Sunday, March 16, 2014

NJSIAA Non-Public A final
IHA beats an old nemesis on way to Tournament of Champions

IHA's Jordan Wilmoth.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

TOMS RIVER – History showed that heading into Saturday's Non-Public A state final, Immaculate Heart Academy was not supposed to win. Not only have the Blue Eagles struggled to get over the hump in each of the past two years in this round, but their opponent, St. John Vianney, had remarkably never lost in any of their previous 15 state final appearances. But as the final seconds of regulation wound down and the teams were tied, the Blue Eagles had a chance to make their own history and seized the moment. Alex Mesropyan drove the lane then dished off to Kayla Oge on the block. With two defenders converging, Oge collected the ball and laid it up high off the glass and in with 4.5 seconds left as Immaculate Heart Academy won its first Non-Public A state championship since 2002 with a thrilling 45-43 triumph at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River. “We knew no team had ever beat them in a state final and it feels incredible to play as well as we did,” said IHA's Caitlin Roche. MORE...

Friday, March 14, 2014

NJSIAA Group 3 semifinals
Kelly goes off as West Morris ends Highlands' best ever season

Northern Highlands' senior Madison Dunbar.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

FRANKLIN LAKES – There are good nights and then there are nights like the one West Morris Central senior Brielle Kelly had on Thursday night in the Group 3 state semifinals. Up against Northern Highlands, the Bergen County champion with a trio of 6-footers in its starting lineup, Kelly decided the Highlanders were just not big enough to stop her. West Morris scored 22 points in the third quarter and all 22 of them were scored by Kelly, a senior who will play next season at Division 2 Mansfield University. Kelly finished with a career-high 38 points, 31 of them in the second half, and West Morris needed everyone of them. “We wanted this win so bad for my team, we all did, so I was just going to keep attacking. We could get some fouls called, we could make some shots and everything would fall into place,” said Kelly, who got just about everything to fall in the basket as she was 8-for-9 from the floor and 5-for-5 from the free throw line in the third quarter alone.”We don't see Highlands in our conference, so we didn't know that much about them. We did know they were big, but we knew the best way to go was to attack them and try to put them in foul trouble.” MORE...

Thursday, March 13, 2014

NJSIAA Non-Public North A final
IHA has an immaculate performance in section final

IHA's Lindsey Rogers (21).

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

PATERSON – A look at the records of the two teams in Wednesday night's Non-Public North A final and it appeared to be a complete mismatch. Immaculate Heart Academy is the four-time defending section champ while Mount St. Dominic had an 8-21 record coming into the game. However, IHA could not take a team lightly that pulled three road upsets to get to this point. That included a win over Paramus Catholic, a team that beat IHA earlier in the season. In their three state tournament wins, Mount St. Dominic got off to hot starts and rode that wave all the way to victory. Led by Caitlin Roche and Lindsey Rogers, the Blue Eagles were not about to be Mt. St. Dom's third upset victim in a row and got off to a hot start of their own with a smothering defensive effort. Roche nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the first quarter and Rogers scored six points during a 15-0 spurt as top-seeded IHA allowed just six points over a 24-minute stretch and tripled up the opposition with 63-21 romp over No. 10 seed Mount St. Dominic at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson. MORE...

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

NJSIAA North 1, Group 1 final
Midland Park defends its home floor and its section title

Midland Park's Thalia Ghalam.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

MIDLAND PARK – In less than three minutes, everything Midland Park had worked for this entire season was going down the tubes. All the Panthers could do was watch as Verona's Julie Rosenberg drained one 3-pointer after another in the third quarter to tie Tuesday night's North 1, Group 1 section final and grab the momentum that Midland Park worked so hard to secure throughout the first two-plus quarters. With the Verona defense working hard to contain the Panthers' inside-outside duo of Nicole Cartaino and Rebecca Rabeiro, someone else needed to rise to the occasion and make some plays or else MP would have to watch someone else celebrate a section championship on its home court. Enter Thalia Ghalam, usually a defensive standout who extended her effectiveness to the opposite end of the floor. Ghalam started the game's most crucial run with a rare driving layup and capped the 11-2 spurt it with another drive to the basket as top-seeded Midland Park defended its North 1, Group 1 section crown with a 49-39 victory over No. 2 Verona in front of a sell-out crowd at Midland Park High School. MORE...

