Siena Notaro and Madison are heading to the North 2, Group 2 state sectional final for the fourth straight year after a 61-29 win over Rutherford..
MADISON – By all accounts, Rutherford’s girls basketball team has had a successful season. Going undefeated to win the NJIC-National Division title, making the NJIC Tournament final and winning a Bergen County Tournament game were all highlights for the Bulldogs. However, when it comes to the state tournament, looming large has always been Madison. Led by all-state caliber guard Charlotte Tuhy, the Dodgers have had Rutherford’s number, and this year was no exception.
Tuhy, a 6-foot-1 senior, scored eight points in an 18-0 first-quarter run as second-seeded Madison advanced to its fourth straight appearance in the North 2, Group 2 state sectional final with a 61-29 semifinal win over No. 3 seed Rutherford on Wednesday at Madison High School.
“Last year when we played Rutherford in the states we got off to a slow start, we’re happy to have had a better start this time around,” said Tuhy, who is signed to play at Division 1 American University. “We were really prepared for this game, and we’ve made it a point to get off to fast starts.”
Jea Herninko’s driving layup on the opening possession of the game gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. By the time they scored again, the Dodgers were already in complete control of the game.
Their full-court zone press gave the Bulldogs fits all game long. During the game-altering 18-0 run, Tuhy showed why she is considered one of the state’s most versatile players. Driving to the basket, turnaround jumpers, three-pointers, finding open teammates for layups. Whatever needed to be done, Tuhy did it as Madison forced 16 turnovers over the first 16 minutes of the game to grab a commanding 33-10 halftime lead.
“We’ve been working hard as a team for this, and we wanted to set the tone on defense,” said Tuhy. “Our team chemistry is great on both ends of the floor.”
Rutherford's Jea Herninko finished her high school career with a career-high 14 points.
Rutherford has shown plenty of resilience throughout the season. On this afternoon it was not to be as the Dodgers continued to play smothering defense with Tuhy and Devon Johnson doing the damage on offense as the lead ballooned to 34 by the end of the third quarter. It marked the third time in the last four years that Madison has beaten Rutherford in the North 2 Group 2 semifinal round.
“Samantha Nielson and Devon Johnson along with Gabby Mariani really gave us a lift defensively with how active they were, and it allowed us to play at our pace,” said Madison head coach Lisa DiTuro. “We’ve done a great job during the state tournament of executing the style we wanted to play right from the jump.”
Tuhy, who surpassed the 2,000-point mark for her career last month, finished with a game-high 29 points for Madison (23-5). Johnson finished with 14 points and four steals.
In the final basketball game of her scholastic career, Herninko hit a pair of 3-pointers on her way to a career-high 14 points for Rutherford (22-6).
Madison will have to go on the road to defend its North 2, Group 2 title when it take on top-seeded Caldwell, a 48-43 winner over Bernards on Wednesday. It is a game the Dodgers have had in their minds since losing in last year’s Group 2 state final to Manasquan.
“For our four seniors this is their fourth straight trip to a section final,” added DiTuro. “Having that experience is a nice luxury to have this time of year. Our team plays with a lot of passion and a lot of energy. They want to stay together, they want to keep playing, and they know they must work their hardest to continue to do that.”
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