Old Tappan girls basketball wins third sectional title in four years by Sean Farrell of The Record
HILLSDALE – The final shot never came.
The championship-winning defensive stand that Alex George called the longest 13 seconds of her life will be remembered for a lifetime at NV/Old Tappan as the one that completed a basketball dynasty.
The Golden Knights came home with their third sectional title in four years by keeping Pascack Valley from getting one last chance in a 35-32 road win in Monday’s North 1, Group 3 final. They fought for every rebound, dove for every loose ball and made life in the paint a nightmare for the returning state champion.
Winning took a scrappy effort from start to finish, especially on the final possession when the Indians in-bounded the ball with 13.4 seconds left. After a frantic scramble, the ball was deflected away toward halfcourt and the potential game-tying 3 was never taken.
“They beat us last year [in the final] and we were devastated,” NV/Old Tappan junior Jackie Kelly said. “After the game, the first thing we said was we’ll be back. We were, and facing the same team. But this time, we worked harder.”
Pascack Valley is one of the crown jewels of North Jersey basketball, and for good reason. Coach Jeff Jasper earned his 1,000th career victory back in January and his team won all but three games this season. But NV/Old Tappan (26-4) has been up to the challenge with back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016 and a championship berth last winter in what was deemed a rebuilding year.
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This was the rubber match of the season and the margin for error was razor-thin between two evenly-matched, well-coached teams.
“It’s just a matter of sticking with our plan, working hard and having kids who are used to winning and playing in big games,” Golden Knights coach Brian Dunn said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be in good situations and play well at the right time. In a game like this, [Pascack Valley] is an awesome team. Beyond just a good team, they’re an awesome team like a classic returning state champion and Tournament of Champions team with their total squad back. It takes nothing away from them. It’s just a game where they ran out of time. Nobody really lost.”
Pascack Valley got off to a hot start with back-to-back 3’s from Brianna Smith. Its lead slipped away after NV/Old Tappan went on a 10-1 run, highlighted by a transition basket by Katie Dunn. Neither team was able to really pull away from then on, all the way to the final buzzer.
Kelly helped ease some pressure by making a pair of free throws in the final minute.
“When she stepped to the line, I already turned and told the coaches to be ready to be up by three,” Brian Dunn said. “She’s automatic.”
“I want to be in that position,” Kelly said. “My teammates can rely on me and I love that I can do that because I can rely on myself. I practiced that all the time because I want to be in that situation when it comes down to it.”
Kelly scored a team-high 13 points, while Noelle Gonzalez had 10. George chipped in six and was key inside as a shot-blocker.
“When you’re the senior, it’s a different feeling,” said George, who missed last season with an ACL tear. “I’m on the court this year. I wasn’t last year. To be with the friends and the teammates I’ve worked with over the last four years is amazing. And we beat our biggest rival on their home floor. You couldn’t write it better than this.”