Who is Sara Oliviera? That's the first question.

Why is the Life Center Academy senior at the top of Burlington County's high school girls basketball scoring and 3-point shooting lists? That's the second.

Where the heck did she come from? That's where things get interesting.

Oliviera had never played high school basketball until she came to Life Center. She is averaging 26.1 points per game with 34 3-pointers. She trails only Lenape's Christiana Foggie - and not by much - in both categories.

Oliviera's path to the top of the Burlington County charts came through her hometown, Porto, Portugal.

"The United States is the place where basketball was born," Oliviera said. "It's a great opportunity."

Basketball in Europe is dominated by club programs. There are no high school sports programs as we know them in America. Oliviera has found that playing for a school team is exciting.

"It's better playing for your school," Oliviera said. "Here, you are playing to prepare yourself for college. My dream is to play college. I've worked very hard to prepare for college."

It shows in her game. While she does play against some uneven competition against primarily Christian schools, the point guard is an outstanding ball-handler with a feel for exploiting a defense. She sees the floor well, makes good decisions and isn't afraid of pulling up and taking an open shot.

Would she average 26.1 points per game playing in the Burlington County League? Probably not. Then again, if she were surrounded by more good players - Life Center doesn't have great depth - there's no telling what parts of her game she could showcase. Life Center needs her to score for them to be successful, and she's just fine with that.

"This is the best team in the world," Oliviera said. "We work hard on the court and never give up."

The playoff cutoff
It used to be easy. The world had standards. Win half of your games by the end of the day on Saturday and you get to go to the playoffs. No exceptions. No excuses.
These days there are exceptions. Now along with the teams over .500 at the playoff cutoff, teams that don't make the grade can ask to be graded on a curve. The NJSIAA will add under .500 teams to each 16-team bracket, based on winning percentage, until the bracket is full.

Northern Burlington, Pemberton and Shawnee still have a chance to earn their way into the playoffs.

The following teams have clinched their spots: Bordentown, Cherokee, Cinnaminson, Delran, Florence, Holy Cross, Lenape, New Egypt, Palmyra, Rancocas Valley, Seneca and Willingboro.

Everybody else has to ask for a free pass and hope there's enough room at the inn.

Queen of the arc
We already know that Christina Foggie is on the verge of scoring the 2,000th point of her career. The Lenape senior is 43 points away from the milestone heading into tonight's game at Washington Township. If all goes well, she'll be in the 2,000-point club later this week. Points aren't the only list Foggie is climbing.

The Vanderbilt University-bound senior is also one of the best 3-point shooters this county has even known. On Jan. 12, Foggie became the second girls player and eighth overall to make 200 career 3-pointers. A week later, she passed Holy Cross' Anne Maguire to become Burlington County's all-time girls leader.

With 223 career 3's as of this morning, the McDonald's All-America team candidate stands in fourth place overall. She trails a trio of Shawnee players, Dan Earl (230), Eric Kessler (239) and Brian Earl (261).