A look at the South Jersey girls basketball tournament

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament begins with first-round games Monday and Tuesday. The following is a look at each of the South Jersey sections:

GROUP IV

Favorite: (1) Cherokee

Contenders: (3) Toms River North, (7) Shawnee

Sleepers: (5) Rancocas Valley, (11) Clearview, (14) Atlantic City

Area teams: (6) Millville, (14) Atlantic City, (16) EHT

Juicy first-round matchup: (9) Washington Township at (8) Lenape

Outlook: Top-seeded Cherokee is ranked among the top 10 in the state and is the class of the section. The other side of the bracket is wide open, since No. 2 Kingsway has been besieged by injuries and has struggled down the stretch. Toms River North is solid. Shawnee, despite its lower seeding, has the talent to make a run to the final.

GROUP III

Favorite: (1) Mainland

Contenders: (2) Winslow Township, (3) Ocean City

Sleepers: (4) Toms River East

Area teams: (1) Mainland, (3) Ocean City, (16) Absegami

Juicy first-round matchup: (9) Deptford at (8) Delsea

Outlook: Kylee Watson and unbeaten Mainland are the favorite, but Ocean City has taken the Mustangs to overtime three times this season. Winslow Township is big and athletic. This bracket should hold to seeding form. Anything but a Mainland vs. Winslow Township or Ocean City final would be a surprise.

GROUP II

Favorite: (1) Manchester Township

Contenders: (2) Cinnaminson, (3) Haddonfield

Sleepers: (5) Cedar Creek, (6) Middle Township

Area teams: (5) Cedar Creek, (6) Middle Township, (9) Lower Cape May

Juicy first-round matchup: (9) Lower Cape May at (8) Collingswood

Outlook: Manchester Township brought back all five starters from last year’s sectional championship team and is clearly the favorite. There quite a few good, but not great teams in this section so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a higher seed make a run. A Middle Township at Haddonfield second-round game could be very interesting.

GROUP I

Favorite: (1) Haddon Township

Contenders: (2) Gloucester, (3) Wildwood

Sleeper: (6) Woodbury

Area teams: (3) Wildwood, (14) Buena

Juicy first-round matchup: (10) Glassboro at (7) Salem

Outlook: Haddon Township brought back most of its players from last year’s team that lost a close game in the South Jersey final to Wildwood. They beefed up their non-league schedule this year and did very well. They are certainly the team to beat. A potential Wildwood at Gloucester semifinal game could be epic. The teams split their two regular-season meetings and tied for the Tri-County Classic Division title. Wildwood, however, has a very tough second-round matchup looming against Woodbury.

NON-PUBLIC A

Favorite: (1) St. John Vianney

Contenders: (2) Gloucester Catholic, (3) Red Bank Catholic

Sleeper: (6) Camden Catholic

Area teams: none

Juicy first-round matchup: (9) Bishop Eustace at (8) Paul VI

Outlook: St. John Vianney was the top-ranked team in the state prior to a loss to No. 2 Manasquan and is a prohibitive favorite here. This sectional is filled with very talented teams. Gloucester Catholic and Red Bank Catholic — and even Camden Catholic — can compete with anyone.

NON-PUBLIC B

Favorite: (2) Rutgers Prep

Contenders: (1) Trenton Catholic, (4) Roselle Catholic

Sleeper: (6) Patrick School

Area teams: (5) Holy Spirit, (10) Wildwood Catholic

Juicy first-round matchup: (10 Wildwood Catholic at (7) Holy Cross

Outlook: This, as usual, is a very strong section, with Rutgers Prep leading the way. RP is ranked among the top five teams in the state. Trenton Catholic is excellent as well and Roselle Catholic brings a seven-game winning streak into the state tournament. Patrick School could be one of the best sixth seeds in the state. Wildwood Catholic will look to pull off a seed upset in its opener.