Old Tappan upsets Pascack Valley by Chris Iseman of The Record
HILLSDALE – The sting from the loss less than 48 hours earlier had barely worn off, if it had at all, when NV/Old Tappan took the court on Saturday.
Just two days after losing to Pascack Valley by 33 points, the Golden Knights had to play those same Indians once again. This time, it was in the second round of the Bergen County tournament.
The stage was big, but NV/Old Tappan’s motivation was even bigger.
“They felt like they disappointed each other for the way they played [on Thursday] and were determined to make that right,” coach Brian Dunn said.
So they did.
Pulling off one of the biggest upsets in Bergen County tournament history, the No. 18 Golden Knights defeated second-seeded Pascack Valley, 43-41.
NV/Old Tappan will play No. 7 Immaculate Heart Academy in the quarterfinals.
This was the Knights’ day, and it ended with the Indians’ first loss of the season.
Noelle Gonzalez finished with 12 points, while Jackie Kelly scored 10, including three three-pointers. Sophie Downey and Erin Harnisch each added eight, with Harnisch hitting two huge third-quarter threes.
The Knights opened up an 11-point lead in the second quarter, but Pascack Valley fought to make it close late.
“They’re tremendous,” Dunn said. “Obviously they were going to have a run at it.”
After Harnisch made back-to-back threes, Brianna Wong, who along with Kelly Smith scored 10 points, made two free throws to slice the Indians’ deficit to six points.
That ignited a 14-0 run for Pascack Valley. The Indians were up 41-35 with just less than five minutes to go.
The Knights, who also lost to Pascack Valley by 24 points in December, came back.
Kelly hit a three from the right wing to make it 41-38. She hit a free throw less than two minutes later.
Gonzalez scored off an inbound pass to tie the score with 1:20 left.
The sophomore then was fouled with 50.2 seconds remaining.
She made both foul shots, and those ultimately made the difference.
On a day when Pascack Valley struggled to score, NV/Old Tappan made all the shots it needed to make.
“Pride took a big part in this game,” Gonzalez said. “It was all about getting back and proving ourselves.”
No. 4 Queen of Peace 54, No. 20 New Milford 45: The Knights pulled to within four points in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Griffins pulled away late.
Raven Farley-Clark scored 18 points for Queen of Peace, while Nathalie Arroyave had 13 and Sydney Watkins added 10.
Bionca Chambers led the Knights with 12 points, while Esmeralda Reyes had 10, including two threes. Natalie Miller had nine points, all on triples.
Queen of Peace will play No. 5 Westwood in the quarterfinals.
No. 7 IHA 39, No. 10 Mahwah 34: Katie Jones had 10 points with two three-pointers, including a key triple in the fourth quarter, to help lift the Blue Eagles.
Sam Haubner led the Thunderbirds with 14 points with one three. Hannah Busch also was stellar, scoring 11 points, including three threes.
Busch made her final triple with 4:20 remaining to cut Mahwah’s deficit to 28-27. But Jones responded with a three at the other end, and IHA built its lead from there.
No. 5 Westwood 41, No. 12 Ridgewood 33: Rachel Bussanich scored 14 points with one three, while Samantha McClutchy finished with 12, including one triple, to lift the Cardinals.
The Maroons started the second half with a 19-18 lead, but back-to-back threes from Carlye Danziger and McClutchy pushed Westwood ahead, 24-19.
The Cardinals never relinquished the lead.
Claire Smesko led Ridgewood with 10 points, and Lillie Kloak had eight.