Monday,
December 22, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
|
Sophomore Sarah Skeith finished with a career-high 30 points for Dumont, which beat New Milford, 65-31, at the Hoops4Autism Benefit. |
ORADELL – Under longtime head coach Dave Cieplicki, Dumont has been known around Bergen County for going against conventional wisdom of most high school programs. A majority of teams pride themselves on moving the ball until the perfect shot is there, defending well, and keeping the opponent off the boards. Not the Lady Huskies.
They are not afraid to take the first available shot, they use the three-point shot as their major offensive weapon, and they try to run their opponents into submission. It is a style that breeds confidence in the shooting of the Dumont guards, none more so than in sophomore Sarah Skeith.
As New Milford learned first-hand on Sunday, when the Huskies are playing at their pace and Skieth is shooting well it makes them an awfully tough team to stop.
Skeith lit it up from beyond the arc, netting career-highs of seven 3-pointers and 30 points as Dumont led for all but the game's first minute in a 65-31 win over New Milford at the Hoops4Autism Benefit played at River Dell High School in Oradell.
“Even when I was warming up I feel really comfortable shooting in this gym,” said Skieth. “In our offense you're going to get some open shots and you have to be ready to take them. We have already grown into our roles and everyone is playing them really well so far. It was important to keep your foot on the pedal and keep going to start the second half the same way we ended the first half.”
|
Natalie Miller (left) made six 3s and finished with a team-high 18 points for New Milford. |
New Milford's Natalie Miller hit a 3 on the opening possession of the game, but that lead would be the Knights' last. Skeith hit back-to-back 3s for a 10-4 lead. The Knights cut it to one on a basket inside by Ariel Frazee but the Huskies continued to successfully bomb away.
Skeith nailed two more 3s in the second quarter and Sarah Keefe added another as Dumont pulled away for a 13-point halftime lead, 33-20.
Although known more for their offense, the Huskies also showed that they can cause problems on the defensive end as well. Amber Porrett, a 5-foot-10 freshman forward, dominated the paint in the third quarter with five rebounds and three blocks as the Huskies did not allow a single point and bumped the lead up to 25 heading into the fourth quarter.
“They went on a run to end the second quarter and we didn't respond to it in the third quarter when we needed to,” said New Milford head coach Rebecca Luzuriaga. “Dumont shot the ball really well today and we weren't matching them basket for basket. We're not really an offensive team, so we rely on our defense. When we're not getting stops consistently it makes it tough. We'll learn from this and hopefully we can take something from it to make us a better team.”
|
Sarah Keefe finished with 9 points for Dumont, which is off to a 2-0 start. |
Skeith nailed 7 of her 10 three-point shots for Dumont (2-0). Porrett led all players with 13 rebounds and seven blocks. Keefe and Sophia Kourian each added nine points. Miller also had success from long-range, hitting six of 11 three-point attempts to lead New Milford (1-1) with 18 points.
With the backcourt clicking on all cylinders and Porrett and freshman Ariana Pena as two 5-foot-10, shot-altering players inside who are happy do to the dirty work, the Huskies now have the balance that perfectly fits the style Cieplicki feels can equal a successful season.
“Now that we have some tough players inside and have the shooters, we have the pieces in place to win a lot of games,” said Cieplicki. “It goes against the grain of what most coaches would say. I just say 'outscore us'. We're going to play hard, move the ball well and keep shooting those shots like we did today. We want to set the pace and make teams adjust to us. Whatever works that's what we'll do.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS GAME. TO BUY A COLLECTOR'S PRINT
OF THIS STORY, PLEASE VISIT 4FeetGrafix.com. |