By Lou Monaco
Cranford's dream run is over.
Senior guard and captain Terry Ely scored a game-high 17 points, sinking nine free throws, to lead Pascack Valley to a 40-28 victory over Cranford in the NJSIAA/ShopRite North Jersey, Group 3 semifinal last night at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes.
Cranford (21-8) saw its four-game win streak snapped and suffered only its second loss in its last eight games.
``They are a very good team and our offense wasn't there, we had a hard time with that," Cranford coach Jackie Huber said. ``We had some fouls and some other issues, it was kind of hard to bounce back from. They play very good defense and getting into foul trouble definitely took us out of our game."
Cranford took a 9-7 lead after the first quarter, ending the quarter with four straight points, including a 3-pointer by sophomore guard Morgan Miller. Pascack Valley scored six straight points to start the second quarter to take a 13-9 lead with 3:30 left, before Cranford freshman Jessica McCoy hit a jumper to stop the run.
Pascack Valley led at halftime, 15-13.
Senior Jamie Webb scored the first basket of the second half for Cranford to tie the game at 15-15, but Ely scored six straight points to give Pascack Valley a 21-15 lead with 3:20 left in the third quarter. Jessica McCoy, Morgan Miller and Taylor D’Antico each had baskets to end the third quarter to cut Pascack Valley's lead to 25-21.
Pascack Valley went on a 12-2 run to start the fourth quarter, including six points by Ely, to take a commanding 37-23 lead with 2:25 left to play.
``Losing does not feel good, but we accomplished something that people dream about doing," said Huber, who has a 7-2 record in state tournament play over the past two seasons. ``In high school, I never went to a state sectional final. Everyone talks about it. The fact that they won it and when they go into the school to see their year on the banner, that will be important to them."
Kaitlin McGovern and Morgan Miller scored seven points apiece to lead Cranford, which won the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 title Tuesday over Somerville, 46-34. It is the program's first title in 36 years.
Pascack Valley (26-4) has won six straight games and 19 of 20.
"Cranford has a good basketball team, great size, very athletic," Pascack Valley coach Jeff Jasper said. "The thing I love about them is that they play you straight up. No gimmicks. They are just going to play solid, fundamentally sound basketball. This was just two teams saying this is what we do, this is what you do and let's just play."
Pascack Valley won the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 title Tuesday by defeating Teaneck, 51-47, for its 13th sectional title.
Pascack Valley 40
Name 2-pt. 3-pt. FT Total
Dana Amato 3 0 2 8
Terry Ely 4 0 9 17
Lindsey Hickey 2 0 5 9
Chelsea Lombardi 1 0 0 2
Alyssa Matos 2 0 0 4
Totals: 12 0 16
Cranford 28
Name 2-pt. 3-pt. FT Total
Taylor D'Antico 1 1 0 5
Jessica McCoy 2 0 0 4
Kaitlin McGovern 3 0 1 7
Morgan Miller 1 1 2 7
Jamie Webb 2 0 1 5
Totals: 9 2 4
Cranford (21-8) 9 4 8 7 28
Pascack Valley (26-4) 7 8 10 15 40
Rebounds:
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