Junior Erin Fahy. finished with a double-double of 22 points and 10 boards for Cresskill, which knocked off host Pascack Valley, 46-39, in the first round of the Joe Poli Tournament on Monday.
HILLSDALE – Whenever Cresskill lost a game last year it had the built-in excuse of being young and inexperienced, but with the entire roster returning this season the expectations have been raised significantly. That was evidenced by the fact that the Cougars even entered the Joe Poli Tournament, the holiday season classic that annually includes a field full of heavyweights.
Having to face host Pascack Valley and blowing a double-digit lead in the third quarter, a less confident team may have whittled under the pressure. However, the Cougars refused to let the adverse situation affect them. With the Cougars needing leadership down the stretch, crafty junior forward Erin Fahy was happy to provide it.
A 12-0 run pulled Pascack Valley into a tie late in the third quarter before Fahy, who was an offensive threat throughout the game with a variety of moves both in the post and along the baseline, responded with a basket to close the third quarter and another to start the fourth. Cresskill bent but never broke in earning a 46-39 triumph over Pascack Valley on Monday in Hillsdale.
“I tell the girls all the time I want to see three things: Effort, a good attitude and the ability to finish games,” said Cresskill head coach Mike McCourt. “When you have those three things with the players we have, feel we can be successful. The key when PV made their run was that we never backed down. We just played through it until we found our rhythm again. Any time you can go into this gym at the Joe Poli Tournament and get a win it’s a great achievement.”
Celina Bussanich finished with a team-high 12 points for Pascack Valley.
Fahy scored on a conventional 3-point play late in the first quarter that gave Cresskill its first lead. The lead was three midway through the second quarter when Angelina Doto drilled a three-pointer to double the lead and the Cougars grabbed a 21-13 halftime lead.
Pascack Valley found success in the third quarter by turning up the pressure. Celina Bussanich scored eight points in the quarter, including a layup that tied the game at 25.
It was a crisis moment for Cresskill, which refused to sit back. The Cougars got back to attacking the basket at the perfect time. They broke the PV press and regained the lead on a layup by Sophia Doto. Fahy followed with another layup on the final possession of the quarter and then scored on a quick spin move inside to start the fourth quarter, putting Cresskill back up by six.
“I didn’t think we played worse in the third quarter. Pascack Valley played with more intensity, and we had to match that,” said Fahy. “I’m the tallest on my team, but I’m generally not the tallest person on the court. So I have to use different moves and read the defense to get to the basket as often as I can.”
Pascack Valley fought valiantly to get back in the game, but every time it seemed a big run was coming Maddie Morgan countered with a soul-crushing bucket. The senior guard scored seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter to help Cresskill hold on for the victory.
Maddie Morgan scored 7 of her 9 points in the fourth quarter for Cresskill, which will play Secaucus in the second round.
Fahy’s high basketball IQ was on full display from start to finish for Cresskill (4-0). She led all players with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Bussanich was the lone player to reach double-figures in the scoring column for Pascack Valley (3-2) with 12 points.
Cresskill advanced to the semifinals of the Poli and will face another Group 1 squad, Secaucus, a 47-42 winner in overtime over Mahwah. With a confidence-building win now in their back pocket the Cougars are hoping to earn another statement win on Wednesday.
“I think this win was a statement not just for us, but for everyone sitting in this gym,” said Fahy. “We’re a small school so not much is expected for us when we play the bigger schools, but with hard work and working together as a team we’re learning how to stay calm in pressure situations and get the job done.”
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