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

NJSIAA North 2, Group 2 final
Weequahic is the one that makes history with win at Ridgefield Park

Ridgefield Park's Kelli Tellian.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

RIDGEFIELD PARK – Ridgefield Park came into this season with high expectations and with good reason. Having lost only two key players from last year's team that reached both the Bergen County and state sectional semifinals, the Lady Scarlets were hoping this season would be a return to championship glory. Monday night presented the Scarlets with the exact scenario that they wanted with a rowdy crowd and packed house in their home gymnasium and with a section title at stake. Unfortunately for the home team, Weequahic was looking to make some history of its own and took control right from the opening tap. Weequahic, the No. 2 seed, scored the game's first five points and never trailed. Top-seeded Ridgefield Park cut a double-digit lead down to four with less than five minutes to play but never got any closer. A banked 3-pointer was the backbreaking shot as Weequahic won its first-ever section title by handing the Scarlets a 47-36 defeat in the North 2, Group 2 section final at Ridgefield Park High School. MORE...

Saturday, March 8, 2014

NJSIAA Non-Public North A playoffs
St. Dominic Academy reaches section semis for first time in school history

St. Dominic Academy's Amanda Lewis.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

NEWARK - As the St. Dominic Academy players walked to the locker room for halftime, they had plenty of reason to give up the fight. After several weeks of turmoil both on and off the court along with being down five points on the road against St. Vincent, nobody would have faulted the Blue Devils for not responding favorably to the type of adversity they faced recently. But with their season on the line, the Blue Devils made a pact that if they were going to lose that it was going to be on their terms. All the adversity that they faced in the recent weeks has only made them stronger. That showed in the second half of Friday's Non-Public North A quarterfinal when they bounced back from a sluggish first half with their best half of the season in the most important half of the season. Danielle Wilbert's 3-pointer put the Blue Devils ahead to stay in the midst of a 10-0 run and Amanda Lewis came up huge in the fourth quarter as sixth-seeded St. Dominic Academy advanced to the Non-Public North A semifinals for the first time in school history with a 55-35 triumph over No. 3 St. Vincent. MORE...

Friday, March 7, 2014

NJSIAA Non-Public North B
McMahon tops 1,000; Saddle River Day reaches first-ever section semifinal

Saddle River Day's Danielle Deoul.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

SADDLE RIVER – Saddle River Day's Izzy McMahon generally does not get jitters before a big game. After four years worth of varsity experience and having played well in big games before, McMahon knows that, as the point guard, she has to be the calming presence on the court. But going into Thursday's Non-Public North B quarterfinal against Oak Knoll, McMahon knew she was only one basket away from a milestone she has thought about for quite some time. When the ball finally went through the hoop to reach that milestone midway through the first quarter, McMahon and her teammates could finally take a collective deep breath and focus on the task at hand. McMahon notched her 1,000th career point before she helped them take over the game. She scored eight points and freshman Danielle Deoul had six in a 19-0 run to close the first half as third-seeded Saddle River Day cruised from there and advanced to the section semifinals for the first time in school history with a 71-41 win over No. 11 seed Oak Knoll at Saddle River Day School. MORE...

Thursday, March 6, 2014

NJISAA North 1, Group 1 playoffs
Saddle Brook makes history with tourney win over Ridgefield

Saddle Brook's Taylor Harmon.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

SADDLE BROOK – As they waited for the lineups to be announced, Saddle Brook seniors Taylor Harmon and Katie Garbarino were exchanging huge smiles and for good reason. Two years ago they were both sophomores on a team that went 3-20 and when they would look in the stands back then they would see only the immediate families of the Falcon players. On Wednesday night as they prepared to play in the North 1, Group 1 state sectional quarterfinals, they were in front of a standing-room only crowd. It was at that moment that they realized just how far this program has come, but playing against a Ridgefield team that has had a resurgence of its own this year, Harmon and Garbarino did not want their last high school basketball memory to be a loss on their home floor in front of a capacity crowd. After Ridgefield cut a double-digit lead down to three points with less than two minutes to play, the Falcons' senior duo responded. MORE...

