Joined by over 515 teams in July 2021, the Best of the South has become the mecca for indpendent travel basketball in July. Every team plays under the same roof at the Georgia World Congress Center in the heart of Downtown Atlanta. Just miles away from major show circuits College Coaches and Travel teams have made Best of the South a staple in their calenders and will continue to do so in 2022. Best of the South takes place during the ONLY NCAA Live Period for Travel teams in July 2022. Best of the South will be held on July 8-11 at the Georgia International Convention Center, just minutes away from the busiest airport in the world Hartsfield Jackson International. We will have over 24 courts under one roof for the annual summer stage. We’ve partnered with NY2LA for the Grassroots Basketball Association Championship at the Best of the South. There isn’t a final stage quite like this one in amateur hoops. Important NCAA Certification Links
HotelsTo insure the quality of service provided for HoopSeen, we have partnered with GroupHousing as the official Hospitality Service of our events. All teams who need accommodations are REQUIRED to make hotel reservations through GroupHousing to insure their place in the event. All HoopSeen events are "Stay To Play" events. GroupHousing guarantees the lowest rate available. GroupHousing will make this process efficient and friendly for you, while providing exceptional hotel accommodations for all teams. Most hotels offer a breakfast, kid friendly services, budget conscious rates, and amenities to enhance your stay. Each hotel is strategically loacted just minutes from the event locations. Please see the link above for hotels. You may also contact GroupHousing at 888-290-3210 to book your hotel as well. With the 2022-23 girls basketball season set to begin Thursday, the Gators may be as eager as any team in South Jersey as they begin their quest for an elusive conference championship. “There are zero banners in the gym,” said Gateway coach Dan McGowan, in his sixth season. “We’re hoping for it. We know how hard it’s going to be – it’s definitely not something that’s going to be easy. They’ve been taking it very serious and so far, they’re doing a great job in practice. It’s something that’s definitely on our radar.” Coming off a 19-9 season where they matched the 1992-93 team with a program record for wins in a season, the Gators find themselves as a prime contender to win the Colonial Conference Patriot Division championship. Defending champion Woodbury was promoted to the bigger-school Liberty Division, while Collingswood has dropped down to the Patriot. McGowan hopes his team can fare better against the Liberty schools this season. The Gators were 0-6 in those crossover games a year ago, but after that rough stretch, they finished the season by winning 12 of their final 14 games, ending with 53-39 loss to Palmyra in the South Jersey Group 1 quarterfinals. Gateway was swept by Woodbury but went 8-0 against the rest of the Patriot teams and, with leading scorers Angelina Zagone and Molly Sholders back in the fold, there’s a level of optimism that hasn’t been felt around The Swamp in years. “I think this team can be great, as long as everyone puts in the effort,” said Sholders, Gateway’s 6-foot sophomore center. “I really hope that I can be part of the team that puts the first Gateway girls basketball banner in the gym.” Sholders, who aspires to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career, got off to a terrific start as a freshman, averaging 9.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. She ranked fourth in rebounding and second in blocked shots in the Colonial. She had nine double-doubles, including a monster 21-point, 22-rebound effort in a 60-37 win over Penns Grove in a South Jersey Group 1 tournament opener – Gateway’s first postseason win in 10 years. But her biggest contribution may have been at the defensive end. “I underestimated the impact she would have,” said McGowan, who had watched Sholders dominate as a Gateway middle school player. “She’s so stable around the rim. She doesn’t foul a whole lot. She knows she’s vital as a shot blocker and she’s so good at keeping kids away from the rim. I saw her as a middle schooler and thought she could help us, but didn’t think she’d help the way she did. She really stepped up for us, and that was huge.” As a freshman, Sholders scored a lot of points on putbacks. This season, she may get more opportunities on set plays, and the Gators will look to have her and Zagone work off of one another more. “I’m very excited to have plays coming to me,” said Sholders, whose older sister Abby played for Gateway before graduating in 2018. “I do like having the team counting on me. It’s a lot of pressure and it gets a little overwhelming, but I think I handled it