35TH ANNUAL FRANK J. CICARELL
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SEMIFINALS PREVIEW
By JR Parachini
Union County Sports Editor
This is one of the most compelling Final Fours in some time.
Three of the top four seeds made it, with all having more than an even chance to win two more tournament games and lift up the championship trophy Friday night.
Both Roselle and Cranford will be attempting to reach the championship game for the first time in four years.
Westfield has made the most dramatic turnaround of any team in the county this season.
Roselle Catholic is the defending champion, the top seed for the first time, is out to repeat for the first time and will play at home as the home team in the semifinals and if it
wins, will play at home as the home team in the final.
Last year Roselle Catholic won in the semifinals and the final for the first time in its own gym, although the fourth-seeded Lions were the road team against top-seeded Scotch Plains in
the semifinals and also vs. second-seeded Plainfield in the
final.
Here’s a closer look at this year’s Final Four:
Seventh-seeded Westfield (13-7, 8 in a row): The Blue Devils have won 11 of 12 – with the lone defeat in that stretch a loss at the buzzer to Summit, which
Westfield just defeated in the UCT quarterfinals - and 12 of 14
since beginning the season 1-5.
Westfield was 0-3 before it won. Despite key players such as Diana Venezia, Katie Ponce, Amanda Markowski and Ann Knisely returning – although Knisely was injured for much of the season – something wasn’t clicking
at the onset.
On Jan. 5 in their second Union County Conference-Watchung Division game, the Blue Devils led host Scotch Plains 16-7 after the first quarter. Despite a
then-career-high 26 point performance by Venezia – who also grabbed five
rebounds and blocked three shots in that contest – Westfield was outplayed the
rest of the way and lost 53-42.
The only losses since then have come to teams Westfield has defeated the second time it played them – Cranford and Summit, with the
Cougars finishing third in the Mountain Division and the Hilltoppers winning the
Watchung Division.
“We wanted to stay low under the radar,” said Westfield head coach Joe Marino, who on Feb. 16 in his team’s 43-26 win at Cranford won his
100th game in his 11th season at the helm. “We were
struggling a little bit, but then we ironed them out and finished some things
and added a couple of different wrinkles to it and made it
work.”
Westfield is in the semifinals for the third time in the past four years. The Blue Devils won the UCT for the first time in 2008 after reaching the final for the first time in 2007. Last year’s team, as the third
seed, lost to 14th-seeded Elizabeth 48-46 in
overtime in a first round game at Roselle Catholic.
Westfield will face third-seeded Roselle Tuesday in their first matchup of the season. Roselle won its first UCT in 2002 and is seeking to reach the final for the first time since
2006. The Rams lost to Plainfield in the
semifinals last year.
‘It will be interesting and a challenge for us,” Marino said. “If we can play hard wan pretty much be competitive with them.
“We can kind of relate them to a Plainfield team, a Linden team, Elizabeth. They’re going to be scrappy. They’re going to be all over the floor.
They’ll be in our face, which is fine.
“We’ll invite that and just do what we have to do.”
Venezia has scored 77 points in her last three games, including 28 against Summit and a career-high 31 against Cranford.
“Diana’s been hot for us, she’s had a hot hand,” Marino said. “When teams start to worry about Diana it opens it up for everyone else.”
“I can’t pinpoint it, I don’t know exactly why we were not as strong in the beginning of the year,” Venezia said. “Now that we’re playing this well, I’m loving it and we want to
win it.”
Titles won: 2008.
Third-seeded Roselle (18-5, 5 in a row): Since standout senior and 1,000-plus points scorer Jakoya Duggans returned to the lineup on Feb. 5, the
Rams are 5-0. With her out of the lineup with a knee injury, Roselle went just
1-3 and lost three straight.
“With Jakoya being back and healthy and ready to rock and roll, this is what it’s all about,” first-year Roselle head coach Duane Eason said after Duggans scored a game-high and
season-high at the time 25 points in a convincing 60-48 conference win at
Cranford on Feb. 5.
