What: Tournament of Champions girls basketball quarterfinal
Who: Sixth-seeded Cedar Creek (26-3) vs. third-seeded Manasquan (29-2)
When/where: 8 p.m. today at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River
What's next: Winner advances to the semifinals against No. 2 seed St. Rose at Pine Belt Arena on Thursday at 6 p.m.
About the teams:
Cedar Creek won the state Group I title in just its second varsity season. The Pirates beat Whippany Park 50-38 in Sunday's title game. Junior forward Kristine Miller scored 22 points in the game. Cedar Creek features mostly sophomores and juniors. The Pirates have no seniors. The Pirates won all six of its state tournament games by double digits. Manasquan won the state Group III title with a 78-65 win over Teaneck on Sunday. Manasquan is one of the state's top teams and capable of winning the TOC. The Monmouth County school features 5-foot-11 senior Michaela Mabrey, who scored 20 against Teaneck and was the winner of the New Jersey Gatorade Girls Player of the Year. But she's not the only player Cedar Creek has to worry about. Katelynn Flaherty scored 25 points against Teaneck, while Mabrey's freshman sister, Marina, scored 19.
Michael McGarry
