Monday,
February 24, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Melissa Heath converted a key 3-point play in the fourth quarter to help push No. Highlands over the finish line in a 57-44 win over Teaneck in the Bergen County Tournament final. |
MAHWAH – As Northern Highlands and Teaneck went to their respective benches between the third and fourth quarters of Saturday's Bergen County Tournament championship game, it appeared to be a carbon copy of their regular-season meeting. In regular season matchup, the Highlanders were in control for the better part of three quarters and led by as many as 10 points before Teaneck surged back near the end of the third quarter to get within striking distance before winning on a layup at the buzzer.
The exact same scenario was playing out again as Northern Highlands again led by 10 before Teaneck roared back to cut the deficit to a single point going into the fourth quarter. But after two straight years of disappointment in Bergen County Tournament finals, the Highlanders were not about to let another opportunity slip away.
Melissa Heath converted a big 3-point play early in the fourth quarter and defensive whiz Rachel Jubelt's steal and layup was the knockout blow. The third time proved to be a charm as fourth-seeded Northern Highlands won the first Bergen County crown in the girls basketball program's history by allowing just one point over the final seven minutes in a 57-44 triumph over No. 3 seed Teaneck at Ramapo College in Mahwah.
“We watched other teams celebrate before at our expense, we just wanted to feel the other side of that,” said Heath, a 6-foot-2 junior who already has a handful of Division 1 offers. “The odds of making a county final with so many talented teams in the county is slim to none. To get here three years in a row is great, but the feeling of finally winning one is something I'll always remember.”
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Milan Johnson's two first quarter free throws gave Teaneck an 11-10 lead, its only lead of the game. |
Teaneck's only lead of the game came at 11-10 after a pair of free-throws from Milan Johnson. The Highlanders answered right back as Heath scored with her left hand on a driving layup to end the first quarter and Madison Dunbar nailed a deep 3-pointer from the wing to start the second to give Northern Highlands a 17-11 lead.
The Highlanders grabbed a double-digit lead on a basket by Emily Bonafacic but Teaneck battled back to get within four, 32-28, at the half.
Behind short jumpers from Bonafacic and Nicole Miko, then a layup from Dunbar, the Highlanders stretched the lead to 8 with three minutes to play in the third period, but the Highwaywomen made another run. Johnson's 3-pointer from the top of the key cut the lead to one, 42-41, and completely shifted the momentum Teaneck's way heading into the final quarter of regulation.
Not only was this game similar to regular-season meeting with Highlands, but also of Teaneck's previous two tournament wins as it rallied from big second-half deficits to record huge wins over Paramus Catholic and Immaculate Conception.
“There were a million things running through my head as I was sitting on the bench before the fourth quarter,” said Heath. “They beat us in the fourth quarter the first time we played and they did the same thing to PC and Immaculate Conception. We had to concentrate on getting defensive stops and running our offense. We wanted this so bad and we were so pumped up, but we had to keep our composure at the same time and stay calm.”
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A four-year varsity starter, point guard Madison Dunbar led Highlands to its first ever girls basketball county title. |
After a dominant first half, Heath only had three points in the second half, but they were huge as they come when her team needed them the most. Still clinging to a one-point lead, Heath scored and was fouled on the play. She converted the free throw to make it a two-possession game, 47-43, with 5:46 to play.
Dunbar bumped the lead up to seven before Jubelt made the game-clinching play. She
ripped a Teaneck player at midcourt and raced in alone for a layup that made it 53-44 with less than three minutesleft.
After a rushed shot by Teaneck, the Highlanders were able to run off nearly two minutes off the clock before getting fouled with under a minute remaining and with the game well in hand. The only thing left to do was watch the time wind down and then celebrate boisterously as the final buzzer sounded.
“Hearing the buzzer sound and all of us going crazy, this has to be the best feeling ever,” said Bonafacic. “There were some nerves going into the fourth quarter. I feel like we pushed through it on adrenaline alone that energy wasn't going to be a problem for us. It's awesome to play so many good teams in the county tournament. To get through them all and win our first county title ever in basketball is amazing.”
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Senior Kayla Gibbs had 15 rebounds for Teaneck. |
Heath had another solid performance inside with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and fiveblocked shots for Northern Highlands (22-3). Dunbar and Bonafacic pumped in 13 and 11 points, respectively. Nicole Miko added eight points and Tori Reich scored six off the bench.
Johnson led all players with 14 points and Umass-bound center Kayla Gibbs pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds to go with nine points for Teaneck (20-2).
After two years of disappointing appearances in the Bergen County final, the Highlanders finally got their elusive county title on their third try. Although the final had just ended, Dunbar was able to quickly reflect on how far this team has come and how much fun the journey towards being a champion has been.
“This is what we've been playing for all season and it's the best feeling in the world,” said Dunbar, a senior and a four-year starter at point guard. “We were only up one going into the fourth quarter, but we were still ahead. As long as we didn't give up that lead we were going to be just fine. For everyone, but especially the seniors, this is a special feeling that we'll never forget the rest of our lives.”
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