Eastern vs. Central Regional: Standouts

<p>The state tournament in the Garden State is finally here and it was filled with excitement on opening. Ninth seeded Eastern went on the road and pulled out a 48-45 victory over Central Regional to advance to the South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals. Here are the top standouts from the first-round matchup between Eastern and Central.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="933045" first="Noah" last="Payne"], 5’10 PG Eastern 2023</strong></p> <p>Payne has been the go-to scorer for the Vikings all season long and he came up clutch for them down the stretch. The 5’10 guard had the go-ahead three-point play and played with confidence throughout the night. Payne used his speed to put pressure on the defense and used his handle to get into the lane. He finished in a variety of ways around the basket and was active on the defensive end. Payne played at his best when Eastern needed him most, which helped the Vikings advance in the state tournament.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="901949" first="Justin" last="Soranno"], 6’6 PF Central Regional 2022</strong></p> <p>Sorrano provided the Golden Eagles with needed scoring as he led the team with 18 points. The 6’6 forward used his strong frame to create position down low and was able to get to the line frequently. Sorrano finished nicely around the basket and showed off his range with a banked in jumper just inside the arc. He was tough to keep off the offensive glass and used his athleticism to swat four shots on the night. Sorrano is an attack-minded forward prospect who was unable to win in his final home game for Central Regional.</p> <p><strong>Jared Gibson, F Eastern 2022</strong></p> <p>Gibson was arguably the Vikings’ Most Valuable Player on the night as he made plays throughout the night. The senior forward worked tirelessly on the glass at both ends of the floor, securing multiple extra possessions for Eastern. Gibson battled Sorrano down low, despite giving up considerable size and took a couple of charges on the defensive end. He nailed a huge triple to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Gibson is the type of glue guy that does whatever it takes to help his team win games.</p> <p><strong>Brayden Lowden, 5’10 PG Central Regional 2024</strong></p> <p>Lowden had a big game for the Golden Eagles as he brought it on both ends of the floor. The 5’10 guard played tough defense on Payne all night, making it hard for the Vikings to get into their sets on offense. Lowden shot the ball with confidence from distance and has a nice release on his jumper. He moved well off the ball and did not make a ton of mistakes with the ball in his hands. Lowden’s ability to play at both ends of the floor is something that will help Central Regional in a big way over the next couple of years.</p> <p><strong>Damien Edwards, G Eastern 2024</strong></p> <p>Edwards did not have his best shooting night for the Vikings, but he was an integral part of their success in the opening round. The sophomore guard did a good job handling Central’s press as he helped the team get the ball over the halfcourt line. Edwards has a good release on his shot and moved well off the ball to create open jumpers for himself. He created havoc in the Vikings’ press and was unafraid of diving on the floor for loose balls. Edwards is a hardworking guard prospect who can get hot from distance for the Vikings in their next state tournament game against Cherry Hill East.</p>