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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."
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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