GL girls' begin week only undefeated basketball team in Union County; Highlanders next clash with Rahway, Cranford, Oak Knoll
By JR Parachini
Union County Sports Editor
The last boys’ basketball team in Union County to lose this year lost at Rahway this past Thursday night. That was Rahway to St. Patrick.
The last girls’ basketball team in Union County that is undefeated – Governor Livingston – hopes it doesn’t suffer the same fate Tuesday when it puts its 9-0 record on the line in a 4 p.m. conference-crossover game at Rahway.
Yes, as we head into the third week of January, the GL girls’ are the only undefeated basketball team remaining in Union County.
GL won both of its games this past week, beating conference-crossover foe Union by 22 at home Thursday (52-30) and Union County Conference-Mountain Division arch rival New Providence by 24 at home Saturday (47-23).
“They seem to be the team to beat right now,” Union head coach Justin Meyer said.
“GL is at the top of the county for the moment,” Linden head coach Paul Gorski said.
A LOOK AT GOV. LIVINGSTON’S 9-0 START:
Dec. 16 (A) Gov. Livingston 35, Johnson 31
Dec. 20 (H) Gov. Livingston 40, Union Catholic 28
Dec. 22 (H) Gov. Livingston 52, West Morris 44
RC HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Dec. 27 (A) Gov. Livingston 55, Morris Catholic 52 (OT)
Dec. 29 (A) Gov. Livingston 42, Roselle Catholic 25
Jan. 3 (H) Gov. Livingston 46, Dayton 34
Jan. 6 (H) Gov. Livingston 52, Elizabeth 41
Jan. 12 (H) Gov. Livingston 52, Union 30
Jan. 14 (H) Gov. Livingston 47, New Providence 23
If the Union County Tournament were to be seeded at the start of this week the Highlanders would be the top seed. However, the UCT will not be seeded for another three weeks – Wednesday, Feb. 8 – and a lot could and will happen before then.
GL reached the final last year for the first time since 1992, falling to two-time defending champion Roselle Catholic 33-26 at Kean University’s Harwood Arena in Union.
Fifteen schools have won the championship since the tournament’s inception in 1976. GL is not one of them.
“Any given time anybody can beat anybody and we’re aware of that,” GL fifth-year head coach Andy Silvagni said.
That was the prevailing theme Friday night as Dayton stunned Roselle Catholic 36-32 at home in overtime, Linden edged Cranford 44-43 at home and one-win Elizabeth shocked Scotch Plains 52-40 at home in conference-crossover games. Dayton - which lost to Roselle Catholic handily in last year’s UCT semifinals - Linden and Elizabeth defeated teams that had better records.
In addition, 3-5 Plainfield came within two points – falling 55-53 – of beating 5-2 New Providence in New Providence.
“You can have a good win one night and then turn around and lose the next night,” Silvagni said. “The county so far this year has been crazy. It’s just been unbelievable.
“You have to be prepared to play everybody.”
The Highlanders have been more than prepared so far. Beginning with a big win at Roselle Catholic, GL’s last five victories have all come by at least 11 points.
When GL and RC clashed Dec. 29 in a battle of 4-0 teams in the RC Holiday Tournament championship game, GL led from start to finish en route to a commanding 42-25 victory.
What made the victory even more positive for the visiting Highlanders was that they prevailed after receiving only a combined nine points from senior guards Alyssa Polimeni and Sam Dowling. Polimeni was limited to just three points – all on free throws – while long-range shooter Dowling was held to six. She did not even attempt a single 3-point shot.
GL didn’t need Dowling to fill the hoop from down town largely because of the outstanding performances of front court players such as juniors Erin Ferguson and Mallory George and senior Rebecca Johnson.
Add senior Cat Quinn to that equation. Silvagni reported that Quinn – although she didn’t score in Saturday’s win against New Providence – more than proved her worth on the glass. She grabbed 11 rebounds, eight of them on the offensive end.
“It seemed as if she was getting her hands on everything,” Silvagni said. “All four of them (front court players) defend really well.”
That’s just it. GL is quite more than just Polimeni driving to the hoop or Dowling setting up from the outside.
