Sophomore Celina Bussanich scored a team-high 24 points for 8th-seeded Pascack Valley, which topped No. 9 Tenafly, 70-45, in the first round of the North 1, Group 3 state sectional tournament.
HILLSDALE - Pascack Valley closed out the third quarter with an 11-2 run to break open a close game and coasted to a 70-45 win over Tenafly in the opening round of the North 1, Group 3 state playoffs Monday afternoon.
The Panthers led, 39-37, when sophomore Celina Bussanich scored on a reverse layup with about two minutes to go in the third period.
“She works so hard,” said Valley coach Jeff Jasper. “If you’re going to guard her you better be ready to run five miles. She never stops moving. She reminds me of [former Valley star] Sara Ely.”
PV senior Tori Criscuolo went 1-for-2 from the line and, on the ensuing Tiger possession, Valley stole the ball at mid court and zipped the ball around the perimeter to Bussanich, who buried a 3-pointer to boost the lead to 45-37.
“I think we move the ball really well,” Bussanich said. “We have to pass it fast so we get the open shots in the paint and they pass it back out. We shot really well too.”
“I thought we played so unselfishly,” added Jasper. “It was vintage basketball. It wasn’t dribble-drive stuff where I just beat you one-on-one and shooting from wherever. This was pass, pass, cut, screen, bang, layup. Bang, bang, bang, into the post, back out, shot. Just unselfish.”
Criscuolo and Tenafly sophomore Juliet Schwartz traded put-backs but with 5 seconds left in the quarter Panthers sophomore Ava Burke swished a 3-pointer and Valley led, 50-39, heading into the fourth period.
“She was awesome today,” Jasper said of Burke. “She is a work in progress. She is a terrific athlete. She’s worked so hard on her game. She is a girl that when we come back [from an away game] I hear a bouncing ball at 8 o’clock at night. Guess who it is - it’s Ava Burke by herself, or with her dad rebounding for her, just working and working. She’s just gotten better and better. She plays great on both ends of the floor, is a great rebounder and has a nose for the ball.”
The Panthers carried the momentum into the fourth quarter, extending their lead and passing the ball around to drain the clock. As time ticked away the Tigers began to foul Valley players in an attempt to cut into the lead. The Panthers responded by converting 11-of-12 free throws. Jennings (4-of-4) and Bussanich (6-of-6) showed nerves of steel.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” said Jennings, “but at the same time it’s the moments we live for because when it comes down to foul shots that’s exactly what we practice every day. It’s something that wins games and that’s been a big thing for us this year. Making sure we execute our free throws is a feeling of being proud when you see it go through the rim.”
“Celina is just sensational,” added Jasper. “She’s 85 percent from the foul line. She has ice in her veins.”
In a lineup featuring three seniors, sophomores Burke and Bussanich have proved to be invaluable this season.
“I think they’ve always been strong and confident on and off the court,” said Jennings. “Since the moment they got here they’ve been a great part of our team and the heart of our team. I think they hold their own out there. Obviously we’re all together and we help each other. When we need something we’re always there for each other.”
Pascack Valley had jumped out to an 11-3 lead in the first quarter but sharpshooter Rylie Theuerkauf, the all-time leading scorer in Tenafly high school history, scored 12 of her game-high 36 points to pull the Tigers to within 13-12 as the quarter ended. She scored 11 more in the second quarter as Tenafly carried a 28-27 lead into halftime.
The Panthers defense picked up in the second half making it a little harder for Theuerkauf to score. Nevertheless she managed to score 13 more points.
“She’s such a good player and a really hard competitor,” Jennings said. “We knew we had to come out hard and play together because it’s something we have [as a team] and it’s really special. Our team is like a family and we play like that. I think it’s what helped put us over the top. Everybody who guarded her did a great job. Everybody knows she’s a great player and she’s going to shoot her shot. We know she’s going to score. Everyone who guarded her, especially Ava (Burke) and [senior] Julia [Graham] did a great job.”
Bussanich led the Panthers with 24 points. Jennings tallied 17, Criscuolo contributed 14 and Burke had 10. The Panthers move on to play top-seeded Montville Wednesday.
“It feels really great [that we won a state game] but we still have a lot more work to do,” said Jennings. “Montville is a great team but we are too so we’re just going to keep working hard in practice and hopefully go out and do the same thing.”
“We scrimmaged them in the beginning [of the season],” said Jasper. “They’re a really good basketball team. I’m excited because we get to practice tomorrow. I get another day in the gym with them, another game with them. I would have been so sad if yesterday was our last practice. I was sad as I watched the game unfold today. Every once in a while I would get it in my head this could be it. I think all of us love our teams and I particularly love my teams and I love my seniors for sure. They are five classy, classy kids and I’d like to hang with them as long as I can.”
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