Monday, February 15, 2010

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

Paramus Catholic's leading scorer Andre Blackwood did not attempt a shot in the first half, but had 12 points in the second as the Paladins came back to beat Indian Hills, 66-58, in the Jambo quarterfinals.

MAHWAH – Indian Hills is a team that likes to play fast and loose no matter the situation, but heading into the quarterfinals of the Bergen County Jamboree against forth-seeded Paramus Catholic on Saturday, the 12th-seeded Braves had nothing to lose and all the more reason to let it all hang out. And for a two-plus minute stretch of the third quarter, the Braves were certainly enjoying themselves.

After Justin Harris gave Paramus Catholic a one-point lead with a third chance putback to start the second half scoring, Indian Hills ripped off 14 of the game’s next 16 points and looked good doing it. Jason Chalmers had two three-point plays during the spurt, Andrew Ballester nailed two three-pointers and Chris Torres got ahead of the field for a layup that was set up by Ballester’s steal and assist as the Braves opened an 11-point lead.

But while it was excelling, Indian Hills might have been playing right into Paramus Catholic’s hands.

“We were doing what we wanted to do early. Defensively we slowed their pace,” said Indian Hills head coach Kevin McBain. “But late in the third quarter we kind of got into that up-tempo that we didn’t want to get into, but it was hard to bring the kids back because they were playing so well.”

Ryan Van Grouw had 8 points for Indian Hills.

Paramus Catholic then took full advantage of the opened floor as it ran off a 25-6 run spanning the third and fourth quarters and ran off to a 66-58 win in the opener of the quarterfinal quadruple header at Ramapo College.

“We knew we were in for a dogfight. We played them earlier this season and I thought that a No. 12 seed for Indian Hills was low for them coming into the tournament,” said Paramus Catholic head coach Greg Barnes, whose team was playing in the quarterfinals for the second straight year. “I knew what they had, but I also knew that we had been before and they were here for the first time and I knew our experience would help us out.”

Paramus Catholic never panicked, not when Indian Hills made its third quarter run and not before that in the first half when its leading scorer Andrew Blackwood not only did not score in the first 16 minutes, he also did not even take a shot. But it was his pull-up jumper with 3:48 to go in the third quarter that kicked off PC’s game-changing run.

“In the first half I think I was kind of too relaxed and I let the defense get to me,” said Blackwood, who came in averaging over 19 points per game. “But in the second half I got more aggressive. I didn’t want to force [shots], but what I did want to do was keep the ball in my hands, get good shots for my teammates and if I had an opening, then I would take it.”

Justin Harris finished with a team-high 14 points for PC.

Paramus Catholic scored the final six points of the third quarter, the last on a steal and layup by 6-8 center Justin Harris, to draw within 48-46 heading into the fourth quarter and it was the beginning of a 17-0 run that gave the Paladins control. Harris made two free throws to start the fourth quarter and tie the game, Blackwood set Brandon Perez for the go-ahead basket and Johnberry Badio’s putback basket with 3:55 left in the game closed the run and gave the Paladins a 56-48.

Harris put the exclamation point on the win with a dunk from the baseline with 2:58 left that put PC up by 8. Indian Hills drew to within four points at 60-56 on Chris Torres’ three-pointer with 1:21 left, but could never get to with one possession as Paramus Catholic made all four of its free throws in the final 1:11 to maintain its distance and become the first of the four parochial school to qualify for the semifinals.

“It’s been a long time coming. We almost got there last year when we lost in overtime to [St.] Joe’s right here on this floor,” said Barnes. “Our kids remembered how that felt, they learned from it and they put in on the line to make sure we moved on to the Rothman Center this year.

Brian Greer finished with 8 points as Indian Hills.

Paramus Catholic was balanced offensively with Harris (14 points), Blackwood (12 points), Manny Hernandez (11 points) and Eddie Johnson (10 points) all finishing in double figures, while Badio added 7 points, all in the second half, and Aiden Collins and Perez each scored 6 points.

Ballester led the way for Indian Hills with four three-pointers among his team-high 16 points, while Chalmers added 14 points. Brian Greer and Ryan Van Grouw each had 8 points, Torres added 7 and Bret Jarotski had five as the Braves got all of their points from their senior class, which can now turn its focus to making a run in the state tournament after a fine showing in the Jambo.

“I thought we did a pretty good job and I am extremely proud. I thought we played well,” said McBain. “Paramus Catholic is good enough to go all the way. They are good enough to win the whole thing, so I am happy with what we did out there. I wanted to win the game and I thought we had a good shot to do it. We were up 11 in the third quarter.”

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