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.com 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 South Jersey public brackets.
FAVORITE
Haddon Township
The top-seeded Hawks are in a position to repeat as sectional champs despite the graduation from last year’s team of leading scorer Alli Kamulda and her twin sister Madi, who had the most rebounds on the squad. Senior Kiersten Callahan — a recent addition to the 1,000-point club — junior Abby Wiedeman and sophomore Kaitlyn Martin are all key returners, while junior Riley Kennedy and freshman Julianna Martin have emerged as important pieces as well. Haddon Township went 8-2, finishing in second place in the Colonial Conference Liberty Division, and is 19-8 overall, with notable wins over Haddonfield, Haddon Heights, Cherry Hill East, Timber Creek and Holy Spirit. Its losses have come to Camden Catholic, Haddon Heights, Mainland, Haddonfield, Cherry Hill East, Shawnee, Cinnaminson and Moorestown.
CONTENDERS
Wildwood
Second-seeded Wildwood can basically be considered a co-favorite with Haddon Township. The Warriors have played in six straight sectional finals, and fell to the Hawks 42-32 last year after winning the title the season before. Macie McCracken and her 2,478 career points are gone, but Wildwood has still managed to win the Tri-County Conference Classic Division, reach the Tri-County Tournament Championship Bracket final and compile a 19-7 record so far. The Warriors are led by a pair of 1,000-point scorers, senior Angela Wilber and junior Rebecca Benichou. Their losses have come to Atlantic City, Wildwood Catholic, Central Bucks South (PA), Egg Harbor, Mainland, Kingsway and Gloucester Catholic.
Audubon
Audubon, the third seed, has won at least 16 games for the third year in a row and brings an 18-8 overall record into the playoffs after going 9-1 and claiming the Colonial Conference Patriot Division title. The Green Wave had been on a five-game winning streak before losing to Cherry Hill West in the Camden County Tournament quarterfinals. Audubon, which fell to Woodstown in last year’s sectional quarterfinals, is paced by senior guard Emma Speyerer and sophomore guard Sophia Homa. Its other defeats came against Haddonfield, Gateway, Eastern (twice), Holy Spirit, Cinnaminson and Haddon Heights.
Glassboro
At 19-7, Glassboro has already won seven more games than last year and earned the program’s most victories in a season since 2020. The Bulldogs also went 9-1 in the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division to share the title with Pennsville. Junior guard Kezia Brackett is averaging 22.7 points, sixth-best in the state, and other key players are seniors Sanaa Thomas and Sianna Wedderburn and sophomore Lily Czubas. Glassboro’s losses have come to Pennsville, Moorestown, St. Dominic, Our Lady of Mercy, Wildwood (twice) and Shawnee.
Palmyra
At 19-6, fifth-seeded Palmyra is knocking on the door of its second straight 20-win season. The Panthers, who dropped a sectional quarterfinal to Clayton last year, are hoping for a longer playoff run and will have that chance thanks to a balanced offense led by juniors Jada Coefield-Elie and Jillian Hines. In addition to two losses to division rival Bordentown, Palmyra’s other defeats have come against Glassboro, Cinnaminson, Delran and Seneca.
DARK HORSE
Pennsville
The sixth-seeded Eagles have had an interesting season, to say the least. Head coach Steve Merritt abruptly resigned in early February and was replaced by assistant Robin Efelis on an interim basis, but Pennsville overcame the change to earn a share of the Tri-County Conference Diamond Division for its first division championship since 1988. The Eagles (16-7) were on a seven-game winning streak until losing to Delsea in the conference tournament. They have two 1,000-point scorers in seniors Taylor Bass and Marley Wood, and if they can get past rival Woodstown for a third time this season in the first round, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them pull off another victory or two.
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
1-Haddon Township vs. 2-Wildwood
FAVORITE
Middle Township
The top-seeded Panthers (23-4) have won this section three years in a row and have an excellent shot at extending the streak. They have won at least 22 games for the fourth consecutive season thanks to a sensational senior class that includes Reagen Powell, Sarah Farrow, Abby Cappelletti and Mya Robinson. Middle’s only losses have come to Our Lady of Mercy, Cherokee, Egg Harbor and Bishop Eustace. The Panthers repeated as Cape-Atlantic League Tournament champs on Saturday with a win over Wildwood Catholic.
CONTENDERS
Cinnaminson
The second-seeded Pirates have enjoyed another fantastic season, compiling a 26-1 record with the only loss coming to defending South Jersey, Group 3 champion Cherry Hill West. This is the sixth full season in a row that the program has won at least 20 games. Cinnaminson has also had playoff success, reaching the sectional final in 2023 and 2024 before falling in the quarterfinals last year to Manchester Township. The Pirates’ list of impressive wins includes Thrive Charter (twice), Mainland, Hammonton, Haddon Heights and Shawnee. Senior Shiloh Moore is averaging 17.1 points and junior Gabby Harvey is averaging 13.9.
