanwhile, have played for five Group titles but have yet to win the ultimate prize.

“This is a gut check,” longtime Chatham coach Joe Gaba said. “We’ve been having our way with teams this year. We just have to find a way. At this point, style points don’t make a difference – just get to the next game.”

Chatham senior guard Ella Kreuzer (16.6 ppg., 3.5 rpg.), who has signed a National Letter of Intent with Bucknell, led all scorers on Tuesday with 20 points. Senior guards Arden Alvarez (10.4 ppg., 3.8 rpg.) and McKenna Hogan added 12 and 10 respectively.

Gaba singled out senior guard Ryan Bolger and freshman guard Lucy Arps, both of whom had to play extended minutes in the semifinal. The Cougars also sank eight threes, one more than Gaba predicted they'd need to win on Tuesday.

For Morris Knolls, senior Charlee Perna had 15 points and Denay Jones added 14. The Golden Eagles had broken the 21-year-old school record with their 24th victory to take the sectional title – their first since 1994.

Sophomore Kirsten Gibson (18 ppg.) led Cherry Hill West (24-4) with 19 points, six boards and four assists in the Group semifinal. Senior Molly Bovell (8.9 ppg.) added 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Cherry Hill West is a defense-first team, allowing opponents an average of 35 points per game. Chatham is almost as stingy, giving up 37 points – and winning games by an average of almost 19.

The Cougars' two losses came in overtime at Immaculate Heart on Jan. 25 and against Morris Catholic – another Group finalist – in the Morris County Tournament final.

"We have so much depth," Hogan said, her voice hoarse. "It doesn't matter who goes in. Everyone's going to play their hearts out."

Non-Public A girls: Morris Catholic vs. Paul VI

Morris Catholic has been aiming for this NJSIAA final all season. It'll be a matchup of the two remaining undefeated girls basketball teams at 5 p.m. Friday at Rutgers.

But Morris Catholic, despite being far smaller, has more experience at this level. The team comes in with 31 consecutive wins, four straight Morris County Tournament titles, and the last two Non-Public B trophies.

With 171 girls, Morris Catholic was shifted up to Non-Public A North this winter while the boys stayed in Non-Public B. Paul VI has more than double the female enrollment at 441 girls.

Morris Catholic's seniors are 106-5, with just two in-state losses. However, one of those was against Paul VI: 76-44 on Jan. 8, 2023. Hannah Hidalgo, then a senior guard, had 41 points, seven rebounds and seven steals for Paul VI in that game. However, she's now a sophomore powering Notre Dame to a tie for first place in the ACC regular season.

Morris Catholic, meanwhile, still has almost all of its weapons despite a nine-player roster. McDonald's All-American Mia Pauldo leads with 18.8 points, 5.3 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals. Her sister Mya Pauldo, the other half of the Tennessee-bound Twin Back Court, adds 16 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists. Morgan Fulston (5.3 ppg., 9 rpg.), a 5-foot-10 sophomore, is the leading rebounder.

This is Paul VI's first time in the Group final since 1989. The Haddonfield school lost in 1986 and 1989. Morris Catholic won Non-Public B in 1986, 2004, 2006, and the last two years. It has played in 12 finals, losing Non-Public A in 2007 and 2008.

Sophomore Brooke Stagliano (14.6 ppg.) is the leading scorer on a balanced Paul VI roster, with four averaging in double digits. Kiyanna Blacks-Stewart (11.3 ppg., 7.3 rpg.), a 6-foot-1 senior center, is the top rebounder.

Paul VI has not lost since the Non-Public South A final on March 4, 2024.

Group 2 girls: Madison vs. Manasquan

It's time for Round 2. These teams met in the NJSIAA Group 2 girls basketball final a year ago, with Manasquan taking a 47-26 victory home from Rutgers.

But while not much has changed about Madison's roster, this is a very different team heading back to the Group 2 final at noon Sunday back at Jersey Mike's Arena.

The Dodgers have been there before, and now they know a bit more about what to expect. That said, Manasquan is going for its 10th Group title. This is Madison's second time playing for the biggest prize.

Manasquan (24-5) lost back-to-back games – including a Shore Conference Tournament semifinal – before diving into NJSIAA play. The team comes into the final on a four-game winning streak.

Senior guard Shea Donnelly (10.3 ppg., 3.4 rpg.) is the only Manasquan player averaging double-digit points. Junior guard Jordyn Hollawell (9.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 2.6 apg.) and senior guard Olivia Shaughnessey (8.9 ppg., 4.2 rpg.) also make significant contributions to a balanced roster.

Manasquan has been allowing postseason opponents just 37 points per game, but does it have an answer for Charlotte Tuhy? Madison's 6-foot-1 senior forward broke Morris County's all-time scoring record last month. Tuhy (26.4 ppg., 9.3 rpg., 4 spg.) has the comfort of longtime teammate Gabby Mariani (5.4 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 6.5 apg.) at point guard.

Don't discount 5-foot-10 Dodgers senior Devon Johnson (9.6 ppg., 7.7 rpg.).

Madison comes into the Group final on a nine-game winning streak.

Group 2 boys: Madison vs. Manasquan

Madison has made school history already. The Dodgers broke the school record for wins with 24, earning their first sectional title along the way.

Madison comes into its first Group final on a five-game winning streak. After the narrowest of victories in the sectional semi and final, the Dodgers took care of Glen Rock, 53-38, in a Group 2 final on Wednesday night.

They'll face Manasquan for the Group 2 title at 2 p.m. Sunday at Rutgers, immediately following the Madison-Manasquan girls final. But unlike the Dodgers girls, who played the same opponent in the same game a year ago, the boys are in uncharted territory.

Manasquan, meanwhile, edged Camden, 44-43, in the Central-South Group 2 final. It is in its third state final, having lost in Group 3 in 2004 and won Group 2 in 2023.

Senior Griffin Linstra (14.8 ppg., 8.6 rpg., 4.6 apg.) is one of the few significant returning contributors from the championship team. Sophomores Rey Weinseimer (17.5 ppg., 4.8 rpg.) and Logan Cleveland (7.2 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) also help fill Manasquan's stat sheet.

For Madison, junior point guard Gavin Randall (20 ppg., 7.9 rpg.) has become a leader on and off the floor. Senior Mike Liddy (11.5 ppg.) supplied the Dodgers' heroics in the sectional final, sinking a buzzer-beating layup.

Manasquan has scored an average of 55.5 points per game, allowing 39. Madison has had a more successful offense, averaging 63.4 – but allows 50 points.