WHEN/WHERE: 12 p.m. Sunday/Pine Belt Arena, Toms River
WHO: Central champ Bound Brook (23-7) vs. North 2 champ University (22-6)
HOW THEY GOT HERE: Bound Brook beat Middlesex 67-52 in the Central Group I final, before topping South champ Haddon Heights 47-36 in the Group I semifinals. University blasted Secaucus 82-39 in the North 2 final, and thrashed New Milford 60-37 in the Group I semifinals.
BOUND BROOK REPORT: The Crusaders finished four games under .500 last season, exiting the state tournament after just two contests. And although Bound Brook did not win its conference this year – the Crusaders dropped two games to Skyland Mountain champ Bernards – the improvement throughout last season under then-rookie coach Jen Derevjanik, along with more steady emergence throughout this year has helped Bound Brook hit its stride in the state tournament, and it’s on the verge of becoming a true Group I powerhouse. The Crusaders celebrated their first sectional crown since 1989 and are looking to notch their first-ever group championship. Junior Janee’a Summers, who eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau as a sophomore and the 1,000-rebound mark this year, leads the way, giving Bound Brook a major centerpiece on both ends of the court. But Summers (21.5 PPG, 13.4 RPG) isn’t alone, and the support or her teammates has only increased throughout the year as teams focus on her, freeing up some other weapons. Freshman Cortlyn Morris has been a major addition, posting 9.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while juniors Diamond Tucker (8.2 PPG) and Olivia Nilsen (7.8 PPG), and sophomore Jordan Todaro (5.8 PPG) have also been key.
UNIVERSITY REPORT: The Phoenix have rolled through the state tournament, averaging a 42-point margin of victory in its five state games to date. The Newark club is seeking its first Group I crown since winning back-to-back titles in 2007 and 2008, a run that include the state tournament of champions crown in 2007. The Essex County Tournament semifinalists are led by senior guard Jihayah Chavis, who has tallied 19.8 points and 6.4 assists per game, and has posted 27 points or more in three of the Phoenix’s state games, including a 27-point outing in the group semis and a 29-point performance in the sectional final. She is joined by Iyannah Moore (13.3 PPG), Shadiyyah Guyton (11.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG) and Telahna Green (13.6 RPG) in leading the way for University.
PREDICTION: Bound Brook 57-53