Sunday, March 3, 2014

Hudson County final
Suber is super in fourth quarter again as Lincoln retains county title

Bayonne's Shekinah Suber.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

UNION CITY – She'Kinah Suber does not see herself as a dramatic person nor is she a big fan of roller-coaster rides. But when it comes time for the Hudson County Tournament, Lincoln's guard not only has a flair for drama but will also take her team on a wild ride of spurts in which her play often dictates how well her team is playing. She had a major hand in victories in both the semifinals and the finals last year. But in Saturday's Hudson County Tournament final against Bayonne, she could not get anything going throughout the first three quarters as her Lions were in danger of giving up their status as the county's best team. As usual though, Suber did her best Vanessa Williams impression and saved the best for last with a virtuoso fourth-quarter surge. After having just two points through the first three quarters, Suber erupted for 12 points in the fourth quarter as No. 2 seed Lincoln rallied to take the lead and then held on in a wild final few minutes to earn the Lions their third straight Hudson County title with a 46-45 triumph over top-seeded Bayonne at Union City High School. MORE...

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Tenalfy snaps its losing streak with win over Indian Hills

Tenafly freshman Casey Burdy.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

TENAFLY – To say the end of her senior season has been tough is an understatement for Tenafly's Lanie Shalek. After earning an at-large bid to the Bergen County Tournament with wins over Pascack Valley and Northern Valley/Old Tappan (both who won first-round county tournament games), it looked like the Lady Tigers' season was on the upswing. Unfortunately, they were eliminated from the BCT with a loss to Pascack Hills followed by even worse news that starting guard Samantha Henderson would be out for the year with an injury. That sent the Tigers into a tailspin in which they lost 11 straight games heading into Tuesday night's matchup against Indian Hills. Shalek did not want to end her high school career on a losing note. The senior forward made sure both she and her teammates would have at least one last chance to celebrate on their home court. After Indian Hills whittled a 13-point halftime deficit down to one inside the final minute, Shalek refused to let her team lose and closed out the game where she is most comfortable, at the free-throw line. MORE...

Monday, February 24, 2014

Bergen County final
Third time a charm as Highlands beats Teaneck for first county title

Northern Highlands' Melissa Heath.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

MAHWAH – As Northern Highlands and Teaneck went to their respective benches between the third and fourth quarters of Saturday's Bergen County Tournament championship game, it appeared to be a carbon copy of their regular-season meeting. In regular season matchup, the Highlanders were in control for the better part of three quarters and led by as many as 10 points before Teaneck surged back near the end of the third quarter to get within striking distance before winning on a layup at the buzzer. The exact same scenario was playing out again as Northern Highlands again led by 10 before Teaneck roared back to cut the deficit to a single point going into the fourth quarter. But after two straight years of disappointment in Bergen County Tournament finals, the Highlanders were not about to let another opportunity slip away. Melissa Heath converted a big 3-point play early in the fourth quarter and defensive whiz Rachel Jubelt's steal and layup was the knockout blow. MORE...

Friday, February 21, 2014

Hudson County tournament
Secaucus hits the gas, cruises into Hudson County semifinals

Secaucus' Kristina Ulrich.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

SECAUCUS – After opening any game on a big run, the natural reaction is to take the foot off the gas knowing that there is plenty of margin for error. However, if that team plans on winning championships then it must also learn how to deliver the knockout blow when the opportunity presents itself. Such was the case for Secaucus, which opened Thursday’s Hudson County Tournament quarterfinal against Marist on a 16-0 run and seemed to have the game well in hand just four minutes in. But when Marist cut the lead to four, the senses of the Patriots heightened knowing that everything they worked so hard to do early was slipping away. Luckily for the Patriots a bevy of 3-pointers helped swing the momentum back in their direction, this time for good. Kendall Caruso hit a 3-pointer to end the first quarter and in the process started the game-clinching 13-1 run. Caruso capped the spurt with another 3-pointer and recent 1,000-point scorer Julia McClure pumped in a season-high 25 points as No. 4 seed Secaucus advanced to the Hudson County semifinals with a 78-51 win over No. 5 seed Marist at Secaucus High School. MORE...