“The difference this year is that if teams try to take away our guards, we can pound in with three to four girls and have success,” Silvagni said. “Ferguson, George, Johnson and Quinn, they all bring a lot to the game.
“Offensively, they can score inside and make 15-16 foot jumpers that can hurt teams.”
Polimeni, a four-year starter, remains the catalyst, although she isn’t and doesn’t have to be GL’s leading scorer game in and game out.
“Alyssa is an extension of a coach on the floor,” Silvagni said. “She’s been with me for four years.
“I always take it for granted that she’s a point guard who can get us in our sets smoothly like she can. She won’t turn the ball over 15 times and she’ll get everyone the ball.”
After playing at Rahway Tuesday, GL has big Mountain Division games at Cranford Thursday at 4 p.m. and at home against Oak Knoll Friday night at 7.
GL leads the Mountain Division at 5-0, with Cranford and Oak Knoll the final two teams in the division the Highlanders have to play the first time around.
“We know that against Rahway we’re going to have to play hard and work our butts off on defense,” Silvagni said. “Then on Wednesday we’ll prepare for a very good Cranford team and then have to turn around to face another very good team in Oak Knoll Friday night.”
GL and Cranford split their two Mountain Division games last year, with GL winning first at GL 29-21 and then Cranford winning at Cranford 37-29.
Both teams returned all five starters and pride themselves on playing strong defensively, which means there’s little chance of the scoreboard blowing a fuse.
“Cranford is well-coached, has everyone back and is very similar to us,” Silvagni said. “They play good defense and are a lot more than (senior Morgan) Miller and (junior Jessica) McCoy.
“If you try to key on them, then they have other players that are capable. The games are tough and defensive when we get together.
“We know each other. Nothing is easy in the games when we play them.”
Sometimes the schedule can be cruel: New Providence hosted Plainfield Friday in a 7 p.m. start and then had to turn around and play at GL in an 11:45 a.m. tipoff Saturday. GL had Friday off.
New Providence ended up edging Plainfield by two points, but was soundly defeated by GL the next morning.
The first New Providence-GL Mountain Division game was part of GL’s annual Super Saturday, which includes the New Providence and GL boys’ also playing each other the same day. That game tipped off at 4:30 p.m.
“We used to always play at 3 p.m. and then the boys right after us, but the Fire Marshals had a problem with the amount of people,” Silvagni said. “They would come to our game and not leave, which was a fire issue.
“We changed it three weeks ago by moving our game up and putting a freshman game in between. That way the gym could be cleared after the freshman game so there would be the correct amount (of people) for the boys’ game.”
Silvagni said that next year the boys’ will play early and the girls’ late.
“For New Providence it didn’t work out, having to play the night before and then early the next morning and I can see that being very tough,” Silvagni said.
When the teams play for the second and final time in Mountain Division action Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in New Providence, both will have been off the previous day.
SUMMIT BEGINNING TO HIT ITS STRIDE
By no means does Summit want to be peaking just yet, but the Hilltoppers are on a bit of a roll right now.
Summit won its fourth straight game Sunday, topping Orange 48-43 at Shabazz.
The Hilltoppers begin the week 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the Watchung Division.
With the exception of a tie at 4-4, Summit led Johnson from start to finish Friday night, winning a conference-crossover contest in convincing fashion, 57-30.
Leading the way were seniors Kelly Osmulski, with a game-high 21 points; point guard Kate Martino, with 13 points and a game-high nine assists and Nicole Johnson, who scored nine of her 17 points in the first quarter.
Summit began the week with a big 56-50 Watchung Division win at Scotch Plains. Summit was 0-3 against Scotch Plains last year, including a loss in the UCT.
Summit also lost to Johnson in its only state tournament game a year ago, falling in first round Central Jersey, Group 2 play.
“We were fired up for both games,” Osmulski said of the Scotch Plains and Johnson victories. “We’re playing well now and getting contributions from everyone.”
Martino, who will earn her 12th varsity letter in the spring before she heads off to North Carolina to continue playing lacrosse, looks forward to helping the Hilltoppers win plenty of more games this winter.
