Thursday,
March 19, 2015
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Junior Jovani Haskins scored 26 points and added eight rebounds in Bergenfield's final game of a brilliant season, a 90-65 loss to Paulsboro in the Tournament of Champions. |
TOMS RIVER – Less than two weeks ago, the Bergenfield Bears could only watch as a last-second three-pointer against Tenafly was hoisted up. If that shot had gone down in the quarterfinal round of the North 1, Group 3 state sectional tournament then none of what has happened over the next 12 days would have ever taken place. That shot fell short to keep the Bears’ season alive and they took advantage of their second life by going on a run for the ages on their way to a Group 3 state title.
Facing Group 1 state champion Paulsboro in the Tournament of Champions quarterfinals on Wednesday night, the gritty Bears finally ran out of miracle finishes.
Paulsboro forced 11 turnovers in the second quarter in blitzing Bergenfield to the tune of 36-11 as the Bears’ state tourney run came to an end with a 90-65 defeat at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River.
“When in doubt, we commit to the press and try to control the game through ball pressure,” said Paulsboro head coach Kevin Collins. “Our backside wing players weren’t closing the court off enough and Bergenfield exploited that [in the first quarter]. We felt like it we tightened things up and we kept coming that we can break a team mentally with our style of play. We came in very relaxed and we got after it today.”
Bergenfield has ridden the coattails of brothers Jovani and DJ Haskins throughout the state tournament. That happened again early as the duo combined for 10 first-quarter points to take a 15-10 lead.
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Saleem Little was 10 of 14 from the floor on the way to 29 points for Paulsboro, which will play Roselle Catholic in the semifinals. |
The second quarter started with a much different tone as Paulsboro’s full-court pressure was relentless. The Red Raiders forced five consecutive turnovers that turned into a 10-0 run in just 1:14. Saleem Little’s 3-point play put the Red Raiders ahead for good as part of a 22-2 run spanning the first and second quarters to take a commanding 46-26 halftime lead.
“Their full-court pressure was what really caused us problems, especially in that second quarter,” said Bergenfield head coach Marty Rivard. “We didn’t play our best but there was no quit in our kids. Paulsboro was very active and made us uncomfortable with all of their trapping. Even though we came up short today, I couldn’t be more proud from where we started until now.”
Despite the massive Bergenfield crowd with band in tow going wild the entire game, the Bears never got below that 20-point margin in the second half.
“We got on a roll in the second quarter and we had to keep the at intensity up in the second half,” said Little, Paulsboro’s 6-foot-4 junior forward. “We accomplished our goal by winning a state title, but when we went down early we realized that we wanted more than just a state title. I felt like if we could pressure the ball the way we knew we could go on a run and take control from there.”
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Senior DJ Haskins finished his career with 18 points and 6 boards for Bergenfield. |
Little was 10-for-14 from the floor on his way to a game-high 29 points along with seven rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and two steals for Paulsboro (31-2), which hit 4 of 5 three-point attempts in the first half and did not miss a free throw during that stretch. Theo Holloway was the perfect complement to Little with 18 points.
Jovani Haskins ended his stellar state tournament in style with team-highs of 26 points and eight rebounds for Bergenfield. DJ Haskins also had a fantastic run through the states and finished his career with a solid effort. The senior forward had 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
Any time a season comes to an end with meaningful games left on the table, it hurts even the most composed of athletes. Even with little time to reflect after a season-ending defeat, the Bears know that they were part of something truly special.
“It’s tough to go out like this; but the journey to get to this point was something we should be very proud of,” said Jovani Haskins. “Not many people thought we’d even get out of our section. We had some ups and downs this season but we pulled together at the right time. To beat some of the teams we beat along the way that nobody thought we’d beat with all of those games coming right down to the end was something we’ll always remember.”
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