Sunday,
February 7, 2016
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Kalya Oge stuffed the stat sheet from the back of the Saddle River Day press as the Rebels posted a resounding 53-21 win over Pascack Valley in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals. |
FAIR LAWN – Under head coach Danny Brown, Saddle River Day has steadily built a successful girls basketball program from the ground up. But to be a championship team, Brown needed certain players to make sacrifices and grow into their roles. No player exemplified that more than senior forward Kayla Oge. Playing at the back of the full-court pressure defense, Oge had two very important jobs: to be a force on the boards and block or change shots in the paint if the opponent makes it that far.
After three-plus varsity seasons with both flashes of brilliance and moments of inconsistency, Oge has emerged as one of the premier defenders in Bergen County and the Lady Rebels have benefited greatly from her recent play.
Oge grabbed six rebounds and blocked five shots in the first half alone as third-seeded Saddle River Day allowed just six first half points and pulled away in the second quarter in serving notice to the rest of Bergen County with a 53-21 victory over sixth-seeded Pascack Valley in the Bergen County quarterfinals on Saturday at Fair Lawn High School.
“We have really come together over the last six games and that is because of how well Kayla Oge has played,” said Brown. “She's the lynchpin in the back that allows us to put that pressure up front. For a big she covers so much ground and does such a great job in altering or blocking shots. She understands her role back there and I'm so proud of how she's coming into her own.”
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Pascack Valley's Kelly Petro scored 10 points to go with 7 rebounds. |
Saddle River Day set the tone right from the beginning with a pair of 3s from freshman standout Michelle Sidor, the latter of which gave the Rebels a 13-2 lead. Gina Criscuolo scored the first field goal for Pascack Valley in the final minute of the first quarter to cut the deficit to 13-4. That is the last time it would be a single-digit game the rest of the way as Oge and fellow senior Dani McMahon played lights out defensively.
Oge blocked shots on consecutive possessions that led to baskets and McMahon's steal and layup sparked a 15-0 run to close the opening half as Saddle River Day virtually put the game away by halftime with a 28-point lead, 34-6.
“It's so exciting to play as well as we played in the first half,” said Oge. “I'm glad I've grown as a player and I feel comfortable in my role. It's not a one-person show here and it feels great to know they need me as much as I need them. We have total trust in one another and that makes our job that much easier. I'm confident in my teammates and they are showing the confidence in me. We all feed off the trust we have in each other, especially defensively, and that makes us a tough team to score on.”
Oge stuffed the stat with 10 rebounds, six points, six blocks, three assists and two steals for Saddle River Day (18-1). McMahon also had 10 rebounds to go with eight points and five steals. Sidor led all players with 19 points. Carly Christofi added eight points and five rebounds. Kelly Petro led Pascack Valley with 10 points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.
Saddle River Day moves into the Bergen County semifinals for the second straight year. With a senior-heavy lineup, the Rebels will not be happy to just get to Ramapo College. They will be poised to take another step toward for the school's first Bergen County title in any sport.
“We're now starting to play to our potential and we're becoming a much better defensive team,” added Brown. “We're excited for what's ahead of us.”
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