“Basketball prepares you the most,” said Martino, who excels in soccer in the fall and lacrosse in the spring. “You’re always in the game and more in control. There’s an awareness that’s always there.”
During Summit’s first second-half possession vs. Johnson – which lasted more than a minute – it was Martino dishing off to Osmulski for an assist after Osmulski made an inside basket.
Asked which is more satisfying – making a shot or passing the ball for an assist – Martino said, “both are a pretty good feeling. Both help the team.”
Nicole Johnson went strong to the basket for inside points and also pulled up and hit short-range jumpers in Friday’s victory vs. the visiting Crusaders from Clark.
“We have to keep our intensity up,” Johnson said. “We have to continue to play strong and fight from start to finish.”
Summit fell to New Providence in its own holiday tournament in between Watchung Division setbacks to Roselle Catholic – by two points – and to Linden, by six.
“We learned a lot from our first RC game,” Summit head coach Brian Erickson said. RC prevailed 33-31 Dec. 22 in Roselle.
“Although it wasn’t our best game, I liked our effort,” Erickson said.
The teams will clash once again in Watchung Division play Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. at Summit. Last year Roselle Catholic won the Watchung Division, while Summit captured the crown two years ago.
HILLSIDE WINNING STREAK REACHES 6
Hillside begins the week at 8-1 and on a six-game winning streak after winning three games this past week. The Comets defeated Valley Division foes St. Mary’s of Elizabeth 65-13 on the road, Brearley 57-21 at home and then on Saturday handled visiting Lindenwold 62-11.
Sparked by a freshman class that includes leading scorer Afenia Richardson and starting forward Yasmine Robinson-Bacote, Hillside leads the Valley Division at 6-0 and has an excellent chance of winning a division title for the first time since the 2003-2004 team captured the Mountain Valley Conference’s Sky Division crown.
“We’ve been able to bring in a group of freshmen and retain them,” said third-year head coach Sjocquelyn Winstead, who was a junior on that 2004 team that also reached the North 2, Group 2 final and finished 19-6. “They’re the future of our program.”
The Comets are also lifted by the play of senior point guard Khadijah Callahan, junior 2-guard Rah’Shanai Cole and junior forwards Jasmine Lombard and Jovania Pierre.
A key player off the bench along with Richardson is junior Chantel Turner.
“Our goals are to finish over .500, qualify for the states and get a comfortable seed and win our conference,” Winstead said.
Hillside finished 2-17 overall last year and 1-11 in the Mountain Division.
“When I played at Hillside the program was revitalized,” said Winstead, who is a 2005 Hillside graduate. She was also the manager of the women’s basketball team at Rutgers, where she graduated from in 2009.
Winstead is a teacher at Hillside’s Hurden Looker Elementary School.
“Our goal here is to show Union County that players from Hillside want to play,” Winstead said. “We want to show that we can be disciplined and focused.”
WILD AFTERNOON AND NIGHT FRIDAY
It was a wild afternoon and night Friday.
In conference-crossover games, Linden edged Cranford 44-43 at home, Dayton upset visiting Roselle Catholic 36-32 in overtime, host Elizabeth shocked Scotch Plains 52-40 and New Providence hung on for a 55-53 home win over Plainfield.
Linden, Dayton and Elizabeth entered their games as the teams with lesser records. Linden improved to 8-3 and Cranford fell to 8-2; Dayton and Roselle Catholic both saw their records move to 7-3, while Elizabeth upped its mark to 2-7 and Scotch Plains lost for the third straight time and slipped to 5-5.
Linden and Dayton had to outscore Cranford and Roselle Catholic in the fourth quarter. Linden outscored Cranford 17-11, while Dayton - after also outscoring Roselle Catholic in the second and third quarters - outscored the Lions 5-3. The Bulldogs then outscored Roselle Catholic 9-5 in overtime.
The last time Roselle Catholic and Dayton clashed was last Feb. 24 in the second Union County Tournament semifinal at Rahway. Roselle Catholic - en route to its third straight title - dominated Dayton 44-25.
