Staff Report
The way Lenape junior guard El-Anita Joe-Samuel has been playing in this year’s postseason, there wasn’t going to be anybody who could stop her from leading her Indians to another state championship.
Joe-Samuel scored 25 points — nearly half her team’s total — and Lenape got solid contributions from seniors Ryleigh Nichols and Olivia Watkins as the Indians took down Westfield, 52-42, on Saturday at Rutgers University to win their second Group 4 state title in the last three years.
Lenape jumped out to a 17-9 first-quarter lead, and added a strong third quarter, while thwarting comeback attempts by Westfield in the second half. Joe-Samuel notched her 11th double-double of the season, as she posted 12 rebounds to go along with two assists and three steals. Watkins chipped in with 12 points, three rebounds and three steals, and Nichols added six points and a pair of rebounds.
Shelby Croly had six points and five assists for Lenape as well.
South Jersey had another state champion as Gloucester Catholic beat Gil St. Bernard’s, 62-39, on Thursday night to capture the Non-Public B title, and the area will have a chance for a third banner on Sunday when Moorestown meets Old Tappan at noon at Rutgers University in the Group 3 championship game.
Gloucester Catholic finished its season 26-4 as the Rams put four players in double figures, led by Jahzara Green’s 22 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Talia Shumate added 15 points, Amanda Eggers had 13 and Jalyn Moore posted 10 points, and all three players had four rebounds apiece. The Rams went 14-of-18 from the foul line and nailed six 3-pointers.
