Girls basketball: Rutgers Prep, New Providence advance to state finals
NJSIAA Non-Public B South final
Rutgers Prep 70, Wildwood Catholic 40: Junior Mikayla Blakes led all scorers with 22 points and senior Katie Ledden chipped in 20 points and third-seeded Rutgers Prep turned an 18-point halftime advantage into a 70-40 victory over top-seeded Wildwood Catholic on Wednesday in the Non-Public B South final at Seneca High School.
Rutgers Prep (25-4) will face North B champ Morris Catholic in the state Non-Public B final at RWJBarnabas Arena in Toms River on Sunday seeking its second straight championship and fourth since 2016. The Argos went to the TOC final last season.
Morris Catholic rallied to beat Rutgers Prep 72-69 in a Dec. 17 regular-season meeting.
NJSIAA Group 2 semifinals
New Providence 49, Middle Township 34: Senior guard Meghan Lamanna poured in 25 points and grabbed five rebounds, and junior Jasmine Miller pitched in nine points and four boards and the New Providence High School girls basketball team advanced to the state Group 2 final with a 49-34 victory over Middle Township on Wednesday at Central Regional High School.
The Central 2 champion Pioneers (27-3) led just 20-18 at halftime, before surging in the second half to make the state finals for the first time as a Group 2 program. New Providence knocked off juggernaut Manasquan in the sectional final Monday, ending the Warriors’ reign of eight straight sectional titles.
New Providence moved up to Group 2 prior to last season, which ended at Manasquan in the CJ2 final. The Pioneers won three Group 1 state championships since 2010.
Grace Kelly pitched in seven points and seven rebounds for the Pioneers, who will face North 2 champ Secaucus in Saturday’s final at RWJBarnabas Arena in Toms River on the campus of Toms River High School North.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Girls basketball: Rutgers Prep, New Providence advance to state finals