In the space of a week now, Dayton has gone from beating Cranford 46-43 at home in Mountain Division play, downing St. Anthony 64-36 at home, losing at Oak Knoll 45-30 in Mountain Division action and beating Roselle Catholic 36-32 in overtime in a conference-crossover contest.
Dayton edged Cranford 43-42 in last year's UCT semifinals.
Plainfield entered Friday night's conference-crossover matchup at New Providence with a 3-5 record. The Cardinals had won three straight after a 0-5 start.
New Providence won its third straight to improve to 6-2.
DIVISION LEADERS STILL UNDEFEATED IN THEIR DIVISIONS
UCC division leaders Roselle Catholic (Watchung), GL (Mountain) and Hillside (Valley) begin the week undefeated in division play.
Roselle Catholic is 6-0 in the Watchung, with wins over Roselle, Linden, Summit, Union and Westfield twice. The defending champion Lions still have to play Scotch Plains.
GL leads the Mountain at 5-0, with triumphs over Johnson, Union Catholic, Dayton, Elizabeth and New Providence. The Highlanders still have to play Cranford and Oak Knoll.
Hillside leads the Valley at 6-0, with victories over St. Patrick, Kent Place, Rahway twice, St. Mary’s, Elizabeth and Brearley. The Comets still have to play Roselle Park and Benedictine.
UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE
2011-2012 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
STANDINGS OF GAMES PLAYED
THROUGH JAN. 15:
WATCHUNG DIVISION:
Roselle Catholic (6-0)
Linden (4-2)
Scotch Plains (3-1)
Summit (2-2)
Plainfield (2-2)
Union (2-3)
Roselle (0-4)
Westfield (0-5)
MOUNTAIN DIVISION:
Gov. Livingston (5-0)
Cranford (4-1)
Oak Knoll (3-2)
Johnson (3-3)
Dayton (2-3)
New Providence (2-3)
Union Catholic (2-4)
Elizabeth (0-5)
VALLEY DIVISION:
Hillside (6-0)
Kent Place (4-1)
Rahway (4-3)
St. Patrick (3-2)
Brearley (3-3)
Benedictine Academy (2-3)
Roselle Park (1-5)
St. Mary’s, Elizabeth (0-6)
OVERALL RECORDS:
Gov. Livingston (9-0)
Hillside (8-1)
Cranford (8-2)
Roselle Catholic (8-3)
Linden (8-3)
Dayton (7-3)
New Providence (6-3)
Summit (6-3)
Union Catholic (6-4)
Rahway (6-4)
Brearley (6-5)
Kent Place (5-2)
Scotch Plains (5-5)
Benedictine Academy (5-6)
Oak Knoll (4-5)
Union (4-7)
St. Patrick (3-2)
Johnson (3-6)
Plainfield (3-7)
Westfield (3-8)
Elizabeth (2-8)
Roselle Park (2-8)
Roselle (1-8)
St. Mary's, Elizabeth (1-8)
GMC school: Mother Seton (4-3)
JR’S TOP 10
THROUGH JAN. 15:
1-Gov. Livingston (9-0)
2-Roselle Catholic (8-3)
3-Linden (8-3)
4-Dayton (7-3)
5-Cranford (8-2)
6-New Providence (6-3)
7-Summit (6-3)
8-Scotch Plains (5-5)
9-Oak Knoll (4-5)
10-Union (4-7)
DIVISION GAMES OF NOTE THIS WEEK:
Watchung – Scotch Plains at Roselle Catholic Saturday (Jan. 21) at 1 p.m.
These teams have not met yet in Watchung Division play. Scotch Plains will seek to snap a three-game slide when it hosts Union Tuesday night at 7. That will be the first time the Raiders face the Farmers in Watchung play.
Mountain – Gov. Livingston at Cranford Thursday (Jan. 19) at 4 p.m.
Cranford is 4-1 in division play and begins its week with a conference-crossover home game vs. Brearley Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Valley – Brearley at Rahway Friday (Jan. 20) at 4 p.m.
