Manchester Gives Basketball Tournament Of Champions Sendoff

MANCHESTER, NJ — Spring sports have begun in Manchester. Baseballs and softballs are getting thrown around, lacrosse sticks are banging, runners are warming up for their spring track season.

But for the Manchester Township girls basketball team, the season on the hardwood isn't over yet. Tuesday night at the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, the Hawks continue a dream season that has led them to their first appearance in the NJSIAA Basketball Tournament of Champions.

Manchester (31-2), which won its first NJSIAA Group II title on Sunday afternoon with a 65-48 victory over Lincoln, faces Group III champion Mainland. The TOC quarterfinal game against the Mustangs tips off at 7 p.m.

The Manchester Marching Band filled the halls of Manchester High School to rally support for the Hawks, who are facing Mainland for the first time this season. (Watch below.)

Mainland is led by 6-foot-3 junior Kylee Watson, who has carried the scoring load for the Mustangs all season, and the 3-point shooting threat of senior Claudia Mairone. The two combined for 22 of Mainland's 42 points in the Group III title game. The Mustangs also have 5-5 senior Taylor Dalzell, who had 11 rebounds, and junior Madison Hafetz. Watson also has been a rebounding and blocking presence around the basket.

Mainland's three losses were to Gloucester Catholic, 60-58, on Jan. 5 and to Paul VI, 55-54 on Jan. 6, along with a 34-25 loss to Middle Township in the Cape Atlantic League tournament. Manchester beat Gloucester Catholic 67-65 on Jan. 25, and defeated Middle Township, 61-36, in the South Jersey Group II title game last week.

The Mustangs are sure to be keying on 6-foot-3 Destiny Adams, who had a career game against Lincoln with 34 points. But Manchester has shown other players can and will step up when the focus turns to one player. Leilani Correa, the team's leading scorer, drew Lincoln's attention on Sunday but still finished with 15 points. And Dakota Adams, Destiny's older sister, is always active under the basket, creating opportunities for her sister and for Correa, and providing options when the defense focuses on them.

Ticket prices, set by the state Department of Education, were $5 for adults and $3 for students for the Group finals at RWJ Barnabas Health Arena but it was unclear if those prices would be the same for Tuesday night's TOC quarterfinals. If Manchester wins, the Hawks would face Saddle River Day, which is one of two teams to beat the Hawks (Bishop McNamara of New York was the other).

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