Welcome to the 2025-26 New Jersey girls basketball state tournament.
We’re just a few days away from the start to the sprint to the finish line. Sectional and group champions will be crowned over the coming weeks.
The girls basketball state tournament officially begins Wednesday and NJ Advance Media is here to break down the entire field, bracket-by-bracket, across the state.
Here’s a complete breakdown, with favorites, contenders and more for the four Non-Public B brackets.
NORTH, NON-PUBLIC B | BRACKET
FAVORITE
Gill St. Bernard’s
Top-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s, ranked No. 11 in the NJ.com Top 20, is looking for its first state title since 2012. Last season, the Knights fell to eventual Non-Public B champion Montclair Immaculate in the sectional final. This season, Gill is 19-5 with losses against Westfield, No. 6 Gloucester Catholic, No. 8 West Orange, No. 5 Rutgers Prep and No. 10 Franklin and Top 20 wins over No. 18 Immaculate Heart, No. 13 St. Thomas Aquinas and Franklin. The Somerset County Tournament semifinalist has been led by senior Addy Platt and juniors Kaity Platt, Melina Miller and Sadie Finn.
CONTENDERS
Saddle River Day
Second-seeded Saddle River Day, under first-year head coach Corey Taite, is 16-9 and went 8-2 in the NJIC Colonial Division. The Rebels, which won the Non-Public B title in 2018 and 2019 and lost to Rutgers Prep in the final in 2022, has in-state losses against No. 10 Franklin, No. 8 West Orange, Bayonne, Glen Rock, No. 13 St. Thomas Aquinas, Rutherford, No. 14 Demarest and Pope John. Saddle River Day, which advanced to the quarterfinals of the Bergen County Tournament, has been averaging 55 points a game and has been led by sophomore Grace Darling, junior Emily Mattson and senior Giada Celetti.
Hudson Catholic
Third-seeded Hudson Catholic, which fell to Gill St. Bernard’s in the semifinals last year, is 16-10 this season after playing in the HCIAL American Division. The Hawks, which fell to Bayonne in the Hudson County Tournament final for the second-straight year, has six losses against teams that were at one point or another ranked in the Top 20 this season. Senior Kharington Schwindt and junior Susan Gentile have led the Hawks, which are averaging almost 54 points a game.
Villa Walsh
Fourth-seeded Villa Walsh, which fell to Saddle River Day in the first round last year, enters the state tournament having won three-straight and six of its last seven with a loss to Pennington in the Prep B final. The Vikings, which have a loss to Hudson Catholic this season, has been led by senior Michela Vaccaro and sophomore Serena Sabatella.
Eastern Christian
Fifth-seeded Eastern Christian, which didn’t play in the state tournament last year, is 16-8 under first-year head coach Erik Olson. The Eagles started the season with three-straight losses before going on an eight-game win streak. Eastern Christian, which fell to Wayne Hills in the Passaic County Tournament quarterfinals, ended the regular season with a 52-34 loss to Villa Walsh on Friday. Junior Addison Fleming, senior Caroline Pringle and sophomore Audrey Heerema have led the team this season.
DARK HORSE
Roselle Catholic
Seventh-seeded Roselle Catholic, which lost to Hudson Catholic in the quarterfinals last year, is 6-18 under first-year head coach Jamar Wise. The Lions have played a very tough schedule this season, with seven games against teams that were at one point ranked in the Top 20. Their six wins have come against Linden, Newark Central, Oak Knoll, Roselle Park, Cranford and Newark Collegiate. Sophomores London Reese and Scarlett Wise and freshman Jaylee Jackson have led the team.
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
2-Saddle River Day at 1-Gill St. Bernard’s
SOUTH, NON-PUBLIC B | BRACKET
FAVORITE
Gloucester Catholic
Second-seeded Gloucester Catholic, ranked No. 6 in the NJ.com Top 20, is looking for its second-straight sectional title after winning its first title against Rutgers Prep last year. It went on to fall to Montclair Immaculate in the Non-Public B final. The Rams are 22-4 and went 10-0 in the Tri-County Conference Royal Division with in-state losses against No. 2 Red Bank Catholic and No. 3 Paul VI (twice), including a loss in the SJIBT final. Gloucester Catholic enters the state tournament having won five-straight games, including a win over Wildwood in the Tri-County Conference Championship Tournament. Led by seniors Jahzara Green, Jalyn Moore and Talia Shumate and juniors Amanda Eggers and Monet High, the Rams are averaging 60 points a game.
CONTENDERS
Rutgers Prep
Top-seeded Rutgers Prep, ranked No. 5 in the NJ.com Top 20, is looking for its first state title since 2022. Last year the Argonauts fell to Gloucester Catholic in the sectional final, and in 2023 and 2024 fell to Morris Catholic in the Non-Public B final. This season, Rutgers Prep is 23-3 with in-state losses to No. 2 Red Bank Catholic and Blair. It enters the state tournament having won 17 of its last 18 games, which includes a win over No. 10 Franklin in the Somerset County Tournament final. Led by seniors Ava LaMonica and Sophia Georgiades and sophomore Hailey Benbow, the Argonauts are averaging over 56 points a game.
Wildwood Catholic
Third-seeded Wildwood Catholic, which fell to Rutgers Prep in the sectional semifinals last year, is looking for its first trip to a state final since 1984. This season the Crusaders are 19-8 and went 8-4 in the Cape-Atlantic League American Division. Seven of their eight losses were to in-state opponents Middle Township (three times), Egg Harbor (twice), Paul VI and Cherry Hill West. Led by sophomores Dani Daley, Damiya Carter and Juniper King and senior Lily King, Wildwood Catholic is averaging 55 points a game.
Holy Spirit
Fourth-seeded Holy Spirit, which fell to Ranney in the quarterfinals last year, is 11-14 and has faced the likes of Wildwood Catholic, Middle Township, Egg Harbor, Haddon Township and Cinnaminson. Holy Spirit, which fell to Wildwood Catholic in the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament quarterfinals, has gone 3-1 in its last four games. Seniors Lauren Cella, Reilly Byrnes and Megan Kane have led a Spartans team that is averaging almost 43 points a game.
DARK HORSE
Ranney
Ranney, the No. 11-seed in this section, fell to Gloucester Catholic in the semifinals last year. The Panthers enter with a record of 4-16, but have played some tough competition this season against the likes of Ewing, Colts Neck, Trinity Hall and Howell. Ranney is a young team this season, with nine underclassmen on the roster. Sophomores Savannah Jackson, Kayla Matos and Lucy Eibeler have led the team this season.
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
2-Gloucester Catholic at 1-Rutgers Prep
