Bailey’s return sparks TCA to win
PRINCETON >> Trenton Catholic Academy keeps adding to its girls basketball arsenal.
Four games into the season, head coach Bob Fusik’s squad saw 6-foot-3 newcomer Ciara Bailey join their lineup for the first time since recovering from a wrist injury.
She only had one point that game, but when the junior transfer from ConwellEgan Catholic returned to the floor Wednesday as the Mikes took on Tinton Falls’ Trinity Hall in the opening round of the Stuart Invitational, the Bristol Township, Pa., resident showed what lies ahead.
Giving TCA a much needed inside presence, Bailey scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked five shots and had a steal to help the Mikes roll to a 72-35 win over the Monarchs.
With the victory, Trenton Catholic (6-0) advances to the semifinal round in which it will play Bishop Ahr (4-0) at 5:30 p.m. Thursday back at Stuart.
“It feels good to be playing this way again,” Bailey said. “Right now, I mostly want to help the team by boxing out, getting rebounds and blocking shots.”
Once this guard-heavy team realizes it has a player who can post up inside, Bailey will be even more valuable. Her offensive production Wednesday proved that she is capable of adding more punch to an already potent attack.
“When Ciara gets stronger, she’s really going to be a key for us,” Fusik said.
As it was, her presence freed up six-foot junior Giana Boulden to roam more freely and grab 14 rebounds and 10 steals to go along with seven points, seven assists and a block of her own.
All nine players who took the floor for TCA scored as it jumped to a 14-7 lead after one quarter and 39-18 advantage by halftime.
Wisdom Maddox came off the bench to lead the Mikes with 13 points, while Maniya Custis scored 12. With Bailey and Leianya Massenat adding 10 more points, that foursome alone outscored Trinity Hall, which was led by Colleen Cusat’s 12 (on four 3-point field goals).
“I want to accomplish more with this team,” Bailey said. “Right now, it’s about being stronger with the ball.”
That could be scary for the rest of the field as TCA eyes a spot in Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. championship game.
TRINITY HALL (35)
Dora 2-0-5, Cusat 4-0-12, Ward 2-0-4, CKelly 0-0-0, Wingertzahn 4-1-9, Keane 1-1-3, Kenney 0-0-0, Bradley 1-0-2, Gana 0-0-0, Peters 0-0-0.
Totals — 14-2-35.
TCA (72)
Elgizawy 1-0-3, Shorts 3-0-7, Boulden 3-1-7, Massenat 5-0-10, Saunders 2-0-5, Maddox 6-0-13, Custis 5-2-12, Bailey 4-2-10, Boyd 2-0-5.
Totals — 31-5-72. TrinityHall(1-3) 7 11 8 9 — 35
TCA (6-0) 14 25 15 18 — 72 3-point goals: Dora, Cusat 4 (TH), Elgizawy, Shorts, Saunders, Maddox, Boyd (TCA). WINSLOW 51, WW-P NORTH 35
PRINCETON >> The Northern Knights had trouble getting their offense going until the fourth quarter when they scored 20 points.
Jordan Brown’s 18 points powered West Windsor-Plainsboro North, which will return to Stuart to play Pingry at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Jalissa Pitts, Jasmin Matthews and Adriyana Jennings scored nine points apiece for the Eagles, who will play the host school also at 4 p.m. Thursday in the other semifinal.
WINSLOW (51)
JalPitts 3-2-9, ZMiller 3-0-6, JanPitts 2-1-5, Seabrook 1-0-2, Matthews 3-3-9, Wyatt 1-0-3, Jennings 4-0-9, KKelly 1-02, Neal 1-0-2, MHarris 2-0-4. Totals — 21-6-51.
WW-P NORTH (35)
JBrown 6-6-18, Russell 2-0-5, Elhossieni 2-0-4, Kanitkar 1-0-2, St. Amour 0-0-0, KMurphy 0-0-0, Babu 1-0-3, Byrne 1-0-3.
Totals — 13-6-35.
Winslow (4-2) 11 16 14 10 — 51 WW-PNorth(2-2) 4 2 9 20 — 35 3-point goals: JalPitts, Wyatt, Jennings (W), Russell, Babu, Byrne (WWN).
STUART 73, PINGRY 48 PRINCETON >> Nia Melvin’s 18 points led three Tartans in double figures as the home team advanced in its tournament.
Aleah James added 13 points, and Bey-Shana Clark scored 11.
PINGRY (48)
Barr 1-2-4, Feeley 6-5-18, Maultsby 3-06, Schware 4-1-10, Volpe 5-0-10. Totals — 19-8-48.
STUART (73)
Clark 4-3-11, Hansford 1-0-2, Melvin 7-3-18, James 6-0-13, Lagay 2-1-5, Martin 0-1-1, JLewis 1-2-4, Fair 3-1-7, Velazquez-Gonzalez 1-0-2, CJohnson 1-1-3, Klein 2-0-5, Liu 1-0-2. Totals — 29-12-73.
Pingry (0-4) 8 16 8 16 — 48 Stuart (7-2) 7 32 18 22 — 73 3-point goals: Feeley, Schware (SSA), Melvin, James, Klein (SCD).
LADY LIONS TOURNEY TRENTON 59, NEW PROV. 56 JERSEY CITY >> The Tornadoes used a 22-6 fourth quarter surge to overtake the previously unbeaten Pioneers.
N’Dia Stepps and Ishuana Hunter led Trenton with 23 and 22 points, respectively.
TRENTON (59)
Stepps 8-7-23, MRobinson 3-1-8, Daley 2-0-4, Hunter 9-4-22, Stocking 1-0-2. Totals — 23-12-59.
NEW PROVIDENCE (56)
Barth 0-0-0, Boyle 1-4-6, Cumiskey 6-2-14, DeGeorge 1-0-2, Faucher 5-2-13, Kinum 5-0-10, Maurer 0-0-0, Nook 2-26, Wawzycki 2-1-5.
Totals — 22-11-56.
Trenton (3-1) 13 13 11 22 — 59 NewProvidence(3-1) 14 15 21 6 — 56 3-point goals: MRobinson (T), Faucher (NP).
BLUE DEVIL TOURNAMENT MANALAPAN 58, BORDENTOWN 35 WEST LONG BRANCH >> Ciara Conover’s 13 points were not enough to keep the Scotties, who dropped to 0-4, in the winner’s bracket of this tournament at Shore Regional High.
Bordentown (0-4) 14 4 8 9 — 35 Manasquan (1-3) 12 22 16 8 — 58