Rahway defeated Brearley 43-19 in the Brearley Tournament on Dec. 29. This will be the first of their two division games. The teams will also play a division contest at Brearley Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
Union County Sports Editor
The last boys’ basketball team in Union County to lose this year lost at Rahway this past Thursday night. That was Rahway to St. Patrick.
The last girls’ basketball team in Union County that is undefeated – Governor Livingston – hopes it doesn’t suffer the same fate Tuesday when it puts its 9-0 record on the line in a 4 p.m. conference-crossover game at Rahway.
Yes, as we head into the third week of January, the GL girls’ are the only undefeated basketball team remaining in Union County.
GL won both of its games this past week, beating conference-crossover foe Union by 22 at home Thursday (52-30) and Union County Conference-Mountain Division arch rival New Providence by 24 at home Saturday (47-23).
“They seem to be the team to beat right now,” Union head coach Justin Meyer said.
“GL is at the top of the county for the moment,” Linden head coach Paul Gorski said.
A LOOK AT GOV. LIVINGSTON’S 9-0 START:
Dec. 16 (A) Gov. Livingston 35, Johnson 31
Dec. 20 (H) Gov. Livingston 40, Union Catholic 28
Dec. 22 (H) Gov. Livingston 52, West Morris 44
RC HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Dec. 27 (A) Gov. Livingston 55, Morris Catholic 52 (OT)
Dec. 29 (A) Gov. Livingston 42, Roselle Catholic 25
Jan. 3 (H) Gov. Livingston 46, Dayton 34
Jan. 6 (H) Gov. Livingston 52, Elizabeth 41
Jan. 12 (H) Gov. Livingston 52, Union 30
Jan. 14 (H) Gov. Livingston 47, New Providence 23
If the Union County Tournament were to be seeded at the start of this week the Highlanders would be the top seed. However, the UCT will not be seeded for another three weeks – Wednesday, Feb. 8 – and a lot could and will happen before then.
GL reached the final last year for the first time since 1992, falling to two-time defending champion Roselle Catholic 33-26 at Kean University’s Harwood Arena in Union.
Fifteen schools have won the championship since the tournament’s inception in 1976. GL is not one of them.
“Any given time anybody can beat anybody and we’re aware of that,” GL fifth-year head coach Andy Silvagni said.
That was the prevailing theme Friday night as Dayton stunned Roselle Catholic 36-32 at home in overtime, Linden edged Cranford 44-43 at home and one-win Elizabeth shocked Scotch Plains 52-40 at home in conference-crossover games. Dayton - which lost to Roselle Catholic handily in last year’s UCT semifinals - Linden and Elizabeth defeated teams that had better records.
In addition, 3-5 Plainfield came within two points – falling 55-53 – of beating 5-2 New Providence in New Providence.
“You can have a good win one night and then turn around and lose the next night,” Silvagni said. “The county so far this year has been crazy. It’s just been unbelievable.
“You have to be prepared to play everybody.”
The Highlanders have been more than prepared so far. Beginning with a big win at Roselle Catholic, GL’s last five victories have all come by at least 11 points.
When GL and RC clashed Dec. 29 in a battle of 4-0 teams in the RC Holiday Tournament championship game, GL led from start to finish en route to a commanding 42-25 victory.
What made the victory even more positive for the visiting Highlanders was that they prevailed after receiving only a combined nine points from senior guards Alyssa Polimeni and Sam Dowling. Polimeni was limited to just three points – all on free throws – while long-range shooter Dowling was held to six. She did not even attempt a single 3-point shot.
GL didn’t need Dowling to fill the hoop from down town largely because of the outstanding performances of front court players such as juniors Erin Ferguson and Mallory George and senior Rebecca Johnson.
Add senior Cat Quinn to that equation. Silvagni reported that Quinn – although she didn’t score in Saturday’s win against New Providence – more than proved her worth on the glass. She grabbed 11 rebounds, eight of them on the offensive end.
“It seemed as if she was getting her hands on everything,” Silvagni said. “All four of them (front court players) defend really well.”
That’s just it. GL is quite more than just Polimeni driving to the hoop or Dowling setting up from the outside.
