Tuesday, December 27, 2011

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

JK McAvoy turned two steals into two layups during an 11-0 run that Ramapo used to take control in a 64-38 win over Wayne Valley.

ORADELL – Anyone who talked about the state of the Ramapo girls’ basketball team coming into this season would say that the Green Raiders would have to take a big step back. Without the best player in North Jersey, Sarah Halejian (now starting at Yale University), running the show and without three other starters who, along with Halejian, accounted for 90 percent of the team’s points last year, Ramapo needed to retool both its entire offense and defensive systems, focusing on taking each game one possession at a time. Although most expected a slow start for the Green Raiders this season, the players have bought in and the system is clearly working thus far.

Kasey Wotezel had game-highs of 17 points and 12 rebounds as Ramapo improved to 3-0 on the season with a 64-38 win over Wayne Valley in the quarterfinals of the River Dell Holiday Hoop Jam on Monday at River Dell High School.

“This was a big win for us and we played great defense in the second half,” said Woetzel, who will play next year at Division 2 Holy Family University. “We moved the ball around well. When we did, we were getting open shots outside and my teammates did a great job of getting it to me inside. I think we just felt more confident overall today than we have so far this season.”

Alicia Hester had 7 points and 7 rebounds off the bench for Wayne Valley, which fell to 2-2.

Ramapo got out to a quick lead before Wayne Valley tied it late in the first quarter on a three-pointer from Laura Shakiri. Inside the final 40 seconds of the quarter, J.K. McEvoy got two steals and two layups to help Ramapo stem the tide and embark on an 11-0 run en route to a 29-19 halftime lead.

“There is a big difference in our team when we take care of the ball and when we don’t,” said Ramapo head coach Sandy Gordon. “I thought we had stretches when we were actually playing too quick on both ends. All we needed to do was simply settle down and relax. We’re still trying to put four quarters together, but today was another positive step forward to where we want to be.”

The lead was still 10 late in the fourth quarter before Ramapo broke the game wide open. Karoline Intriago scored seven points in a 14-0 run, including banking on a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter for a 48-30 lead.

Ramapo showed off its scoring balance with Intriago, McEvoy, and Kaitlyn Amato each scoring 10 points. Kaitlyn Callaghan led Wayne Valley (2-2) with 11 points, while Shakiri had nine and Alicia Hester had seven points and seven rebounds off the bench.

Ramapo will square off against rival Northern Highlands in Wednesday’s semifinal. It will be another test for a relatively inexperienced team that is still trying to find its way, but the Green Raiders like their new-found roles.

“I think we’re getting used to the underdog role and it’s definitely motivating us,” added Woetzel. “It pushes us to get better every day knowing people think we’re going to fall off a bit. We know whoever we play over the next two games in the tournament it’s going to be a tough game. But it’s only going to make us better and it’s nice to be sneaking up on people for a change instead of having everyone gunning for you all the time.”

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