In this year's girls' basketball state tournament, eight is enough, at least in terms of Jersey Sports Now-area teams qualifying for the sectionals.  Action begins on Monday, March 2nd with all teams playing their first game by that Thursday.

While some of the basketball squads are just happy to be there, at least a couple have serious designs on a sectional title.   Here is the outlook for the various teams:

North Jersey Section 1, Group III:

Lakeland, with only one loss at the cutoff date, drew the second seed in this bracket.  However, this is one of the toughest public-school basketball sections in New Jersey with at least four teams that have legitimate shots at the crown.

After a bye, the Lancers open March 5th with the winner of the 7/10 game, either Sparta or Wayne Hills.  This will be no walkover, as Wayne Hills is a Passaic County tournament semifinalist and Sparta has a history of state success under legendary basketball coach Fred Geffken.  If Lakeland gets by that game, it only gets tougher with Ramapo the likely semifinal opponent, and Teaneck or Pascack Valley waiting in the sectional final.

Also in this section, West Milford, which earned the #8 seed and a home game against Paramus.  If the Highlanders advance, they'll face the top seed, Teaneck, in the next round.  And Wayne Valley made it in as the #11 seed.  The Indians travel to face sixth seed High Point, and if they get past that game it'll be Ramapo next.

North Jersey Section 1, Group II:

Two local teams are lower seeds in this grouping but could be positioned to make a run.  After winning just three basketball games last year, Mountain Lakes won enough this season to be the #7 seed.  The Lakers host 10th seed Elmwood Park in the first round;  if they win, they'll travel to second seed North Warren.

Pequannock just slipped in as the 11th seed and will travel to face #6 Glen Rock in the first round, with third seed Wallkill Valley awaiting the winner.  Top seed Pascack Hills appears to be the clear favorite here;  the Lakers and Panthers are fortunate to be on the opposite side of the bracket.

North Jersey Section 1, Group I:

Butler has a history of doing well in the state basketball tourney after taking some lumps against bigger schools in the regular season.  If the Bulldogs are to repeat that trend, they'll need to do so on the road.  Butler drew the fifth seed and plays its first game at #4 Bogota.  The top three seeds, New Milford, Cresskill and Park Ridge are all seen as serious contenders for the sectional title.

Kinnelon is also in this section, taking the ninth seed.  That means a first round road game against #8 seed Verona, a league foe that beat the Colts twice this season.  If Kinnelon can turn the tables, they'll get top seed New Milford in the quarterfinals.

North Jersey Section 2, Group I:

It's a classic case of good news, bad news for second seed Whippany Park.  Good news:  the Wildcats are rated #4 in the entire state in Group I girls' basketball.  Bad news:  all three teams rated ahead of them are in their section.  Good news:  All three of those teams are on the opposite side of the bracket.  Bad news:  The Wildcats will eventually have to face one of them.

Whippany Park opens against the winner of Secaucus and High Tech after a first-round bye, and the Wildcats appear to have a fairly clear path to the section finals.  The top seed is undefeated New Providence, but the favorite will be the winner of the titanic quarterfinal showdown between University and Bloomfield Tech, two of the state's top ten teams.  University, ranked #2 in the state by the Star-Ledger, has already handed Whippany Park two lopsided losses this season. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now