Manchester Girls Win 3rd State Sectional Basketball Title

MANCHESTER, NJ — As the crowd counted down the final seconds of Manchester's NJSIAA sectional championship win Tuesday, the Hawks were all business. No elation. No bragging. No hyping the crowd.

Perhaps it's because they've been here before. Manchester captured its third straight South Jersey Group II sectional title, its third in school history, with a 61-36 victory over Middle Township. Perhaps it's because the Hawks (29-2) know they are facing a familiar challenge, and the team that has ended their season in the Group semifinals the last two years: Manasquan.

Manchester, which is ranked No. 2 in the state by NJ.com, will take on the Warriors on Thursday, March 7, at Central Regional High School. Manasquan defeated Rumson-Fair Haven 60-38 on Tuesday.

It will be a larger venue than the cozy confines of the Hawks' gym, which was filled to its 850-seat capacity and rocked goodnaturedly with cheers for both the Hawks and visiting Panthers on Tuesday night.

Middle Township (24-6) led early, going ahead 7-4 with about 3 minutes left in the first quarter, but it didn't last. Manchester drew within 7-6 with a minute left in the quarter, and that was the start of a 30-2 blitz that sent the Hawks into the lockerroom with a 25-point lead.

Senior Leilani Correa had 13 of her game-high 22 points in the second quarter, but it wasn't just her shooting that boosted Manchester. On the offensive end, she hustled for every ball, snagging rebounds and giving her team multiple opportunities at second-chance baskets. On the defensive end, she contested shots and harassed the Middle Township shooters. She finished with 13 rebounds.

Correa had a helping hand from Kemari Reynolds, who put up 7 of her 15 points, including a 3-pointer, in the second quarter as her father, who's been serving overseas, watched from the stands. Reynolds also finished with a pair of assists and a pair of steals.

The Panthers never recovered.

Middle Township tried to double-team Correa in the second half, but that freed up the interior for Destiny Adams, who'd spent the entire second quarter on the bench with two fouls. Destiny finished 7 points and 11 rebounds, and her sister Dakota had 4 points and 7 rebounds. Nahkaleigh "Tweety" Hayes-Jones had 7 points and 4 rebounds.

The Hawks limited Middle Township sharpshooter Kira Sides to just 10 points, all in the second half. Kate Herlihy and Aubrey Hunter each added 10 for Middle Township.

Thursday's game at Central tips off at 5 p.m. Manchester will tickets on sale in the high school's main office for students first, then available to the public from 11:15 a.m. to 2:25 p.m.

The district released an update on ticket prices:

There will be fan buses Thursday leaving from the high school at 4:10 p.m. and students can sign up in the main office at the high school on Wednesday. Permission slips must be turned in Thursday morning.

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