Because Roselle swept Cranford in conference play, the Rams were able to finish second in the Mountain Division behind champion Roselle Catholic, which the Rams have
lost twice to in conference play and once in holiday tournament
competition.
Roselle needed overtime to survive Johnson in the quarterfinals and had to do so without junior point guard Bianca Partlow, who missed the game with a stomach virus.
On Thursday night, Eason reported that Partlow should be ready to go on Tuesday night.
Other than the three losses to Roselle Catholic, with Duggans missing the third game, which was the one played at Roselle, the Rams have only lost to Johnson and Governor
Livingston – with Duggans missing those games with her injury. With Duggans in
the lineup, Roselle defeated Johnson and GL the first time around in
conference play.
So, heading into Tuesday night, the only team that has defeated Roselle with Duggans in the lineup has been Roselle Catholic twice.
“Even a team like ours - which is as strong as we are - you really only have one kid that is really the heart and soul and that’s Jakoya,” Eason said.
The supporting cast has excelled as well this year, including Partlow, seniors Shan-Tasia Padgett and Felicia Claiborne, junior Sabery White, sophomore Nyasia Davis and freshman
twins Sandra and Johanna Jaramillo. The Rams have had to overcome the loss of
junior Joye Hunter, out for the season with a knee injury.
Titles won: 2002.
Fourth-seeded Cranford (17-6, 2 in a row): The Cougars are 5-4 since their 12-2 start, which included a seven-game winning streak.
However, Cranford’s last two games have been double-digit victories over winning teams Oak Knoll and Governor Livingston. The Cougars began the season with a two-point loss at
GL.
“Before the Oak Knoll game we struggled a little bit with outside shooting and defense,” third-year Cranford head coach Jackie Huber said. “We had seven 3s in that
game (the quarterfinal win over Oak Knoll) and did a phenomenal job on
defense.”
In the 57-44 win, which included a 20-6 start, Cranford limited Oak Knoll leading scorer Catie Mota to 14 points.
The Cougars then downed GL 51-34 at home Friday for added momentum going into Tuesday’s game vs. RC.
For a team that will be playing on the road in a somewhat hostile environment, Cranford actually looks forward to playing the Lions at the Lions Den.
Why?
Because Cranford has a good resume in that gym.
The Cougars have won conference games at Roselle Catholic the last three seasons. In addition, third-year head coach Jackie Huber won a junior varsity county championship over
Governor Livingston in that gym during her last year as the Cranford JV coach in
2007.
Cranford’s varsity team captured its only UCT championship in 2006 – at RC’s gym.
So Cranford teams know what it takes to win big games at RC.
Huber’s first game as Cranford’s head coach was a 41-38 overtime triumph at Roselle Catholic in the season opener for both two years ago.
Her Cougars knocked off a 9-0 Roselle Catholic team at RC last year and an 8-0 Lions squad at RC this year.
Here’s a closer look:
2007-2008 SEASON
Dec. 21, 2007 at RC: Cranford 41, Roselle Catholic 38 (OT)
The season-opener for both. Roselle Catholic then won at Cranford.
2008-2009 SEASON
Jan. 15, 2009 at RC: Cranford 44, Roselle Catholic 33
Roselle Catholic was 9-0, including a conference win at Cranford.
Roselle Catholic then came back to beat Cranford in UCT quarters.
2009-2010 SEASON
Jan. 16, 2010 at RC: Cranford 49, Roselle Catholic 47
Jamie Webb layup at the buzzer wins it for the Cougars.
Roselle Catholic was 8-0.
Roselle Catholic then won at Cranford.
“My girls are very excited that they’re playing Roselle Catholic at Roselle Catholic again,” Huber said. “We play better excited against them on their home court than we do on our
own.”
In last year’s quarterfinals at Rahway, Roselle Catholic came back to edge Cranford 36-35, scoring eight of the game’s final nine points after Cranford led 34-28 with two
minutes to go.
Allison Skrec made two free throws with two seconds left to erase a 35-34 deficit.
“We felt that last year’s game was taken away from us in the last seconds,” Huber said. “The refs called a blocking foul and Allison made the free throws.
