There are few teams that can match the state tournament success that coach Cap Pazdera’s New Providence Pioneers have had during the past decade and a half as the Union County team will seek its sixth state title since 2010 and second in a row when it faces Arts 4 p.m. Sunday in the Group 1 final at Rutgers’ Jersey Mike’s Arena.
New Providence (29-1) has the edge in terms of experience as well with four returning starters from last winter’s 30-2 squad which defeated Glen Ridge, 42-36, in the Group 1 final.
The Ridgers, like Arts this year, was making its first-ever appearance in a state final.
The Pioneers, who are a combined 59-3 the past two seasons, had won 39 in a row, including the final 24 games of last season and the first 15 of this season before a 45-40 loss at Old Tappan on Jan. 24.
Old Tappan will meet Moorestown, noon, Sunday, in the Group 3 state final.
New Providence, which is situated in Central Jersey, Group 1, roared past South Jersey champion Wildwood, 54-33, in its Group 1 semifinal on Wednesday, while Arts (26-4), the victor in North 2, was taking care of business vs. North 1 champ Mountain Lakes, 56-38, while breaking open a fairly close contest with a 25-14 edge in the fourth quarter.
New Providence defeated Bound Brook, 57-42, for the Central Jersey, Group 2 state sectional title while Arts was edging Newark rival University, 59-51 in the North 2, Group 1 title tilt for its first-ever state sectional crown.
While the Pioneers have a very experienced lineup, Arts does have two players who were on the Jersey Mike’s Arena hardwood last March while helping to lead Immaculate Conception to a win over Gloucester Catholic for the Non-Public B state title.
Seniors Nilah Rivera and Niaja Troutman transferred to Arts after IC closed its doors for good in June and both have been key players for third-year head coach Tarik Brown. Perhaps the state’s premier point guard, the 5-foot-6 Rivera is a dynamic force in all areas averaging a team-leading 17.6 points, 5.1 assists and 6.3 steals per game. She also hauls down 4.2 rebounds per contest.
Troutman (8.9 ppg, 7.3 rpg) is a steady 5-8 combo guard and one of the Jaguars top defenders.
Another key player to watch for the Brick City school is sophomore forward Harmoni Burgess (11.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
New Providence will counter with its seasoned lineup that includes the fact all five starters, including four seniors, have appeared in all 30 games this season. The team’s top scorer is standout guard Annie Conovr (18.9 ppg) but there are also steady contributors around her in a balanced attack also including fellow seniors Megan Henn (10.3 ppg) and Haley Kessler (8.0 ppg) and sophomore Addy Fitzgerald (8.7 ppg.)
Senior Ava Kelly (1.9 ppg) is a strong defender and solid role player for the Pioneers.
New Providence won its fourth Union County Tournament title in the past five years, with all four championship victories being vs. Westfield, which happened to reach the Group 4 state final on Saturday vs. Lenape.
