Friday, December 31, 2010

West Orange Girls Lose Another Close Game

The basketball teams at Cranford and West Orange are developing a special kind of holiday rivalry.
Last year, it was Cranford 44-43 in the title game of the Livingston Lancer Tournament. Thursday night, the Cougars once again pulled off a tight one against the Mountaineers, winning the Mountaineer Tournament title with a 34-31 victory.
Sophomore Jenna Goeller hit for 10 points and junior Morgan Miller scored seven points with three rebounds and three steals to lead Cranford (3-2). Sophomore Jessica McCoy and freshman Mairead McKeary added six points apiece for Cranford.
West Orange sophomore Chisom Amaefuna had nine points with 10 rebounds and senior Kim Reitmeyer had nine points and seven rebounds. Junior Zakiya Watson also had nine points with two three pointers for the Mountaineers. Sophomore Illissa Blackshear pulled down five rebounds and had a bucket for West Orange, which fell to 1-3.
"It was pretty close," said West Orange coach Kim Wilson. "A play here or there could have been the difference. It was close, competitive and the kids played together."
Cranford led 18-14 at the half and extended the lead to 28-21 after three periods. But West Orange moved closer in the fourth quarter, but never had the lead.
"We're a young team and we were close with them the whole time, we're getting better and better," said Wilson. "Our kids played well, they played hard. That's all we can ask for — we have great chemistry. There were a lot of positives today. It's a three-point game and it can go either way at any time."
Wilson added that Cranford had a good plan to defend Amaefuna.
"Their coach scouted us," said Wilson. "Chisom is a solid inside player and they put a double (team) on her."
Wilson said the Mountaineers played noticeably better in the second half — another sign that the young team is improving.
"With the exception of Kim, the kids are learning the ropes, learning about pressure situations and doing quite well," Wilson said. "We just fell a little short."
A busy week is ahead for the girls with games at Caldwell Tuesday (4 p.m.), at Bloomfield Thursday (4 p.m.) and a home game with Weequahic Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.).
"The kids are disappointed (with the loss to Cranford) and I'm disappointed," Wilson said. "But sometimes you learn more from not being successful than being successful."
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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Cranford 34, West Orange 31

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-7932768140821610852/cranford-34-west-orange-31-high-school-girls-basketball-scores-and-results/

Cranford 34, West Orange 31 (High school Girls Basketball scores and results)

The Star Ledger, December 30, 2010 9:57 p.m.
Jenna Goeller scored 10 points while Morgan Miller supplied seven points, three rebounds and three steals to pace Cranford in the championship game of the Mountaineer Tournament in West Orange. Jessica McCoy and Mairead McKeary added six points apiece in the victory. West Orange's Chisom Amaefuna scored nine points with 10 rebounds and Kimberly Reitmeyer had nine points and seven rebounds.

Cranford 34, West Orange 31 (High school Girls Basketball scores and results)
Final1st2nd3rd4th T 
Cranford8614634
West Orange4891031
 
 
Player Stats
Cranford - Game stats
Player#FG3FGFTRebASBlkPts
Morgan Miller320300007
Kaitlin McGovern2210100003
Aaryn Wichelns1110000002
Jessica McCoy2030000006
Mairead McKeary1330000006

Player Stats
West Orange - Game stats
Player#FG3FGFTRebASBlkPts
Alyssa Almario1510021002
Kimberly Reitmeyer321270009
Chisom Amaefuna5303100209
Allison Mejia1000000200
Illissa Blackshear
00250002
Zakiya Watson2412100009
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010

High School Hoops: LHS Girls Suffer First Loss

http://livingston.patch.com/articles/high-school-hoops-girls-suffer-first-loss

High School Hoops: LHS Girls Suffer First Loss

Lady Lancers lose in first round of holiday tourney to Cranford, 45-21.
By Phil Hoops | Email the author | December 28, 2010