MORE GIRLS BASKETBALL COVERAGE!
• Old Tappan tops Ramapo in state tournament preview

Wednesday, February 20, 2014

Bergenfield holds off Paramus for late season win

Bergenfield's Dani LaPorta.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

BERGENFIELD – When a season does not go as well as originally planned it is hard on the entire team, but especially on the seniors who are playing in a high school uniform for the last time. With their hopes of qualifying for both the county and state tournaments dashed, both the Bergenfield and Paramus girls basketball teams squared off on Tuesday night in a battle between two teams who are trying to send the seniors off on a good note and build some momentum heading into next season. The game went right down to the wire as Bergenfield held off several late charges, including a potential game-winning 3-point attempt at the buzzer, to score a 40-38 triumph at Bergenfield High School. “This was a big one for us after being down early in the game,” said Bergenfield head coach Mike Kilgallen “Paramus is so well-coached that you knew they were going to make a run at the end. I thought that 3 was going to go in, but we were able to sneak out of here with a victory.” MORE...

Monday, February 17, 2014

Bergen County semifinals
Teaneck comes back to shock Immaculate Conception in overtime

Teaneck's Milan Johnson.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

MAHWAH – Playing hard from the opening tap to the final buzzer sounds is something that Teaneck head coach Shenee Clarke has preached to her players ever she took over as head coach. Clarke's players have followed that advice to the letter this season, but against a strong Immaculate Conception squad looking to make its first-ever appearance in a Bergen County final it simply was not enough for the better part of three and a half quarters as the breaks were not going Teaneck's way. Down 13 with under four minutes to play, the Highwaywomen were in a position they are rarely in. They were getting blown out in a big game in front big crowd and they were not executing on either end of the floor. The only way to fight their way out of it was to keep the pressure on and try to make their own breaks. The Highwaywomen got some help that allowed Faith Ashby to hit a running bank shot off the glass at the buzzer to force overtime. Third-seeded Teaneck then held No. 2 seed Immaculate Conception scoreless in the extra session in scoring a miraculous 51-48 victory in the Bergen County Tournament semifinals on Saturday at Ramapo College in Mahwah. MORE...

MORE BERGEN COUNTY BASKETBALL SEMIFINAL COVERAGE!
• Same teams, different result as Highlands knocks off IHA

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Pascack Valley clamps down on Bergenfield

Pascack Valley's Lisa Marcellari.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

HILLSDALE – When a team is not as offensively gifted as its opponent, it has to muster up other ways to win. Passing the ball efficiently, boxing out and staying out of foul trouble are such things that Pascack Valley has had to do this year in order to be successful. With a tough stretch of games coming over the next two weeks, including dates with Bergen County semifinalists Teaneck and Northern Highlands, Pascack Valley was hoping to start that stretch on the right note on Tuesday against Bergenfield. The Indians did just that with a defensive performance that showed what a tough out the Indians could be both late in the regular season and well into the state tournament. The Indians allowed just two field goals, committed just one foul and gave up only one offensive rebound in the first half in taking control and leading throughout as Pascack Valley cruised to a 42-20 triumph over Bergenfield in Hillsdale. MORE...

Monday, February 10, 2014

Bergen County tournament
IHA has all the answers against Saddle River Day

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

IHA's Alex Mesropyan.

