Ridgewood finds rhythem in 4th quarter by Chris Iseman of The Record
RIDGEWOOD – The game was slipping from Ridgewood.
The Maroons had at one point led Fair Lawn by 13 points, but the Cutters clawed back. When Bradee Nunez drained a game-tying three-pointer early in the fourth quarter, Ridgewood’s lead evaporated.
But it didn’t panic.
Annie McCarthy answered with her fifth three of the game. Ridgewood played stifling defense.
And perhaps most importantly, the Maroons consistently knocked down their late-game free throws.
A decisive fourth quarter that included an 18-3 run ultimately propelled No. 12 Ridgewood to a 64-45 victory over No. 21 Fair Lawn in the first round of the Bergen County girls basketball tournament on Saturday.
Ridgewood will play fifth-seeded Westwood in the second round.
The Maroons have found themselves in tight battles all season. This was no different.
They stayed composed, particularly when they went to the free-throw line with a chance to build their lead back up again late in the game.
“We’re used to that pressure,” Lillie Kloak said.
After Brielle Sharry made a three-pointer from the right wing with about 3:40 remaining to push Ridgewood ahead, 46-40, Fair Lawn’s Nancy Ruf, who finished with a team-high 16 points, scored at the other end to make it a four-point game.
But Claire Smesko made a jumper from the lane, and Sharry got a steal near midcourt and fed Hailey Ricciardi for a layup to put the Maroons up, 50-42.
Then they went to work at the free-throw line.
In the game’s final two minutes, Sharry made four foul shots, McCarthy made three, Kloak made two and Molly Dunphey made one.
Ridgewood sealed its win with each made free throw.
Kloak was outstanding for Ridgewood at both ends of the floor, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and four steals.
“That was probably the best game that she’s had since I’ve seen her,” coach Karen Keyes said.
McCarthy finished with 22 points, including her five threes, while Sharry was stellar again for the Maroons, scoring 12 points with a pair of key second-half triples.
Smesko also came up big for Ridgewood in the fourth quarter, scoring four of her six points.
McCarthy made a pair of threes in the second quarter, her second of which gave the Maroons a 26-13 lead with just more than four minutes left in the half.
But when Smesko and Kloak had to sit because of foul trouble, Fair Lawn started coming back.
The Maroons had a younger lineup on the court, although junior Jess Orefice did a nice job defensively to help fill the void.
Keyara Martinez, who scored 10 points, made a layup at the end of the third quarter to bring Fair Lawn to within one point.
“We knew we had a lineup that was more inexperienced,” Keyes said. “Then in the fourth quarter, we went back with Claire and Lillie, and our more experienced players.”
Key shots. Tough defense. Big free throws.
On Saturday, it meant advancing in the county tournament.
“Everyone did awesome on the three-pointers, we rebounded,” Kloak said. “We gave it all we got.”