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The Lady Lancers kicked off the West Orange Holiday Tournament on Tuesday afternoon against Cranford. Despite losing a number of last year's starters to graduation, the Lancers hadn't missed a beat heading into the tournament with wins over Arts and Belleville. Heading into game day, the team had a perfect 2-0 record and trailed only Kearny in the North Jersey Section 1 - Group 4 standings.
The early portion of the game saw a lot of back and forth action between the two teams with Cranford's Mairead McKeary scoring the first points of the contest with a little over four minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Clovers padded their lead by adding seven additional points before the quarter came to a close.
It was not until the game's second quarter when Livingston finally got onto the scoreboard with a free-throw from Sam Rothenberger. Rothenberger scored once again along with sophomore Keeley Manasse, whose basket brought the Lancers to within 14.
The Lancers were over-matched for the most part in the third quarter as they were outscored 11-3, despite baskets from Rothenberger and junior Mallory Breg.
In the fourth quarter, the Lancers tried their best to cut down on the deficit between the two teams.  Junior Carly LaGrotta scored four unanswered points to make the score 39-17. Soon after however, Cranford sophomore Jenna Goeller responded with a three-pointer, which quieted Livingston.
Livingston's LaGrotta scored for a final time on a layup to make the score 45-21 just prior to the final buzzer.
Livingston struggled to penetrate Cranford's defense from the early going and that hindered their ability to keep pace on the scoreboard.
Nevertheless, head coach Patricia Kaes was confident her team could rebound for their next game Thursday at 1 p.m. "We just have to take care of the ball and have a little more help out there," she said describing what she felt her team needed to earn their third win of the season.
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Livingston Lady Lancers Suffer First Loss; Lose to Cranford, 45-21

http://thealternativepress.com/articles/livingston-lady-lancers-suffer-first-loss-lose-to-cranford-45-21--2

Livingston Lady Lancers Suffer First Loss; Lose to Cranford, 45-21

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Carly
WEST ORANGE, NJ - On Tuesday, the Livingston Lady Lancers went into the 2010 West Orange Holiday Tournament with a record of 2-0.  Their undefeated season came to an end as they were defeated by the Lady Cougars of Cranford, 45-21.

After Cranford’s Mairead McKeary scored the first points of Tuesday’s contest, the Lady Cougars never looked back. Cranford controlled the entire game and never trailed.

“They outplayed us in every facet of the game,” Livingston junior guard Mallory Breg said.  “We didn’t take care of the ball and that hurts against a strong team like Cranford.”

With tenacious and high-pressured defense, Cranford held Livingston scoreless in the first quarter.

Livingston freshman guard Sam Rothenberger finally got the Lady Lancers on the scoreboard midway through the second quarter, but it was too late for Livingston as they trailed by ten points.

Cranford’s defense continued to stay strong but gave up nine points in the second quarter.  The Lady Cougars scored 19 points and took advantage of Livingston’s turnovers.

After the first half, Cranford led 28-9.

Even though Livingston won the fourth quarter, Cranford still dominated play in the second half.  Their defense only allowed 12 total points and caused 11 turnovers.

Livingston senior point guard Sydney Friedman was out for Tuesday’s game due to an injury. She is likely to return Thursday for the consolation game in the Holiday tournament.

“If we protect the ball and rebound to our potential it is a totally different game,” Friedman said. “I was real upset I couldn’t be out there today and help my team.”

Tuesday’s loss was devastating for Livingston as they tried to keep their undefeated streak intact.

Sam Rothenberger and Mallory Breg -- Livingston’s two leading scorers -- were shut down by Cranford and that presented others with scoring opportunities. Carly LaGrotta was Livingston’s leading scorer, with nine points.
 
Livingston’s next game will be on Thursday against Kearny at West Orange at 3:00 P.M.
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Girls' Basketball Team Scores Victory Against Livingston

http://cranford.patch.com/articles/girls-basketball-team-scores-victory-against-livingston

