Thursday, March 6, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

FRANKLIN LAKES – When the Cresskill girls basketball team defeated Belvidere to win the North 1, Group 1 title on Monday night, the Cougars knew to celebrate while in the moment. Looming large over any hopes of their dream season continuing was the prospect of playing against the defending Tournament of Champions winner, Newark University.

It was the ultimate David vs. Goliath encounter on Wednesday night at Ramapo High School. Cresskill came in with absolutely no pressure and University came in needing to make a statement. The Cougars played in the first half like they had nothing to lose, but in the third quarter, the Phoenix played like a team that was ready to make a run at another title.

University led by just seven points at halftime before putting together a dominant third quarter. The Phoenix blitzed the Cougars, 23-0, in the third quarter to put any hopes of an upset clearly out of reach. Nadirah McKenith scored a game-high 27 points as University advanced to the Group 1 state final with a 79-47 victory.

“We did not want to give (Cresskill) any more confidence and we had to put a stop to it,” said McKenith. “They definitely outplayed us in the first quarter. Even though we were up seven, they pretty much outplayed us in the first half. They just wanted it more than we did and that had to change. We know everyone is going to come at us with their best and we have to come right back with our best.”

Cresskill was riding high after a strong fourth quarter in its upset over top-seeded Belvidere in the North 1, Group 1 final. That momentum carried over into the first quarter last night. University’s all-state center Lauren Mincy picked up two early fouls and the Cougars took advantage inside. Carly Cerone and Colleen Ahearn asserted themselves and Ahearn’s bucket gave them a 12-4 lead. They were still up four at the end of the first quarter, 19-15.

The Phoenix battled back to tie the game before the Cougars pulled ahead one last time, 26-23, on a three-pointer from Stephanie Durakis with just over five minutes to play in the first half. Someone needed to step up for University and McKenith filled the role Mincy generally occupies. She scored nine points in a 15-5 run to close the first half, giving the Phoenix a 38-31 halftime lead.

With the pressure defense of the Phoenix and Mincy back on the floor, the Cougars could not get into an offense in the third quarter. It took just 2:11 into the third quarter for University to take over the game. It forced five consecutive turnovers and scored on all five possessions in the midst of a 13-0 run to bump the lead up to 20, 51-31. Mincy and Quiana Trawick each had eight points in the third quarter.

“We turned it over way too many times in the third quarter and they converted on those turnovers every time,” said Cresskill head coach Jennifer Kalish-Rilli. “We were pumped up coming out of the locker room to start the second half, but their pressure was just too much. You can’t turn the ball over against a team like University time and time again and get away with it.”

Ahearn and Floriana Borova each had 12 points and seven rebounds for Cresskill (21-7). Cerone and Durakis chipped in with 11 and seven points, respectively.

McKenith netted a game-high 27 points, 17 of those coming in the first half, for University (26-3). Mincy had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Trawick added 13 points.

“We played against one of the best teams in the state and we were right with them for a half,” added Kalish-Rilli. “I told them that they were 15-to-17 year old girls just like we were and we had nothing to be afraid of. Our first half was great. We came out strong and we played under control. They got the best of us in the second half, but this doesn’t diminish our season at all. We set goals of winning our league and winning the section. We did both, so I couldn’t be more happy with our season.”

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