ORADELL – Heading into the Bergen County quarterfinal duel between Immaculate Heart Academy and Saddle River Day, there were a multitude of story lines. Saddle River Day's senior point guard Izzy McMahon was matched against her former team, which she helped lead to a county title as a freshman. Sisters Katia and Kayla Oge were playing on opposite teams and even guarding each other at times. But for IHA head coach Steve Silver, it was merely another test against another tough opponent looking to knock the defending county champion off its perch. Alex Mesropyan helped IHA race out an early lead and the Blue Eagles were able to keep the Rebels at bay every time they made a run. Katia Oge had 17 points and Caitlin Roche knocked down several big shots as top-seeded IHA put it all together in a 63-49 triumph over No. 8 seed Saddle River Day on Sunday at River Dell High School in Oradell. “We knew that we couldn't take this game personally even though all the girls on each team know one another,” said Roche, a junior shooting guard. “We couldn't think about it as playing against our friends, but looking at each individual as someone who was trying to beat us. Setting the tone is always important and Alex hit a couple of big 3s to get us going.” MORE...

MORE BERGEN COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT COVERAGE!
• Highlands is nearly flawless in quarterfinal win over Ramapo
• Immaculate Conception gets over hump
• Teaneck grinds out a win over Paramus Catholic

Paramus turns the tables on Hackensack

Paramus sophomore forward Julia Koenemund.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

PARAMUS – The disappointment of not being selected for the Bergen County Tournament was wide spread among the Paramus girls’ basketball program. From head coach Scott Papetti, to the program's all-time leading scorer Brittany Stone and fellow senior Sabrina Helm, to the younger players who wanted a shot against one of the better teams in Bergen County, the disappointment was taken to heart from top to bottom. Playing a big hand in Paramus' eventual disappointment was a young Hackensack squad that registered one of its three wins on the season over the Spartans back in early January. Although a win in the rematch could not change outcome of missing out on the county tournament, Paramus was looking forward to getting another crack at Lady Comets to exact a measure of revenge. Sophomore forward Julia Koenemund scored seven of her nine points in the third quarter as Paramus had five players score at least five points each in a 41-34 triumph on Thursday night. MORE...

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Bergen County tournament
Saddle River Day makes history with win over Demarest

Saddle River Day freshman Danielle Deoul.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

HILLSDALE - All Izzy McMahon could do was sit and watch. After picking up her third foul early in the second quarter, she was forced to the bench for the remainder of the half as Saddle River Day's double-digit lead was whittled down to a single point by halftime with Northern Valley/Demarest having the hot hand going into the second half. If the Rebels were going to survive, McMahon would have to stay out of foul trouble and they would quickly have to regain the momentum they lost just minutes earlier. With a balanced attack, the Rebels quickly righted the ship and took back control of the game with a big third quarter run. Three players scored in double-figures as No. 8 seed Saddle River Day secured the school's first-ever Bergen County Tournament quarterfinal berth with a 56-43 triumph over ninth-seeded Northern Valley/Demarest in a Round of 16 game at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale. MORE...

MORE BERGEN COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT COVERAGE!
• Defending champion IHA runs by Pascack Valley

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Bergen County tournament
Pascack Valley's long gold line still going straight

Pascack Valley's Jessica Powell.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

HILLSDALE – The fabled history of the Pascack Valley girls basketball is told in a long gold line that spans the full 900-plus wins in the career of head coach Jeff Jasper. But when the Indians started this season with a 2-5 record, there was concern that the line might have to take a detour right around the 2014 Bergen County Tournament. “No one has made [the county tournament] consecutive years more than we have. I don't know how many years [in a row] it is, but it is a lot and these kids were right on the verge [of not making it] when we were 2-5,” said Jasper. “I remember going in the locker room and writing it on the board and telling them to get this under control. 'You want to be the remembered in the long gold line as the team that did not qualify for the county tournament?” As it turns out, this year's version of the Indians, despite not having a single returning starter from last year's team, will be known as not only another in a long line of county tournament qualifiers, but also among the group that won at least one game in it. MORE...