Haddon Heights
Despite losing four straight to end the regular season — to second-seeded Cinnaminson, Group 4 schools Eastern and Rancocas Valley, and Ocean City of Group 3 — the third-seeded Garnets can still get hot once the tournament starts and are capable of making a run. The Colonial Conference Liberty Division champs with a 9-1 mark, they are 17-10 overall and played in the sectional final last year. Their other losses came to Egg Harbor (twice), Kingsway, Cherry Hill West, Cherokee and Haddon Township.
Haddonfield
The fourth-seeded Bulldawgs are 19-8 overall and finished in third place in the Colonial Conference Liberty Division with a 7-3 mark. Sectional semifinalists in 2023 and 2024, they bowed out in the quarters last year. Freshman Sara Guveiyian has made an immediate impact and is averaging a team-high 10.9 points with 45 total 3-pointers. Haddonfield’s best win was 45-16 over defending South Jersey, Group 1 champ Haddon Township, a team it had lost to earlier in the season. The Bulldawgs’ other defeats came at the hands of Holy Spirit, Haddon Heights (twice), Paul VI, Moorestown, Cherry Hill West and Lawrenceville.
Collingswood
In his first year as head coach, Michael McKeown has guided fifth-seeded Collingswood (19-8) to its first winning campaign since 2020 and already an eight-win improvement over last season. Junior center Tatum Hinson is averaging 20.2 points and 5.7 rebounds and joined the 1,000-point club earlier this season. Norah Roseboro is another talented junior averaging 14 points. With only one senior on their roster, the Panthers might be a year away from serious contention, but they’re not ruling out a playoff run ahead of schedule.
DARK HORSE
Manchester Township
The sixth-seeded Hawks (10-13) might be in danger of finishing with the program’s first losing season since 2014, but overlooking Dave Beauchemin’s squad in the postseason is never wise. Manchester Township, which won four sectional titles in a row between 2017 and 2020, has reached the semifinals each of the past two years and lost by just two to Haddon Heights in last season’s semis. Sophomore Jesse Sarana (18.2 points per game, 51 3s) and junior Madeline Nolan (18 points per game) are players to watch.
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
1-Middle Township vs. 2-Cinnaminson
FAVORITE
Cherry Hill West
The reigning sectional and state champs, who are seeded first, have a much different look this year, but they still have junior Kirsten Gibson, one of the state’s elite scorers. She is averaging 23.5 points, has been in the 30s three times, and has not scored fewer than 13 points in a game. But the Lions did not get to 18-6 on the back of just one player. Seniors Jizel Dowling and Lilly Legato have seized their opportunities to play bigger roles, sophomores Ava Legato and Sam Rubenstein have emerged as key players, and freshman Hayley Hughes has also contributed. Cherry Hill West is 11-3 in its last 14 games, with the only losses coming to state Top 10 teams Paul VI and Gloucester Catholic along with Camden Catholic. The Lions split with Moorestown and Shawnee and also dropped their season opener to Cherokee.
CONTENDERS
Moorestown
Not many teams have played as challenging a schedule as second-seeded Moorestown (17-9). Other than a five-point defeat against Bishop Eustace, the Quakers’ losses have come to either defending sectional champions (Cherry Hill West and Middle Township) or teams ranked in the NJ.com Top 20 (Gloucester Catholic, Paul VI, Manasquan, Red Bak Catholic and two to Lenape). Heading into the playoffs, first-year head coach Jeb Howley’s squad has won seven of eight games. The Quakers have an outstanding shooter in senior Analyse Intenzo, who is averaging 17.2 points and has a chance to become Burlington County’s all-time leader in 3-pointers. Senior Julia Blong and juniors Tess Murphy and Elyse Anstey are other important veterans for a team that has reached at least the sectional semifinals three years in a row and lost in the final last season.
Mainland
Third-seeded Mainland, which won a state championship just two years ago, has rebounded from a rare down season in 2025 and compiled a 17-9 record under first-year head coach Bobby Edmunds. The Mustangs have notable victories over Haddon Township, Egg Harbor and Wildwood, and their losses all came against formidable competition (Egg Harbor, Cinnaminson, Lenape, Middle Township twice, Wildwood Catholic twice, Hammonton and Bishop Eustace). Juniors Brielle Smith, Reilly Nagle, Sammy Funk and Jade O’Neil and senior Callie Smith are all capable of carrying the offense on any given night.
