Watson battles back from injury to take MVP

TRENTON >> Jasmin Watson didn’t think she was going to have the chance to shine on the county’s biggest stage.

The West WindsorPlainsboro North guard had spent a good chunk of her senior season sidelined after she chipped a part of her tibia and torn a ligament in her left ankle.

Watson, however, got good news last week when she was cleared to play in time for the Mercer County Tournament.

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can finish with my team,” she said moments after collecting the Most Valuable Player trophy following the Northern Knights’ 47-44 victory over Ewing in Friday’s final at the Sun National Bank Center.

Watson has been down the injury road before, missing almost all of her sophomore season after she hurt her knee, so that made this chance to shine more special.

“Even when I got hurt, my family and friends were still coming to the games, cheering the team on,” Watson said. “It’s amazing. I have tears. I just want to cry, but I can’t because I’m so happy and excited that I got to do this thing. I wasn’t expecting to come back this season.”

The Knights, of course, are thrilled to have her on the court. Watson, who has committed to Northeastern University, scored a gamehigh 18 points, including 10 in the second half as North finished the game on a 24-6 run.

Her most important play was a decision to pass on the game-deciding basket. When Watson saw Ewing run a double-team at her, she calmly moved the ball to Jordan Brown who found Chrissy DiCindio for the shot that broke a tie game.

The hockey-assist, if you like, opened up the floor.

“I wasn’t looking to score the last basket,” Watson said. “I knew they were coming for me, and I trust my teammates enough to let them go for the last shot. I’m grateful that Chrissy finished it.”

DiCindio, North’s other star senior, battled an illness and tough shooting night.

“No matter what, her attitude is positive,” Watson said. “I have nothing but respect for her. For her to have the confidence to take the last shot even though she wasn’t having the best game shows how good of a player she is.”

That feeling is mutual between the two of them.

“She’s an amazing person,” DiCindio said. “She’s a strong person who would do anything to get back.”

With both on the floor, Watson is confident that a first MCT title isn’t the end of a history-making season.

“After winning Wednesday (in the semifinals) against Notre Dame, a team who in my four years we haven’t beat, to win in a tournament that gave us momentum for today,” Watson said. “Today, we were like, ‘we got this.’ So states, we have confidence. There’s no doubt in our minds that we can’t win it.”