“The difference this year is that if teams try to take away our guards, we can pound in with three to four girls and have success,” Silvagni said. “Ferguson, George, Johnson and Quinn, they all bring a lot to the game.
“Offensively, they can score inside and make 15-16 foot jumpers that can hurt teams.”
Polimeni, a four-year starter, remains the catalyst, although she isn’t and doesn’t have to be GL’s leading scorer game in and game out.
“Alyssa is an extension of a coach on the floor,” Silvagni said. “She’s been with me for four years.
“I always take it for granted that she’s a point guard who can get us in our sets smoothly like she can. She won’t turn the ball over 15 times and she’ll get everyone the ball.”
After playing at Rahway Tuesday, GL has big Mountain Division games at Cranford Thursday at 4 p.m. and at home against Oak Knoll Friday night at 7.
GL leads the Mountain Division at 5-0, with Cranford and Oak Knoll the final two teams in the division the Highlanders have to play the first time around.
“We know that against Rahway we’re going to have to play hard and work our butts off on defense,” Silvagni said. “Then on Wednesday we’ll prepare for a very good Cranford team and then have to turn around to face another very good team in Oak Knoll Friday night.”
GL and Cranford split their two Mountain Division games last year, with GL winning first at GL 29-21 and then Cranford winning at Cranford 37-29.
Both teams returned all five starters and pride themselves on playing strong defensively, which means there’s little chance of the scoreboard blowing a fuse.
“Cranford is well-coached, has everyone back and is very similar to us,” Silvagni said. “They play good defense and are a lot more than (senior Morgan) Miller and (junior Jessica) McCoy.
“If you try to key on them, then they have other players that are capable. The games are tough and defensive when we get together.
“We know each other. Nothing is easy in the games when we play them.”
Sometimes the schedule can be cruel: New Providence hosted Plainfield Friday in a 7 p.m. start and then had to turn around and play at GL in an 11:45 a.m. tipoff Saturday. GL had Friday off.
New Providence ended up edging Plainfield by two points, but was soundly defeated by GL the next morning.
The first New Providence-GL Mountain Division game was part of GL’s annual Super Saturday, which includes the New Providence and GL boys’ also playing each other the same day. That game tipped off at 4:30 p.m.
“We used to always play at 3 p.m. and then the boys right after us, but the Fire Marshals had a problem with the amount of people,” Silvagni said. “They would come to our game and not leave, which was a fire issue.
“We changed it three weeks ago by moving our game up and putting a freshman game in between. That way the gym could be cleared after the freshman game so there would be the correct amount (of people) for the boys’ game.”
Silvagni said that next year the boys’ will play early and the girls’ late.
“For New Providence it didn’t work out, having to play the night before and then early the next morning and I can see that being very tough,” Silvagni said.
When the teams play for the second and final time in Mountain Division action Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in New Providence, both will have been off the previous day.
SUMMIT BEGINNING TO HIT ITS STRIDE
By no means does Summit want to be peaking just yet, but the Hilltoppers are on a bit of a roll right now.
Summit won its fourth straight game Sunday, topping Orange 48-43 at Shabazz.
The Hilltoppers begin the week 6-3 overall and 2-2 in the Watchung Division.
With the exception of a tie at 4-4, Summit led Johnson from start to finish Friday night, winning a conference-crossover contest in convincing fashion, 57-30.
Leading the way were seniors Kelly Osmulski, with a game-high 21 points; point guard Kate Martino, with 13 points and a game-high nine assists and Nicole Johnson, who scored nine of her 17 points in the first quarter.
Summit began the week with a big 56-50 Watchung Division win at Scotch Plains. Summit was 0-3 against Scotch Plains last year, including a loss in the UCT.
Summit also lost to Johnson in its only state tournament game a year ago, falling in first round Central Jersey, Group 2 play.
“We were fired up for both games,” Osmulski said of the Scotch Plains and Johnson victories. “We’re playing well now and getting contributions from everyone.”
Martino, who will earn her 12th varsity letter in the spring before she heads off to North Carolina to continue playing lacrosse, looks forward to helping the Hilltoppers win plenty of more games this winter.
