Julianna Almeida produced career-highs in three separate categories for Saddle River Day, which knocked out Roselle Catholic, 73-61, in the Non-Public North B quarterfinals.
SADDLE RIVER – The mood before Saddle River Day’s senior night before playing in the Non-Public B North state quarterfinals was a festive one. Lots of smiles and laughs as the Rebels graduated four seniors vital to the success of their program. However, that feeling quickly changed as they faced a young Roselle Catholic squad that had no intention of participating in the celebration. Before the Rebels knew what hit them were in a dogfight against a team that was hungry to end the Rebels’ season on their own court.
Facing an eight-point deficit and needing a spark before halftime, the Rebels’s senior leadership stepped to the forefront
Cristina Parrella and Julianna Almeida each scored seven points in a 19-0 run to end the first half as fourth-seeded Saddle River Day advanced to the Non-Public B North semifinals and earned a shot at the state’s No. 1 ranked team Morris Catholic with a 73-61 win over fifth-seeded Roselle Catholic on Monday.
Parrella hit consecutive threes early to give Saddle River Day a quick 6-2 lead, but that lead dissipated quickly as Roselle Catholic guards Jasmin McKay and Tyonnah Barnes showed they could handle the full-court pressure and make the right read. The Lions pushed the pace for most of the first half with a basket inside by Sidney Smith giving them a shocking 29-21 lead midway through the second quarter.
The path towards gaining control of the game was through forcing turnovers.
Bella Pedone kickstarted the run by forcing a pair of turnovers in the backcourt that led to baskets. Almeida, who made one great defensive play after another throughout the first half, scored on a conventional three-point play gave the Rebels their first lead since the game’s opening moments. The Navy-bound commit along with Parrella, who will play at Princeton University next year, then heated up when their team needed them most. Scoring the last 19 points of the first half, the Rebels grabbed the momentum and a 40-29 lead going into the locker room.
Jasmin McKay scored a team-high 17 points for Roselle Catholic.
“Even though we had that run to end the half, I was still concerned,” said Saddle River Day head coach Joe Pedone. “Roselle Catholic had some good guards and they showed they can play. When we went on that run, it all came down to being disciplined and getting stops. Julianna was all over the place on defense, and she really set the tone for us.”
Roselle Catholic continued to attack the basket in the third quarter and had success in doing so. But they were unable to cut the gap thanks in part to the Rebels shooting from beyond the three-point arc. Faith Williamson’s threes were sandwiched around one from Nia Carrera as the Rebels never led the lead slip below double-digits the rest of the way.
Almeida produced career-highs in three separate categories (rebounds, steals, and blocks) for Saddle River Day (22-3). She stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, 16 rebounds, six steals, five blocks, and three assists. Parrella led all players with 23 points and Williamson added 17, 15 of which came on three-pointers.
McKay led the way with 17 points for Roselle Catholic, who finished its season with a 15-8 record. Barnes had 15 points, Smith added 13, and Gabriella Brown added 12 points. While the Lions’ season ended, the future is bright as all five starters return next year.
For the Rebels, they now hit the road to face the section’s No. 1 seed and the top-ranked team in New Jersey, Morris Catholic. Saddle River Day has had a target on its back all season, but now the roles are reversed. It will be the Rebels who come in with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
“Morris Catholic has been the number one team in the state all season and we know it’s going to be a challenge,” said Pedone. “We’re going to have to play our ‘A’ game. Every possession in that game is going to be massively important. Every possession, every box out, every pass, every shot. It’s an opportunity we’ve been hoping to get all season and now it’s in front of us. We’ll work hard and prepare over the next two days just as we have all season and we’ll be ready to go.”
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