GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT FINAL PREVIEW
Friday, Feb. 22 at Middlesex County College
1-Bishop Ahr (23-3) vs. 2-Edison (19-5), 6
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Top-seeded Bishop Ahr, ranked No. 10 in the NJ.com Top 20, has been the heavy favorite to win the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament since opening day and has not disappointed.
Unbeaten in county play this season, a reloaded Bishop Ahr team has rolled through the county tournament with double-digit wins over Spotswood, East Brunswick and Middlesex to reach the final.
Unlike other teams in Middlesex County, Bishop Ahr has tested itself against some of the state's best teams to carve its path to a Top 10 ranking. Bishop Ahr beat defending Tournament of Champions winner Manasquan at home and fell to top-ranked Franklin on the road three days later.
Edison, playing in the final for the second straight year, battled its way back into the championship game with a runaway win over South Plainfield in the first round, a gutty 50-37 win over Blue Division champion South River in the quarterfinals and an impressive 58-40 triumph over Red Division champion J.P. Stevens in the semifinals Tuesday night.
Edison has been the clear No. 2 team in the GMC all season, with its three non-Bishop Ahr losses all coming out of conference against Mendham, Westfield and Watchung Hills.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: This will be the third meeting this season as Bishop Ahr swept the regular-season series in dominant fashion to capture the GMC's White Division title. Bishop Ahr beat Edison, 56-43, on Jan. 10 before getting its lineup at full strength and collected a 59-38 win the second time around on Feb. 2.
CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY: This will be the Bishop Ahr's first trip to the final since 2014 when it made a stunning run as the No. 12-seed.
Edison reached the final for the final for the second year in a row. But last year's impressive run to the championship game was the Eagles' first since 2004.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Bishop Ahr, which had lost in the semifinals three years in a row, bolstered its lineup with three high-impact transfers and the results have shown.
Behind Emma Boslet, Bishop Ahr is surrounded with talent in Kelsey Ransom, Madison Ruddy and Akiyah Baker. Those four players all supply valuable minutes and bring plenty of scoring to the floor.
Ransom, who wasn't eligible to play in the first meeting with Edison after her transfer from Pingry, is a tenacious defender, a rim-attacker and a relentless player.
Ruddy and Baker both transferred from Patrick School and were eligible to play immediately — and have been impact players from day one. Megan Herka and Morgan Maguire round out Bishop Ahr's rotation.
Edison returns much of the same nucleus from last year's team that made a surprising run to the county final. Guard Samira Sargent recently became the program's all-time scoring leader and has been the go-to scorer for Edison.
Daniella Marmol has been a force on the interior for Edison and Lourdes Marasigan has produced another strong season in the backcourt. Kenisha Chester, Angella Consolazio and Ciana McQuiller have all played vital roles in Edison's rise to GMC prominence.
KEY FACTOR: How can Edison not fall behind early?
This has been Edison's Achilles' heel against Bishop Ahr this season and should be a point of emphasis Friday night. Edison is capable of playing Bishop Ahr tight, and knocking down shots, but ball movement and breaking the Trojans' ferocious press will be key.
A double-digit first quarter deficit could sink Edison early so finding some type of early rhythm — whether it be shooting, defending, or ball security — will be vital.
Bishop Ahr will still enter the game as the heavy favorite.
PREDICTION: Bishop Ahr 72, Edison 55
Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.
Read Again http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/1072240900220638537/girls-basketball-gmc-tournament-final-preview-no-10-bishop-ahr-vs-edison/Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Girls Basketball: GMC Tournament final preview — No. 10 Bishop Ahr vs. Edison - NJ.com"
Post a Comment