Freshman Alivia Badurina nailed three fourth quarter 3s for Old Tappan, which came from behind to knock off Pascack Valley, 55-51, on Tuesday.

OLD TAPPAN – NV/Old Tappan freshman Alivia Badurina drained three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead Old Tappan to a 55-51 comeback victory over rival Pascack Valley Tuesday afternoon. The back-and-forth contest featured 11 ties and numerous lead changes.

“It was a  typical performance where everybody is competing hard,” said Old Tappan coach Brian Dunn. 

Valley grabbed a 15-10 lead on a 3-pointer by junior Celina Bussanich but Badurina’s first trey of the game and a basket by Knights sophomore Sadie Murphy, after the two teams had traded points, tied the game at 17-all three minutes into the second quarter.

“Alivia and Sadie did a great job off the bench,” said Dunn. “Sadie hit a big one for us and got us back tied. I think they both did a great job off the bench. They’re young kids and in an Old Tappan/PV game to step up and do it means something.”

With less than two minutes to go in the half Bussanich and Badurina traded 3s and a minute later Panthers junior Ava Burke completed a 3-point play to give Valley a 27-26 lead heading into intermission. 

 “In the first half everybody made some shots,” said Dunn. “I thought both teams shot the ball pretty well.”

Knights senior Layla Giordano scored quickly to open the third quarter on a putback, but Burke tallied a pair of free throws and drove to the basket for two more to give Valley a three-point lead, 31-28. After the teams traded points Giordano swished a 3-pointer to tie the game at 32-32.

A series of free throws by both teams preceded Valley freshman Raina Gibbs hitting on a long trey and the Panthers took a 42-40 lead into the fourth quarter. Fouls plagued the Golden Knights as Layla Giordano and her twin sister, Maya, each had four fouls heading into the final frame. Maya picked up her fourth foul midway through the third quarter and went to the bench. Layla picked up her fourth and fifth fouls less than a minute into the fourth quarter so Old Tappan was without the twins for an extended period of time.

“Our other kids stepped up,” said Dunn. “I thought [sophomore] Mia Derrico did a great job on No. 4 (Bussanich) to keep her in check and not let her free on the 3-point line. It was a good combination of stuff and for the most part we took care of the ball at the right times and got the shots we needed at the right times.”

Thirty seconds after Layla Giordano left the game Badurina drilled the first of her fourth quarter 3-pointers to tie the game 43-43. 

“We were lucky we had Alivia jump in and knock down some big shots when Maya was out with foul trouble,” said Dunn. “She hit some big ones for us.”

A minute later senior Grayson Housley stole a pass and dribbled the length of the court for a layup to give Old Tappan the lead for good, 45-43.  Thirteen seconds after Housley’s heroics Badurina drained another three to boost the lead to 48-43.

“When I know I’m ready and I’m set I just have to shoot it,” Badurina said. “I know the game and I know my strengths. When I know I have the shot I just shoot it.”

After Burke added a free throw Old Tappan moved the ball around and found Badurina alone outside. She promptly drained another trey to make it 51-44 with 3:44 left to go in the game. After the game Badurina explained how she was able to get open.

“Ball movement is one of the top things we’re known for,” she said. “The main thing is screening. We always work on screening at practice. When I get a screen I really have to make sure I cut hard and fast off the screens.”

Valley was able to close to 51-49 when Burke scored on a putback of her own missed shot. She finished with a game-high 23 points. But Maya Giordano scored from in close to boost the lead back up to four.

After the Panthers hit a couple of free throws Derrico made it a two-possession game with a pair of free throws with 3.4 seconds left. Layla Giordano finished with a team-high 19 points while Badurina added 17. Burke led all scorers with 23, while Bussanich had 17 for the Panthers.

After the game Dunn reflected on what positives can be taken by the team, which was forced to play a large portion of the game without their big guns.

“Any situation where there is some adversity, and it can pop its head in a 100 different ways or a 1,000 different ways,” he said, “and you overcome it and do something different that you haven’t done before and see you can handle it, it gives you more tools and more mental toughness. You develop some ability to problem solve and handle new situations. It’s a good experience and it builds confidence.”

“Coming in from the start [of the season] coach said you have to show up for every single game but especially this one,” Badurina said. “I grew up watching PV vs. Old Tappan and I know it’s a big one. On the court I just knew you have to show up and play even harder than what your hardest is. It’s a relief and it’s great [to win] but we have to get ready for the next one.”

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