Shawnee
The Renegades (16-11), seeded fourth, have been competitive in almost every game this season despite facing a tough slate both in and out of the Olympic Conference. They have wins over Egg Harbor, Clearview, Cherry Hill West and Haddon Township, and their losses include close calls against Bishop Eustace and Camden Catholic. Senior Maggie Lutz and junior Olivia Gasik are forces inside.
Hammonton
The fifth-seeded Blue Devils (21-6) won their first 17 games this season, 14 of them by double figures. Although they are just 4-6 in their last 10 games as the competition has gotten tougher, they do own an impressive win over Mainland in that stretch that sent them to the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament semifinals before getting knocked out by Middle Township. Senior Sara Griffiths and junior Jenna Vivadelli are both averaging more than 12 points per game.
DARK HORSE
Clearview
The ninth-seeded Pioneers (15-11) will likely be on the road for as long as they hang around in the bracket, but they are hoping a very difficult schedule has prepared them well for the playoffs. Three of their losses have come to state No. 6 Gloucester Catholic, with another to No. 16 Lenape. Senior 1,000-point scorer Juliette Mirgiliani and senior Brett Foster are both sharpshooters who can spark an upset or two if they are feeling it from behind the arc.
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
1-Cherry Hill West vs. 2-Moorestown
FAVORITE
Lenape
The top-seeded Indians (23-4), No. 16 in the NJ.com Top 20, are seeking to reach the sectional final for the third year in a row. They won in 2024 and went on to become state champs as well. Last year, they lost as the top seed to rival Cherokee. Lenape is coming off its fourth consecutive Burlington County Tournament title as junior star El-Anita Joe-Samuel had 40 points and 17 rebounds in the final against Moorestown. The Indians, who also claimed the Olympic Conference American Division crown, have reeled off seven straight wins. Their only losses have come to Gloucester Catholic (twice), Trinity Hall and Red Bank Catholic. Joe-Samuel is averaging 23.2 points, and other important veterans are senior Ryleigh Nichols and junior Shelby Croly.
CONTENDERS
Egg Harbor
At 19-8, the second-seeded Eagles are one victory away from their third straight 20-win season. They have notable wins over Wildwood Catholic (twice), Haddon Heights (twice), Middle Township, Wildwood and Mainland. Their losses have come to Shawnee, Eastern, Middle Township, Bishop Eustace, Mainland, Holy Spirit and Wildwood Catholic. Egg Harbor lost in the sectional quarterfinals last year after reaching the semifinals the season before. Sophomore Siena Jaworski leads the team with an 11.7 scoring average and sophomore Elaina Kraybill averages 9.7 points and 14.1 rebounds.
Howell
Third-seeded Howell has reached the South Jersey, Group 4 semifinals each of the past two years, losing to the eventual sectional champ each time: Lenape in 2024 and Cherokee in 2025. The Rebels are hoping to break through with a 21-5 team led by junior Kylee Beam, who is averaging 17.2 points and 6.9 rebounds. Seniors BellaRose Marino and Payton Smith are other veteran contributors. Howell’s losses have come to Colts Neck (twice), Rumson-Fair Haven, Toms River East and Manasquan.
Cherokee
Fourth-seeded Cherokee (17-8), the defending sectional champion, has been without injured senior point guard Brielle Alaba since early February. She is one of the best all-around players in South Jersey and the Chiefs are 3-4 without her. If she is able to return at some point, this is a serious contender and Cherokee would likely be on a collision course with rival Lenape in the semifinals. The top-seeded Indians won both regular-season matchups, but they also did last year before the Chiefs got payback in the final. Juniors Jordyn Arnold and Abby Ball, sophomores Gracie O’Donnell and Leah Weiner, and freshman Nadia Alaba are other players to watch.
Eastern
Fifth-seeded Eastern is coming off a semifinal run last year and has the potential to do it again. The Vikings are 17-10 and have won nine of their last 10 games going into the playoffs, bouncing back from a five-game losing streak in the middle of the season. They split with division foe Cherokee and could face a rubber match with the Chiefs in the quarterfinals. Eastern’s other losses have come to Lenape twice, Moorestown, Wildwood, Cherry Hill West, Wildwood Catholic, Camden Catholic, Howell and Bishop Eustace. Senior London Sutton averages 13.6 points and 7.8 boards.
DARK HORSE
Kingsway
Jeanine Delaney’s squad has faced stiff competition all season and will be prepared for whatever it will see in the playoffs. The seventh-seeded Dragons are 17-9 with wins over Haddon Heights and Wildwood, and two of their losses came to No. 6 Gloucester Catholic. Sophomore Alyssa Lentini and junior Chloe McNeill lead a balanced offense.
PROJECTED SECTIONAL FINAL
1-Lenape vs. 3-Howell