pretty well. I was happy overall with my season, but I realized that I needed to work more on my confidence, especially with the ball.” Confidence is something that Zagone isn’t lacking. The junior guard averaged 17.6 points per game last season, second in the conference to Woodbury’s Alexis Davis, a two-time South Jersey Times Player of the Year. An intense, high-energy player, Zagone was a team captain as a sophomore – a first under McGowan. “It’s great having a kid you don’t have to light a fire under,” McGowan said. “She’s one of the most motivated kids I’ve ever met, from day one as a freshman. You could see it on her face when she plays. She’s really developed her shooting, and last year starting hitting more threes. When she gets the ball in the post, her pivots are phenomenal. She does a great job of getting herself open, giving herself a clear path and getting to the foul line. She’s an inside out player and it kind of starts around the rim for her. “She can play all over the place, so she’ll play wherever it’s advantageous for us to get her the ball.” After scoring nearly 500 points a year ago, Zagone may be in position to score her 1,000th career point later this season. She scored 20 or more points in a dozen games as a sophomore, including a career-high 35-point effort in a win over Salem Tech. She also ranked in the top 10 in the conference in rebounding, assists, blocked shot and 3-pointers. “I’m real excited to see what happens,” said Zagone, who also plays field hockey and softball for her school. “We’re working well together and I think we’re going to have a really good year. It won’t be easy, but I think we’ll be able to pull through and win the division if we work hard enough.” More of a leader by example than a vocal leader, Zagone hopes her teammates will feed off her energy. “I think it’s so important,” she said. “Even if I’m intense and aggressive at times, the team has to have the same energy if we’re going to win the bigger games.” Another returning starter is senior captain Shannon Summers, who will shift to point guard this season. “She’s progressed really well,” McGowan said. “She’s a good shooter and she’ll be asked to do more for us this year going into the point guard role.” Sophomore Bella Fini is another likely starter whose athleticism should be an asset, while senior Lindsey Naulty and juniors Tabby Bay and Gabby Gasis all figure to play important roles as well. The Gators will need another scorer to step up and take pressure off Zagone and Sholders at times. They graduated Maddy Reed, the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers, but McGowan expects more of a committee approach to replace her production. McGowan is clearly enjoying a ride that has taken his team from three wins in his first season to being a title contender. “It’s a lot more fun getting 19 wins that three wins,” McGowan said with a smile, “but I’m extremely fortunate to have these kids. I wish I could take a ton of credit but they’re self-motivated. These kids come in and work their butts off. They’re a really fun group.” PLAYERS TO WATCH  Woodbury’s Alexis Davis (23) moves the ball during a South Jersey Group 1 tournament game against Palmyra last season. The two-time South Jersey Times Player of the Year returns for her senior season at Woodbury. Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media Alexis Davis, Woodbury, F, Sr. A two-time South Jersey Times Player of the Year, the St. Bonaventure-commit is ready to write the final chapter of her brilliant career after averaging 27.3 points and 14.6 rebounds per game in her first season at Woodbury. After scoring 1,008 points at Glassboro her first two years, Davis is now just 391 points away from reaching 2,000 for her career, and just 98 rebounds shy of 1,000. The Thundering Herd will need to rely on her even more after graduating standouts Nile Miller and JaNazha Clinton. Madison Eli, Deptford, G, So. Deptford’s stock is on the rise – the Spartans won five of six to close last season - and a lot of that has to do with the play of Eli, a 5-foot-3 point guard who had a huge impact as a freshman. Eli had 121 steals (5.3 per game) to lead all Tri-County Conference players, while also leading her team in scoring (15.6 per game) and assists. She hit double figures in 20 of 23 games and scored a career-high 31 points twice. She was proficient in attacking the basket and consistently getting to the foul line. Alivia Mauz, Williamstown, G, So. Mauz proved to be a freshman phenom for the Braves, hitting for 21 points in a loss to Lenape in her varsity debut. She scored in double figures in all but two games and led her team in scoring (14.1 per game), assists (2.7) and steals (3.9). An adept 3-pointer shooter, she drained 51 to lead the Braves in that category too. With junior Iriona Gravley (13.2 