Thursday,
March 12, 2015
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Khay’la Latimer hit an early 3 to help Immaculate Conception get off to a fast start and it went on to win its first section title in basketball with a 46-35 win over Morris Catholic in the Non-Public North B final on Wednesday night. |
PATERSON – When walking off the floor for the final time last season after a convincing loss to Morris Catholic in the Non-Public B North section final, Immaculate Conception head coach Jeff Horohonich knew what he had to do to get his team better prepared for this season. He beefed up his schedule by playing one tough independent game after another with the idea constantly in the back of his head that he would have to get through Morris Catholic again to win a section title.
Immaculate Conception had the chance to validate the process on Wednesday when the teams clashed again for the section title.
In last year’s final, Morris Catholic raced out to a huge lead and led from the opening possession until the final buzzer. The Blue Wolves were not going to be intimidated by the moment in their second go-round with the Crusaders. This time, it was them who set the pace before All-American Samantha Fuehring heated up in the second half.
Fuehring took over in the second half, scoring 15 of her game-high 17 points. That included a 3-point play that sparked a 7-0 spurt to open the fourth quarter as No. 2 seed Immaculate Conception turned the tables on top-seeded Morris Catholic by leading wire-to-wire for its first-ever section title in a 46-35 triumph in the Non-Public B North final at Kennedy High School in Paterson.
“Our schedule throughout the season has really prepared us for the stretch run of playing in the state tournament,” said Horohonich. “Our shirts all year long said ‘Unfinished Business’. We finally see that hard work paying off with championships.”
Immaculate Conception got everyone involved early and it paid dividends. Jasmine Gee scored inside and Khay’la Latimer hit nothing but net on a 3-pointer that gave the Blue Wolves a 13-4 lead after one quarter of play.
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Kate Feeney finished with 15 points for Morris Catholic, which ended the season with a 23-3 record. |
“After the bad start we had the last time we played (Morris Catholic) we had it in our minds that we had to start strong,” said Latimer. “We came into this gym knowing that we weren’t leaving without a trophy. I could feel how confident we were going into this game. We were hitting our shots to start the game and that gave us even more confidence.”
Kate Feeney’s steal and layup trimmed the lead down to three but the Crusaders never got closer than that margin the rest of the game. Despite having just two points from Fuehring in the first half the Blue Wolves were still up five at the break, which was the same lead they had going into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter has been where Morris Catholic has thrived all season, especially from beyond the 3-point line. The Blue Wolves countered that by clamping down defensively and never allowing the Crusaders to get into any type of rhythm on offense. Fuehring got the crucial run going by driving to her left and powering home a layup while getting fouled, then converting a free throw to complete the 3-point play. Latimer then connected on a snap pass to a cutting Fuehring for a layup before adding one of her own on the next possession to bump the lead up to 12, 38-26, with 4:44 remaining.
Feeney’s 3-pointer cut the lead to nine, 38-29, with 2:50 to play, but that was the only 3-pointer the Crusaders hit all game. They finished just 1 of 18 from 3-point range after averaging 3.9 threes made in their previous 25 games. Fuehring and freshman point guard Jordan McLemore hit free throws late as Immaculate Conception celebrated the school’s first section title in girls hoops.
“This is what I’ve been working for ever since I came here and it feels great to win one my senior year,” added Fuehring, who will play in the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago on April 1.
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Breanne Bellerand had 8 points and 8 rebounds for IC, which will play
St. Rose for the Non-Public B state title on Saturday in Toms River. |
Fuehring’s 17 points and 11 rebounds led all players for Immaculate Conception (23-7). Breanne Bellerand had eight points, eight rebounds and played great defense both on the perimeter and in the post. Gee and Latimer added eight and seven points, respectively.
Feeney led the way with 15 points for Morris Catholic, which ended the season with a 23-3 record. Stella Johnson and Rachel Mills had eight points apiece.
Immaculate Conception advances to the Non-Public B state final on Saturday where it will face Non-Public B South champ St. Rose at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River. With a change in the mindset of the Blue Wolves since losing to IHA in the Bergen County final, Horohonich knows his team has what it takes to make it to the Tournament of Champions.
“In the county final against IHA we played like we were hoping good things would happen. Today, we came out more aggressive and we made those good things happen,” said Horohonich. “We’re going to go down to Toms River with the same mentality. This team has now proven that we can compete with anyone and we feel like we’re ready for the big moment.”
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