“This year it’s the same situation, just one game higher.
“One of our goals is to make the county final. What better place to play than at Roselle Catholic to fight for that.”
Roselle Catholic came back against Cranford in that game last year and in this year’s first conference game Cranford came back against Roselle Catholic.
Cranford tailed 42-31 heading into the fourth quarter of the Jan. 16 game at RC. The home team Lions looked to be in control as the fourth quarter began before Cranford was able to chip away at the deficit.
Eight minutes later and – after Webb’s game-winning shot – the Cougars outscored the Lions 18-5 in the fourth for the victory.
“We had a couple of those kinds of comebacks,” Huber said.
One of those came in a near win eight days earlier when Cranford fell at Roselle 52-50. The Cougars trailed by 17 heading into the
fourth quarter before outscoring the Rams 20-5 in the final eight
minutes.
Another came after the RC win, which was a non-conference overtime road win over Linden. Cranford won the fourth quarter 12-9 and then overtime 8-3 to
complete a 44-39 triumph. A 3-point basket by sophomore Morgan Miller with 12
seconds left tied the game at 36-36, sending it to OT.
“Not giving up when the team is flat is what separates good teams from great teams,” Huber said. “We fight harder to get back into it.
“When a team may expect us to be tired, that’s when we have the most energy.”
In the last meeting against Roselle Catholic there was no Cranford comeback. On Seniors Day at Cranford, the Lions won 42-33, jumping out to a 10-3 lead after
the first eight minutes and not allowing the Cougars to comeback in the second
half.
“They came out strong in that game and we were struggling to hit our shots,” Huber said. “For about a two-and-a-half week period our shots were falling in and out.”
That stretch began with a 38-28 conference loss at Union Catholic on Feb. 4. Cranford easily topped the visiting Vikings 38-21 at home back on Jan. 7.
“We had a hard time getting shots back recently until the Oak Knoll game,” Huber said. “Against Roselle Catholic the last time we played them, our shooting was very
off.
“We know they’re going to get their shots and Meghan Faughnan is going to shoot her 3s. Skrec will score her points too.
“We need to step up defensively and do a little bit more.”
Cranford played mostly man defense the last time, with senior center Danielle Gross and freshman forward Kaitlin McGovern guarding Faughnan, who can totally take over a game if
she gets hot with her 3-point shooting.
“Part of the problem last time was that we were too worried about making sure there was help off of her,” Huber said. “She has a quick release. We have to make sure we have a hand in her
face at all times.”
Titles won: 2006.
Top-seeded Roselle Catholic (20-2, 9 in a row): The Lions could easily be undefeated, with both losses coming in the fourth quarter after they
held double-digit leads in the period. The other setback was at Toms River North
46-40 Jan. 25.
In its first two UCT games, Roselle Catholic beat Scotch Plains by 32 and Linden by
20.
Senior guard Jenny Malone, successfully coming back from her ACL surgery, is as good as it gets running the point.
Malone suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of last year’s championship game win over Plainfield, a thrilling 55-50 double overtime RC triumph.
“Because Jenny is playing so well it’s easy to forget what she came back from,” Roselle Catholic head coach Joe Skrec said. “After playing AAU games in September, she was back and
ready to go for day one.
“Her comeback has been remarkable. Short of the brace she wears on her knee you wouldn’t know what happened to her last year.
“She’s a really tough young lady and a winner.”
Junior Melissa Tobie can drive to the hoop with authority and is a more-than-capable rebounder.
Senior Anthonia Ajumobi’s job is to clear the way once she comes down with a key rebound – leading the Lions in that department.
Then there’s Faughnan, who from the top of the key can be as deadly as anyone in the county.
“Meg played one of her best games against Linden,” said Skrec, with Faughnan scoring a game-high 21 points. “She hit a couple of 3s, her defense on the wing was very good and she
made a conventional 3-point play (basket while fouled and ensuing free throw).
Meg has improved going to the basket, in addition to being an outside
presence.