MORE BERGEN COUNTY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT COVERAGE!
• Martin sparks Ramapo to county tournament win over Rutherford
• Indian Hills lives the dream as it tops Glen Rock in county tourney

North Bergen shows its stuff in MLK Roundball Round Up

North Bergen's Icies Hammer.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

UNION CITY – It was branded the MLK Roundball Round up, four girls basketball games played at Union City High School on Monday afternoon, but it also could have been called a preview of the late round of the rounds of the Hudson County Tournament. The three teams with the most realistic chance of dethroning Lincoln were all in action in the final two games. Bayonne proved that it is a player by pulling away from Secaucus in the fourth quarter on the way to a 50-42 win and, in the nightcap, North Bergen used the second half of its game against River Dell to show why it will be a county contender. Trailing by two points at halftime, the Bruins outscored River Dell 16-5 in the third quarter and then used an 8-0 run to start the fourth to grab its 10th win of the season by a 53-39 score. “Everybody is chasing Lincoln. You have Bayonne, Secaucus, us and even maybe St. Dom's and Marist as darkhorses, and with three of us playing here today, this was a good place to see where we stand,” said North Bergen head coach Don Reardon. “For us today it was just a matter of playing better man [defense] in the second half. We had to guard better, which we did in the second half, and that what the difference.” MORE...

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Secaucus tops SR-D; gets the quality win it has been searching for

Secaucus' Julia McClure.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

ENGLEWOOD – Knowing that his team was talented and that his league schedule would not likely be able to provide the number of games against top-notch competition that he wanted to get his team ready for the postseason, Secaucus girls basketball coach John Sterling went out and scheduled quality independent games where ever he could find them. Sterling put the Patriots in the always difficult Joe Poli Holiday Tournament where they lost to eventual champion Northern Highlands, he took them on the road to take on Rancocas Valley, last season's Tournament of Champions finalist and lost by six points, and he even lined up a bus trip to Staten Island where they lost in overtime to Moore Catholic. Sterling has accomplished the mission of exposing his team to the best competition out there, but that was only part of the plan. “We went out and got very tough opponents, but I have told the girls that we have got to go out and win some of them,” said Sterling. “It's not okay to say all the time, “Wow, we played tough against all of these good teams,” only to lose against them. It was time to get out on the floor against a good team and get a win.” MORE...

Friday, January 17, 2014

No milestone, but a win for Johnson and SDA over McNair

St. Dominic's Hannah Johnson.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

JERSEY CITY – Before the game between St. Dominic Academy and McNair Academic, the buzz in the gymnasium was that St. Dom’s standout junior guard Hannah Johnson was just a few baskets away from scoring her 1,000th point. But upon going back and calculating the totals of all of the games in her three-year varsity career, it turned out that she was a bit further off than anticipated. Despite knowing she was not going to reach the milestone last night, Johnson managed to to show that she is much more than a pure scorer but more of an all-around player. Johnson led all players in points, rebounds, steals, and assists as St. Dom’s never trailed in turning back McNair, 56-31, on Thursday at St. Aloysius School in Jersey City. “I thought we came out and played with composure right before the half and that carried over into the third quarter,” said St. Dominic head coach David Wunsch. MORE...

MORE GIRLS BASKETBALL COVERAGE!
• Paramus Catholic plays it smart against Demarest

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Lodi resurgence continues with a fifth straight win

Lodi's Sukhi Kaur.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

LODI – When Alyson Gorski took over as the head coach of the Lodi girls’ basketball team, she knew that the process of becoming a competitive team would take some time and a lot of growing pains. Preaching work ethic and the benefits of solid defense were the top priorities for Gorski, whose kids bought in from Day 1. The effort was there right from the get-go, but tangible results took longer to show up. While the jump in the number of wins from her first year at the helm to the second was a modest four, two to six, Gorski could see the light at the end of the tunnel. And now, the Lady Rams feel like they could win every time they step on the floor. Hawthorne (4-2) came to town on Monday on the heels of suffering its first loss of the season against Glen Rock and took an early lead. The Rams were undeterred, though, and stayed after it on the defensive end. What happened from there may have been a turning point not only in the game but possibly in Lodi’s entire season. MORE...