Girls' Basketball Team Scores Victory Against Livingston

Cougars produce even record, 2-2
By Kelly Fenton | Email the author | 6:04am

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The up-and-down start to the Cranford girls' basketball season should come as no surprise, given the Cougars' youth. Their 45-21 victory over previously unbeaten Livingston on Tuesday afternoon in the opening round of the West Orange Holiday Classic evened their record at 2-2.
After opening with a blown-lead loss to Oak Knoll, the Cougars limited Hudson Catholic to seven points in an easy victory but fell to New Providence a couple of days later.
So despite acknowledging she has talent and depth, Cranford coach Jackie Huber is far from ready to assess her team's potential.
"I would say it's way too early," she said shortly following the Cougars' cruise past the Lancers. "The talent is there. We just have to put it all together."
Most of it came together on Tuesday, especially a defense that forced 32 turnovers and limited the Lancers to 5 of 21 shooting. It was also a cold-shooting night for Cranford, which knocked down only 17 of 53 shots, including 4 of 19 from beyond the arc, but it mattered little. Thanks to all those turnovers and a 37-22 Cranford rebounding advantage, Livingston got off 32 fewer shots than the Cougars.
"We could have done a better job of penetrating and kicking or going to the basket instead of relying on our outside shot, because they're not always going to fall," Huber said. But Huber also said several of her players have the green light from deep.
"We're a good three-point shooting team," she said. "So really no shot is a bad shot for us."
Cranford showed good balance in the contest, with sophomore Jess McCoy leading the way with 11 points. Kaitlyn McGovern, also a sophomore, added 10. But the Cougars couldn't have gotten off to a much slower start, unless they were the Lancers, that is. Neither team scored over the first four minutes until Mairead McKeary got inside for a bucket. Over a five-and-a-half minute span from that point, the Cougars scored 16 points, with McCoy knocking down a pair of perimeter shots late in the first period to give Cranford a 9-0 lead after one period. After Livingston finally got on the board with a free throw a few seconds into the second period, McCoy scored on a rebound basket, drew the foul and made the free throw, and the rout was under way.
Livingston finally got its first field goal at the 6:35 mark of the second period, but Sarah Gugliucci answered with a baseline runner and a 16-footer to expand the lead to 18-3. Morgan Miller drilled a three from the top of the circle and added a runner in the lane a minute later. Brie Capece came in off the bench and immediately knocked down another three-pointer as Cranford carried a 28-9 lead into the locker room.
By halftime, the Cougars had snagged 10 steals and would add seven more in the second half.
"We work on defense a lot," Huber said. "So we're trying to get everyone on the same page defensively. We're concentrating more on that than we are on offense."
If the Lancers were entertaining any notion of a rally, it was quickly squelched in the third period. McGovern made a nifty drive along the baseline for a scoop bucket, McCoy added a steal and breakaway and Gugliucci hit a 16-footer for a 39-12 lead after three periods.
Things got a little sloppy in the fourth quarter, with a Cranford team largely comprised of reserves committing seven turnovers. But Jenna Goeller, who dished out three assists and had two steals, knocked down a three, and Capece added another to set the final margin.
After McCoy's 11 and McGovern's 10, Gugliucci followed with eight, while Capece added six and Miller five. But the balance wasn't limited to scoring. Six Cougars had four or more rebounds, and five had multiple steals. Miller led the way on the glass with six boards, followed by five each from McGovern and Gugliucci. McCoy added four and Jackie Monteagudo came off the bench to pull down four.
McGovern had four steals, with Miller snagging three. McCoy, Gugliucci and Goeller recorded two apiece. Gugliucci, Miller and Goeller each dished out three assists.
"It's nice to have a deep bench," Huber said. "Most teams have only five or six to rely on but we can take somebody out and put someone in that's equal. I've got my post players, but I don't really have a definitive point guard. Sometimes it's Morgan, sometimes Jenna. Even Jess will run it."
The Cougars also have another important commodity: size. While they don't have a dominant post player, size-wise, they have plenty of rangy guards who can wreak havoc on defense and find lots of open looks from the perimeter.
"It's nice to have that," Huber said. "Overall, we're pretty tall. We can do a lot of stuff on defense."
The Cougars play in the second round of the tourney on Thursday at 5 p.m.
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Cranford 45, Livingston 21

Cranford 45, Livingston 21 (High school Girls Basketball scores and results)

The Star Ledger, December 28, 2010 7:47 p.m.
Jessica McCoy had 11 points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals and Kaitlin McGovern added 10 points, five boards and three steals to power Cranford in the first round of the Mountaineer Tournament in West Orange. McCoy had seven points and Sara Gugliucci added six of her eight points in the first half as Cranford raced to a 28-9 lead. Carly LaGrotta led Livingston with nine points.

Cranford 45, Livingston 21 (High school Girls Basketball scores and results)
Final1st2nd3rd4th T 
Livingston093921
Cranford91911645
 
 
Player Stats
Cranford - Game stats
Player#FG   3FG    FT   Reb    S    Blk   Pts
Danielle Jakubik21


      1


Sara Gugliucci24      3              2           4      2
      8
Jessica McCoy205
1      3      2      2      11
Kaitlin McGovern223
4      5      3
      10
Brianna Capece12
2
      2      2
      6
Jenna Goeller4
1
      1      2
      3
Morgan Miller311
      2      2      1      5
Kerry Wischesun10


      1      1

Mairead McKeary131

      2      2
      2
Aaryn Wichelns11


      1


Jackie Monteagudo5


      4
1


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