“Basketball prepares you the most,” said Martino, who excels in soccer in the fall and lacrosse in the spring. “You’re always in the game and more in control. There’s an awareness that’s always there.”
During Summit’s first second-half possession vs. Johnson – which lasted more than a minute – it was Martino dishing off to Osmulski for an assist after Osmulski made an inside basket.
Asked which is more satisfying – making a shot or passing the ball for an assist – Martino said, “both are a pretty good feeling. Both help the team.”
Nicole Johnson went strong to the basket for inside points and also pulled up and hit short-range jumpers in Friday’s victory vs. the visiting Crusaders from Clark.
“We have to keep our intensity up,” Johnson said. “We have to continue to play strong and fight from start to finish.”
Summit fell to New Providence in its own holiday tournament in between Watchung Division setbacks to Roselle Catholic – by two points – and to Linden, by six.
“We learned a lot from our first RC game,” Summit head coach Brian Erickson said. RC prevailed 33-31 Dec. 22 in Roselle.
“Although it wasn’t our best game, I liked our effort,” Erickson said.
The teams will clash once again in Watchung Division play Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. at Summit. Last year Roselle Catholic won the Watchung Division, while Summit captured the crown two years ago.
HILLSIDE WINNING STREAK REACHES 6
Hillside begins the week at 8-1 and on a six-game winning streak after winning three games this past week. The Comets defeated Valley Division foes St. Mary’s of Elizabeth 65-13 on the road, Brearley 57-21 at home and then on Saturday handled visiting Lindenwold 62-11.
Sparked by a freshman class that includes leading scorer Afenia Richardson and starting forward Yasmine Robinson-Bacote, Hillside leads the Valley Division at 6-0 and has an excellent chance of winning a division title for the first time since the 2003-2004 team captured the Mountain Valley Conference’s Sky Division crown.
“We’ve been able to bring in a group of freshmen and retain them,” said third-year head coach Sjocquelyn Winstead, who was a junior on that 2004 team that also reached the North 2, Group 2 final and finished 19-6. “They’re the future of our program.”
The Comets are also lifted by the play of senior point guard Khadijah Callahan, junior 2-guard Rah’Shanai Cole and junior forwards Jasmine Lombard and Jovania Pierre.
A key player off the bench along with Richardson is junior Chantel Turner.
“Our goals are to finish over .500, qualify for the states and get a comfortable seed and win our conference,” Winstead said.
Hillside finished 2-17 overall last year and 1-11 in the Mountain Division.
“When I played at Hillside the program was revitalized,” said Winstead, who is a 2005 Hillside graduate. She was also the manager of the women’s basketball team at Rutgers, where she graduated from in 2009.
Winstead is a teacher at Hillside’s Hurden Looker Elementary School.
“Our goal here is to show Union County that players from Hillside want to play,” Winstead said. “We want to show that we can be disciplined and focused.”
WILD AFTERNOON AND NIGHT FRIDAY
It was a wild afternoon and night Friday.
In conference-crossover games, Linden edged Cranford 44-43 at home, Dayton upset visiting Roselle Catholic 36-32 in overtime, host Elizabeth shocked Scotch Plains 52-40 and New Providence hung on for a 55-53 home win over Plainfield.
Linden, Dayton and Elizabeth entered their games as the teams with lesser records. Linden improved to 8-3 and Cranford fell to 8-2; Dayton and Roselle Catholic both saw their records move to 7-3, while Elizabeth upped its mark to 2-7 and Scotch Plains lost for the third straight time and slipped to 5-5.
Linden and Dayton had to outscore Cranford and Roselle Catholic in the fourth quarter. Linden outscored Cranford 17-11, while Dayton - after also outscoring Roselle Catholic in the second and third quarters - outscored the Lions 5-3. The Bulldogs then outscored Roselle Catholic 9-5 in overtime.
The last time Roselle Catholic and Dayton clashed was last Feb. 24 in the second Union County Tournament semifinal at Rahway. Roselle Catholic - en route to its third straight title - dominated Dayton 44-25.
