Marko Radovich topped Cresskill with 18 points in a 70-58 win over New Milford in the North 1, Group 1 state sectional semifinals on Thursday.
CRESSKILL -- Cresskill junior Omer Tal scored 8 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter as Cougars broke open a tight game en route to a 70-58 victory over New Milford in the semifinals of the North 1, Group 1 state sectional tournament on Thursday.
“Omer has come a long way,” said coach Dan Egorow. “In the beginning of the season he was kind of feeling out being a bigger scorer. Last year he was the last option and this year he is billed into a bigger role. As the season has progressed, tonight was his coming out party. And he left a few out there - he missed his first three shots. It was a tremendous effort.”
“I have a great partner on the other side of the block - Luke [Kopczynski],” Tal said. “And I have good shooters on the outside and we just make it work. We practice every day and make it work.”
Cresskill took a 16-13 lead in the first quarter but New Milford caught fire in the second, going on a 20-7 run, which began with a three-pointer by Knights senior Christopher Adeh with 5 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Cresskill senior Marko Radovich’s trey gave the Cougars a 19-13 lead, but six foul shots and a three-pointer by Knights senior Jaiden Ortiz, two baskets and a foul shot by sophomore Jake Johnson, a basket by junior Luis Placido and a free throw by sophomore Daniel Liranzo gave New Milford a 30-23 lead.
Placido scored again, sandwiched around a basket by Tal and three foul shots by Radovich to give the Knights a 32-28 lead at intermission.
Cresskill burst out of the halftime locker room with a 12-4 run to grab a 40-36 lead. Knights senior Amaurys Beato had begun the third quarter by scoring from in close to boost New Milford’s lead to six but Tal scored on a putback and off a pass zipped inside by senior Rocco Webster. Johnson countered with a jumper he banked in. Radovich hit a jump shot between a pair of free throws and a putback by Kopczynski to give Cresskill the lead for good, 38-36.
Jaiden Ortiz scored 17 points for New Milford, which finished the season at 20-8..
“Our use of our big men is what got us through it,” Radovich said. “Omer Tal and Luke Kopczynski really turned up in the second half and we needed them. They play small ball and we have size. So we used it against them.”
“The hours in the gym together, playing with each other, doing that chemistry on and off the court really helps,” added Tal. “And we’re friends off the court and it helps bring us together on the court.”
All but one of the nine players who played for New Milford scored at least two points. Ortiz led the way with 17, Beato and Johnson each had 11 and Placido tallied 8.
“There is a reason why New Milford has 20 wins,” said Egorow. “Those kids are balanced, their big kid, No. 22 (Johnson), is physical and tough to get around and all their guards rebound. And if you put the ball anywhere on the ground two or three guys are right on you. They did a tremendous job in the second quarter, which was scary for us. But we pulled together, which was nice.”
The Cougars are coming together at the right time. They struggled early in the season when Radovich missed time recovering from an illness. He finished the game with 18 points, including a pair of three-pointers and 4-for-4 free throw shooting in the fourth quarter.
“I missed a bunch of games and then I got back in the gym,” he said. “It was hard at first to get into my regular groove. Recently it’s been better - we’re all clicking together - all five of the starters, the bench - we’re all clicking together. And it was right before the playoffs - that’s all that matters. We were struggling for a little bit but we really got in shape just before the playoffs.”
“When he’s shooting well it sparks us,” Egorow said of Radovich. “It’s senior leadership with all of them. Jack [Hayward] was controlling the pace of the game. I know he didn’t score as much as he normally does but he handled the ball and handled the pressure.”
In addition to Tal and Radovich the Cougars also got points from Kopczynski (12), Hayward (7) and Webster (7). Webster also had a ton of assists to the big men inside.
“I can’t say enough about Rocco Webster,” Egorow said. “Every night he has to guard the leading scorer of the team and he gives them a nightmare situation. He works hard and does what no one else is looking at. He makes the other guy have to work which is what we need. We got in the fourth quarter and New Milford, credit them, was getting close. Rocco went to the foul line and hit some free throws.”
Cresskill travels to Paterson Charter Saturday for the section final.
“This was a good high school basketball game,” Egorow said. “The crowd was on us. Cresskill always brings fans out but New Milford [fans] showed up which made it a great environment. And it was a full court game - they were up on us especially in the fourth quarter - coming up and pressing on us. Kinnelon did the same thing the game before so I hope it prepared us.
“Saturday is a different beast,” added Tal. “A game like this is just what we need - a tough opponent that doesn’t let up. They’re here for a reason and it’s just what we needed - good competition.”
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