“Anthonia did a great job of boxing out against Linden’s bigger players.”
Despite the talents of every performer he has, including bench players such as Betina Petit, Skrec expects his team to have its hands full again come Tuesday
night.
“Cranford is a very good program, a very good team and can win in a lot of gyms,” coach Skrec said. “We’ll try to have a different result this time and know it won’t be
easy.”
Immediately after his team’s win at Cranford, Skrec spoke of the way his squad had better fourth quarter possessions – sparked by Malone running the offense – and that the Lions
were more aggressive.
“It was not an “A” game that we played, but it was a good game,” Skrec said. “We still think we can play better.”
One player who gives Cranford length is promising freshman Jessica McCoy, who has the ability to score in transition and also start a fast break after going up and
grabbing a defensive rebound.
“Cranford defends us well,” Skrec said. “Their girls are tall and long and they can block shots. They bother us in the paint, which is an area we have to address.
“With us, playing defense and defending Cranford are at the top of our priority list.
“Cranford has five threats on the court, five girls you have to defend. We feel we have the same thing, which makes us good and Cranford
good.”
Although his team has lost at home to Cranford the past three seasons, Skrec puts that in perspective:
“At this point, when the ball is thrown up at 7:30 Tuesday night, none of that matters,” Skrec said. “No one will be thinking about what happens in the past.
“Everybody is the hunted now. During the regular season we might have had an X or a mark on our backs, but now everybody is out to beat everybody.
“We don’t feel any sort of extra pressure.
“What we do as a team is most important. On any given night any of our top five players can lead us in scoring.
“Whoever is open, whoever is shooting the best, it doesn’t matter. We have confidence in all five girls we have on the court at that time.”
Skrec also gives Huber credit for reaching the semifinals after losing quality senior players in Elizabeth Snyder, Angela Renna and Mary Kate Minitelli.
“She really has done a good job,” Skrec said.
Titles won: 2003, 2009.
JOHNSON SENIOR TRANI 15 AWAY FROM 1,000
Johnson senior Gina Trani, who made the varsity roster as a freshman, begins the week 15 points away from reaching 1,000 for her four-year varsity career.
Trani scored a game-high 23 points and was part of a Crusader team that was right there with Roselle before falling 65-58 in overtime in Thursday night’s quarterfinals at Roselle
Catholic.
According to Johnson’s schedule on www.highschoolsports.net, the Crusaders are scheduled to host Governor Livingston Monday night at 7 in Union County Conference-Mountain Division play and then
host non-conference foe Nutley Tuesday
afternoon at 4.
Then, also according to the schedule, the states will start earlier for Johnson than most teams, with the Crusaders set to host Weequahic Friday at 5:30
p.m. in a first round Central Jersey,
Group 2 matchup. The other teams in that section are tentatively scheduled to
play their first round games on March 2.
ROSELLE PARK SENIOR GABBY CLAUER CAN PLAY
It was pointed out to me by a reader that Roselle Park senior Gabby Clauer should not be forgotten when reporting on the best players in Union County.
Good point.
Clauer concluded her senior season with a career-high 39 points in a 73-37 home win over St. Mary’s of Elizabeth Thursday.
She should be named among the top players in the county next Sunday when the Union County Coaches’ boys’ and girls’ Top 15 teams are announced at Union Catholic.
Placed in the Union County Conference’s Group 2-heavy Mountain Division this year, Roselle Park
finished just 3-18, but often held its own against much superior
teams.
The play of Clauer was a major reason why.
After helping lead Roselle Park to a 13-12 winning season last year when the Panthers spent their final season as a member of the Mountain Valley Conference’s Valley Division, Clauer
and her teammates found the going a bit tougher this season against bigger
schools such as conference foes Governor Livingston, Johnson, Hillside,
Cranford, Roselle, Roselle Catholic and Union Catholic, as well as
non-conference opponents Rahway and Summit.
However, Clauer – and teammates such as Jennifer Casselli, Jessica Johns and Lauren Corigliano – came to play every day and competed to the best of their ability.