In the space of a week now, Dayton has gone from beating Cranford 46-43 at home in Mountain Division play, downing St. Anthony 64-36 at home, losing at Oak Knoll 45-30 in Mountain Division action and beating Roselle Catholic 36-32 in overtime in a conference-crossover contest.
Dayton edged Cranford 43-42 in last year's UCT semifinals.
Plainfield entered Friday night's conference-crossover matchup at New Providence with a 3-5 record. The Cardinals had won three straight after a 0-5 start.
New Providence won its third straight to improve to 6-2.
DIVISION LEADERS STILL UNDEFEATED IN THEIR DIVISIONS
UCC division leaders Roselle Catholic (Watchung), GL (Mountain) and Hillside (Valley) begin the week undefeated in division play.
Roselle Catholic is 6-0 in the Watchung, with wins over Roselle, Linden, Summit, Union and Westfield twice. The defending champion Lions still have to play Scotch Plains.
GL leads the Mountain at 5-0, with triumphs over Johnson, Union Catholic, Dayton, Elizabeth and New Providence. The Highlanders still have to play Cranford and Oak Knoll.
Hillside leads the Valley at 6-0, with victories over St. Patrick, Kent Place, Rahway twice, St. Mary’s, Elizabeth and Brearley. The Comets still have to play Roselle Park and Benedictine.
UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE
2011-2012 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
STANDINGS OF GAMES PLAYED
THROUGH JAN. 15:
WATCHUNG DIVISION:
Roselle Catholic (6-0)
Linden (4-2)
Scotch Plains (3-1)
Summit (2-2)
Plainfield (2-2)
Union (2-3)
Roselle (0-4)
Westfield (0-5)
MOUNTAIN DIVISION:
Gov. Livingston (5-0)
Cranford (4-1)
Oak Knoll (3-2)
Johnson (3-3)
Dayton (2-3)
New Providence (2-3)
Union Catholic (2-4)
Elizabeth (0-5)
VALLEY DIVISION:
Hillside (6-0)
Kent Place (4-1)
Rahway (4-3)
St. Patrick (3-2)
Brearley (3-3)
Benedictine Academy (2-3)
Roselle Park (1-5)
St. Mary’s, Elizabeth (0-6)
OVERALL RECORDS:
Gov. Livingston (9-0)
Hillside (8-1)
Cranford (8-2)
Roselle Catholic (8-3)
Linden (8-3)
Dayton (7-3)
New Providence (6-3)
Summit (6-3)
Union Catholic (6-4)
Rahway (6-4)
Brearley (6-5)
Kent Place (5-2)
Scotch Plains (5-5)
Benedictine Academy (5-6)
Oak Knoll (4-5)
Union (4-7)
St. Patrick (3-2)
Johnson (3-6)
Plainfield (3-7)
Westfield (3-8)
Elizabeth (2-8)
Roselle Park (2-8)
Roselle (1-8)
St. Mary's, Elizabeth (1-8)
GMC school: Mother Seton (4-3)
JR’S TOP 10
THROUGH JAN. 15:
1-Gov. Livingston (9-0)
2-Roselle Catholic (8-3)
3-Linden (8-3)
4-Dayton (7-3)
5-Cranford (8-2)
6-New Providence (6-3)
7-Summit (6-3)
8-Scotch Plains (5-5)
9-Oak Knoll (4-5)
10-Union (4-7)
DIVISION GAMES OF NOTE THIS WEEK:
Watchung – Scotch Plains at Roselle Catholic Saturday (Jan. 21) at 1 p.m.
These teams have not met yet in Watchung Division play. Scotch Plains will seek to snap a three-game slide when it hosts Union Tuesday night at 7. That will be the first time the Raiders face the Farmers in Watchung play.
Mountain – Gov. Livingston at Cranford Thursday (Jan. 19) at 4 p.m.
Cranford is 4-1 in division play and begins its week with a conference-crossover home game vs. Brearley Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Valley – Brearley at Rahway Friday (Jan. 20) at 4 p.m.
Rahway defeated Brearley 43-19 in the Brearley Tournament on Dec. 29. This will be the first of their two division games. The teams will also play a division contest at Brearley Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.
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