Standouts as Crusaders Outlasts Tigers In #1 vs #2 Battle

<p style="text-align: center"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;color: #000080"><strong>Standouts as Crusaders Outlasts Tigers In #1 vs #2 Battle</strong></span></span></p> The top ranked New Hope Tigers faced an early marker game against second ranked Riverdale Baptist Crusaders.  The two local teams had a down to the wire meeting in the fall league as New Hope played without star Jada Walker, the Crusaders were able to edge them.  In this regular season rematch both teams were full strength on a neutral court.  The Crusaders took the lead by Liz Martino (Rutgers) who had 8 of her 10 points in the first half and Kaylah Ivey who 7 of her team high 16 point in the half. The Crusaders had a commanding 28-17 lead at halftime, however, the Tigers still had fight picking up the defense and going on a 12-0 run in the third.  The Crusaders regained the lead and held a 4-6 point lead for the majority of the fourth quarter.  New Hope's Delicia Pinnick knocked down a couple of bombs from three and Walker found Maria Gakdeng in the closing seconds to send the game into overtime.  In the end it was Riverdale Baptist with the overtime victory 50-49. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #0000ff"><strong>Standout Players:</strong></span></span> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000;text-decoration: underline">Kayla Thomas - 6'3" - Post - Riverdale Baptist</span></span></strong> [caption id="attachment_121074" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kayla Thomas[/caption] Kayla came up big (literally) in the game with 13 points and around 10 boards.  The transfer was a factor on both ends and was one of the main reasons that Riverdale one the game. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong>Jalyn Brown - 6'0" - Wing - Riverdale Baptist</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_27567" align="alignnone" width="300"] Jalyn Brown[/caption] The sophomore played with a lot of confidence and aggression attacking the basket and getting to the rack and picking up fouls.  Her efforts netted her seven free throw attempts and a bucket all in the first half finishing with 7 points. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong>Jada Walker - 5'7" - Point Guard - New Hope</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_121076" align="alignnone" width="300"] Jada Walker[/caption] Jada was spectacular leading the game with a high of 17 points.  She showed good vision with the willingness to give up the ball for a better shot even when she had the hot hand.  Her speed was the key for her as she continually beat her defender off the dribble and weaved through traps. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong>Maria Gakdeng - 6'3" - Post - New Hope</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_121079" align="alignnone" width="300"] Maria Gakdeng[/caption] Maria scored all of her 7 points in the fourth quarter and overtime before fouling out.  She scored the tying bucket to send the game into overtime but, could only watch in the final minutes. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong>Elizabeth Martino - 5'11 - Guard - Riverdale Baptist</strong></span></span> Elizabeth opened the game with a basket and a three point play.  She finished the game with 10 points and set the tone early as the majority of her point came in the first quarter.  The Rutgers commit left no doubt that she has fully returned from a knee injury that kept her out the entire 2018-19 season. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong>Delicia Pinnick - 5'8" - Guard - New Hope</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_121080" align="alignnone" width="300"] Delicia Pinnick[/caption] Pinnick came alive in the second half after going scoreless in the first.  She started attacking the basket and then unleashed her signature 3-pointer late in the fourth and again in overtime to cut the lead to one point. <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="color: #800000"><strong>Kaylah Ivey - 5'9" - Point Guard - Riverdale Baptist</strong></span></span> [caption id="attachment_17977" align="alignnone" width="300"] Kaylah Ivey[/caption] Kaylah finished the game with 16 points and she proved again that she is one of the best free throw shooters in the area making eight of them without the ball touching the rim.  She controlled the game at the end scoring six points in overtime for the win.