MORE GIRLS BASKETBALL COVERAGE!
• Tenafly's county tournament prospects improve in Old Tappan

Friday, January 10, 2014

A team effort gets IHA a win at Passaic Tech

IHA's Lindsey Rogers.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

WAYNE – Over the past few seasons whenever Immaculate Heart Academy had the luxury of a 6-foot-1 point guard with Division 1 talent to get them out of trouble when it reared its head during a girls basketball game. With Wilkes now playing at Villanova, this year's Blue Eagles need a collaborative effort when things get tight. Facing a Passaic County Tech team looking for a signature win on Thursday afternoon, IHA answered the bell with a big second-quarter that showed the potential of what this team could be come time for county and state tournaments. Stephanie Olear came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer to end the first quarter. That snapped a tie and kick-started a 15-0 run in which five different players scored as IHA led by double-digits from that point until the final seconds in a 44-35 triumph over at Passaic County Tech in Wayne. “We got off to a slow start, but we got our legs under us in the second quarter,” said IHA head coach Steve Silver. “PCT is a tough team who can force turnovers if you don’t take care of the ball. In the second quarter, we played one of our best quarters of the year on both ends of the floor.” MORE...

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Pompton snaps its skid at Mary Help of Christians

Pompton Lakes' Megan Shannon.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

NORTH HALEDON – An inexperienced squad in the midst of a three-game losing streak, Pompton Lakes' girls basketball team was not exactly playing with an abundance of confidence. In years past, a game against Mary Help of Christians would be the perfect remedy; an automatic easy win. But having scored just seven points and trailing with two minutes to go in the first half, the Cardinals were being outhustled and in danger of dropping a key league game to a team that was desperate to pull an upset. Megan Shannon capped a 6-0 run to end the first half with a buzzer-beating jumper. Hannah Zadoyka hit a pair of huge 3-pointers early in the third and fourth quarters and Pompton Lakes snapped its losing skid with a 31-19 victory on Monday at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon. “We couldn’t make a shot and they made big some big ones,” said Mary Help of Christians’ head coach Ed Torres. “We’ve been in all five games we’ve played this year. I’m happy with our effort and we played hard. But you have to make shots in order to win. We lost (Zadoyka) a few times in our zone and she made us pay for it.” MORE...

Monday, January 6, 2014

River Dell leads wire-to-wire in win over Cresskill

River Dell's Emily McGovern.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

RUTHERFORD – Without superior size, speed, or star power, the River Dell girls’ basketball team is a true throwback; one that relies on working the ball around and moving without it on offense, while holding teams to one shot per possession on the other end of the floor. For the Lady Hawks to be successful, getting off to a good start and having all five players on the court contributing in some way are paramount. Facing a young Cresskill team on Sunday in the opening game of the Ray Long Classic, the Hawks followed that blueprint to the letter. All five starters scored during a 15-0 run to start the game and River Dell cruised the rest of the way to a 45-21 triumph at Felician College in Rutherford. River Dell held a 6-0 lead midway through the first quarter and then quickly bumped it advantage up to a sizeable margin. Jeana Cappolla and Kayleen Melvin hit three-pointers sandwiched around a conventional three-point play from Emily McGovern to make it 15-0. MORE...

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

In its first appearance at the Poli, Highlands wins it

Northern Highlands' Melissa Heath.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

HILLSDALE – Both Northern Highlands and Ridgefield Park accepted invitations to the prestigious Joe Poli Tournament as an early season measuring stick to see how they stacked up against some of the best girls basketball teams in Bergen and Hudson County. But when the two squared off on Tuesday for the tournament title, it was an early-season opportunity to make a statement as the winner would earn a ton of confidence and, just as important, some clout down the road in the seeding for the Bergen CountyTournament. The Highlanders used an early second quarter run to grab the lead for good, but not without some pressure-packed moments. Northern Highlands saw its 11-point fourth quarter lead quickly dwindle down to a single point before righting the ship. Melissa Heath’s basket helped stop the run and fueled the Highlanders to the Joe Poli Tournament crown in their first year ever competing in the tournament with a 52-45 triumph over the Scarlets at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale. MORE...