The reader poined out that, according to The Star-Ledger, Clauerr scored about 470 points this season. She scored in double digits in every game and was the top scorer every single game
this season.
Clauer scored at least 30 points in four games and had 35 three-point field goals.
The Star-Ledger recognized her as Player of the Week in early January, so her talents are not going unnoticed.
The reader continued: “When you’re looking at your top players in Union County this year, take the time to look at Gabby’s season. Her team may not be in the top 10 in
Union
County, but Gabby deserves to be recognized this
season.
“I’m sure there are other great players being overlooked that play for teams similar to Roselle Park.
As a reporter, it’s your obligation not to forget them. They work just as hard
and deserve the same credit the players on those teams get. Thank you for your
time.”
In Roselle Park’s other wins, Clauer scored a game-high 30 points when the Panthers defeated
non-conference Somerset County foe Manville 59-44 on Jan. 11 and then netted a
game-high 29 when Roselle park stunned conference foe Johnson 57-52 in Clark on
Feb. 4.
That turned out to be Roselle Park’s first and only conference win of the season.
Roselle Park lost at home to Johnson the first time in conference play by a score of 64-27 on Jan. 7, so that was a nice turnaround for the Panthers.
Against UCC-Watchung Division champion and second-seeded Union County Tournament squad Summit on Feb. 16 in a non-conference home game, Clauer poured in 18 points in a 52-35
defeat.
Against UCC-Mountain Division champion Roselle Catholic, Clauer scored a team-high 16 points in a 65-30 road loss on Opening Day, Dec. 18, and a team-high 14 in a 55-29 home
setback to the Lions on Jan. 28.
“When we played Roselle Park we were very much aware of her,” Roselle Catholic head coach Joe Skrec said. “She was the focus of our defensive game plan both the
first time and second time we played them.
“She is a very strong player and was a tough player for us to defend. A lot of what Roselle Park
did on offense went through her and she was up to the
challenge.
“We remember her as a pretty smart player on offense too. Besides her skills, she was very sly and a creative player. That made it even more challenging to defend
her.”
35th ANNUAL FRANK J. CICARELL
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SEEDS: 1-Roselle Catholic. 2-Summit. 3-Roselle. 4-Cranford.
5-Oak Knoll. 6-New Providence. 7-Westfield. 8-Linden.
9-Dayton. 10-Gov. Livingston. 11-Johnson. 12-Union Catholic.
13-Union. 14-Plainfield. 15-Hillside. 16-Rahway.
17-Scotch Plains. 18-Elizabeth. 19-Kent Place. 20-St.
Patrick.
PRELIMINARY ROUND:
Friday, Feb. 12
At Johnson
Scotch Plains 52, Rahway 34
Saturday, Feb. 13
At Rahway
Union 75, St. Patrick 14
Plainfield 50, Kent Place 40
Hillside 58, Elizabeth 37
FIRST ROUND:
Monday, Feb. 15
At Johnson
Linden 60, Dayton 57
Roselle Catholic 63, Scotch Plains 31
At Roselle Catholic
Oak Knoll 34, Union Catholic 28
Cranford 50, Union 43
At Rahway
Johnson 35, New Providence 34
Roselle 70, Plainfield 53
At Union Catholic
Westfield 49, Gov. Livingston 41
Summit 63, Hillside 44
QUARTERFINALS
Thursday, Feb. 18
At Rahway (top side of the bracket)
Cranford 57, Oak Knoll 44
Roselle Catholic 63, Linden 43
At Roselle Catholic (bottom side of the bracket)
Roselle 65, Johnson 58 (OT)
Westfield 47, Summit 45
SEMIFINALS
(the higher seeded teams wear home uniforms)
Tuesday, Feb. 23
At Roselle Catholic
7-Westfield vs. 3-Roselle, 6 p.m.
4-Cranford vs. 1-Roselle Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
FINALS
(the higher seeded teams wear home uniforms)
Friday, Feb. 26
At Roselle Catholic
Junior varsity: 5:30 p.m.
Varsity: 7:30 p.m.
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