points, 8.2 rebounds per game) also returning, Williamstown boasts one of the top 1-2 punches in the conference. Macie Nugent, Gloucester Catholic, G, Sr. A three-year starter for the Rams, Nugent returns to lead a young team that will have to replace big production after the graduation loss of twin sisters Angelina and Natalia Barrera. Nugent transitioned to the point guard role as a junior but was still a consistent scorer, averaging 13.9 points per game, second only to Natalia Barrera. She led the Rams in assists (3.2 per game), steals (2.0 per game) and 3-pointers (38), and has a shot to reach 1,000 career points before the end of the season. Clearview's Emma Steidle (12) moves the ball during a game against Kingsway. Steidle was the leading 3-point shooter in the area as a junior. Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media Ana Pellecchia, Clearview, G, Jr. Emma Steidle, Clearview, G, Sr. Clearview’s dynamic backcourt duo of Pellecchia and Steidle enter their final season together. Pellecchia led the Pioneers in scoring (17 points per game) and steals (three per game), while also grabbing over five rebounds per game. She drained 58 3-pointers and hit for double figures in all but one game. Steidle led all area players with 87 3-pointers – a school record for a season. She averaged 16.5 points and three assists per game, hit for double figures in 24 of 26 games and needs just 259 points to reach 1,000. TEAMS TO WATCH Clearview The Pioneers return four starters from a team that went 18-8 and, with Timber Creek moving to the Liberty Division with the arrival of Washington Township to the Tri-Co, they should be the team to beat in the Royal. Senior Emma Steidle and junior Ana Pellecchia return to the backcourt after combining to average nearly 34 points per game last season. Steidle was the top 3-point shooter in the area. Seniors Payton Foster and Beth Lindenbaum, the team’s leading rebounder, return to bolster the frontcourt. The Pioneers will look for a deeper tournament run after being upset by Eastern in the South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals a year ago. Delsea The Crusaders went 20-8 overall and 8-0 in division play to capture the Tri-Co Liberty last season, despite losing three starters from their 2021 squad. It was their third straight division crown. They also won the Tri-Co Tournament B Bracket title. Although top scorer Tori Kanuck graduated, Delsea was pretty balanced. Seniors Alli Sieminski, Emma Afflerbach and Emily Ambrose, and sophomore Imani Dennis all scored more than 100 points each last season. The Crusaders will have to battle to defend in the Liberty as Timber Creek has moved into the division, while Highland and Deptford return strong talent. Williamstown The Braves were 14-12 a year ago but were competitive and could take a big leap forward this season. They return two big weapons – sophomore guard Alivia Mauz and sophomore forward Iriona Gravley – who could be tough to shut down as they continue to progress. Mauz led the team in scoring (14.1 per game) and steals (3.9 per game), while Gravley averaged 13.2 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds per game. Add capable returning veterans like seniors Riley Baker and Ava Eberly to the mix and the Braves have the ingredients for another solid season. Woodbury The Thundering Herd went from a 5-10 record two years ago to 24-3 last season, largely because of the addition of transfers Alexis Davis and Nile Miller. They went 10-0 to win the Patriot Division title, but will move up to the big-school Liberty Division this season. It will be interesting to see how the team fares against the tougher competition, especially with Miller and fellow standout JaNazha Clinton lost to graduation. Davis, the South Jersey Times Player of the Year for the past two years, returns for her final season and is a dominating presence on the court. Juniors Abby Bash and Diamyndh Oakley showed promise as sophomores and will have to take on bigger roles. Woodstown The Wolverines were terrific last season, finishing at 21-7 and matching the program record for wins in a season. They were a perfect 8-0 in rolling to the Tri-Co Diamond title. They reached a sectional final for the first time ever, closing their season with a near-miraculous upset of top-seeded Wildwood in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinals, dropping a 74-71 heartbreaker in overtime. Top scorer Riley Fulmer has graduated, but the team welcomes back plenty of talent. Senior Evee Spencer is one of the top rebounders (7.8 per game last season) in the conference, and sophomores Talia Battavio (9.6 points per game) and Megan Donelson (8.5 per game) were capable scorers as freshmen. |
Best of the south basketball tournament 2022
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