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Ridgefield uses big run to improve to 3-0; win tournament title

Ridgefield's Taylor Jakuc.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

RIDGEFIELD – When a coach and his players jot down the team goals for the season on the first day of practice, they are generally set for that season. And for teams that have struggled in recent years, those goals are usually fairly modest. Such was the case for the Ridgefield girls’ basketball team, which would have been beyond happy with a .500 record after some lean years. The Royals, though, have been playing with confidence to start the 2013-2014 season and picked up a pair of convincing wins heading into Satuday's game against Cliffside Park. Another victory would end the calendar year off on the right note and hopefully act as a springboard for further success throughout the season. Led by point guard Taylor Jakuc and center Mimi Jeremic, the Royals continued their torrid start. Jeremic led all players with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jakuc scored 7 points during a 20-0 run spanning the first and second quarters as Ridgefield cruised to its third straight win with a 53-33 triumph in the final of the Ridgefield Holiday Tournament at Ridgefield High School. MORE...

Friday, December 28, 2013

Fair Lawn tops North Bergen in overtime to win Fast Break Classic

Fair Lawn's Tia Solomon.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

FAIR LAWN – No matter what the score shows on the scoreboard or whom the opponent, Fair Lawn head coach Chris Lovermi implores his team to battle on every single possession until the final buzzer sounds. If his team does that, there is always the chance that good things will. The Lady Cutters were adhering to the game plan on Friday against, but even with their never-say-die attitude, it looked like time had all but run out on Fair Lawn. Down by three points and with time winding down, junior center Tia Solomon made a play when her team needed it the most. Solomon was fouled on a putback and completed the three-point play with four seconds left to tie the game and send it into overtime. Senior captains Samantha Colca and Stephanie Johnson hit a pair of free-throws in the final 20 seconds as Fair Lawn held North Bergen to just a single point in the overtime period and handed the Bruins their first loss of the season with an entertaining 52-47 victory in the championship game of the Fast Break Classic at Fair Lawn High School. “We had our foot in the trap but we kept fighting and found a way to win,” said Lovermi. MORE...

Monday, December 23, 2013

Pascack Valley starts to climb the hill with win over Glen Rock

Pascack Valley freshman Shannon Culloo.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

RIVER DELL – In addition to the outside benefits of the many early season charity tournaments that have popped up across the state in recent years are more than a few on the court reasons why teams want to be involved. It's a win-win situation as money is raised for various good causes through the purity of high school sports and teams get to sort themselves out against out-of-league competition where wins and losses are not necessarily at a premium. Both Pascack Valley and Glen Rock are changed teams this season and when they took the floor in the opener of the five-game Hoops 4 Autism Benefit at River Dell High School on Sunday, both teams needed competitive minutes of game play as much as anything else. “We are a work in progress. Most years I am returning at least one player who has already made her mark on varsity basketball, but this is a fairly inexperienced group in the roles that they will play this year. It's really simple. We just want to be better tomorrow and we have a long way to go, ” said Pascack Valley head coach Jeff Jasper. MORE...

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Saddle River Day wins...so does Newtown (CT)

Saddle River Day's Izzy McMahon.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

NEWTOWN – On the high school level more than any than any other, basketball is more than just a sport. It is a chance to expose young student-athletes to experiences that will stay with them well into adulthood. High school basketball, and high school sports in general, can also be used as a healing tool and one was certainly needed after the tragedy that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT just over one year ago when 20 children and six adults were lost in an act of senseless violence. After it happened, the Newtown High School girls basketball team was devastated, as was the rest of the nation. There was utter sadness and despair left in the wake of the tragedy. Getting back on the court and playing was merely an escape from reality. The emotions were still raw when Newtown head coach Jeremy O'Connell helped start the 3's for Sandy Hook Foundation, and Saddle River Day wanted to get involved in someway. What started as just an idea for a benefit game last year at Ramapo College for the families of the victims of that tragic day also built a bond between two girls basketball programs that will last forever. MORE...