Bergen County Tournament Round of 16 Preview and Predictions

<p>After correctly picking 7 of 8 preliminary round games, we move on to the PGH preview and predictions for today's Bergen County Girls Tournament Round of 16. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#17-Park Ridge</strong> <strong>vs #1-Saddle River Day</strong></h2>   <p>Park Ridge avenged one of their 2 losses this season loss on Thursday against #16-Westwood behind 19 points from [player_tooltip player_id='414430' first='Allie' last='Shenloogian'] in a 43-30. Park Ridge will get a 2nd shot at the opponent in the other of their two losses this season when they take on #1-Saddle River Day today. Saddle River Day cruised to a 66-26 win over Park Ridge on January 8, and I'd expect more of the same in this one. Allie will run into a fast and relentless Rebels team who limited her to a season low 13 points in their last meeting. [player_tooltip player_id='325189' first='Cristina' last='Parrella'], [player_tooltip player_id='325218' first='Julianna' last='Almeida'] and [player_tooltip player_id='333330' first='Faith' last='Williamson'] are the best trio in the tournament and will prove to be too much for their opponents. Park Ridge will not have the depth to keep up and SRDS will win this one going away. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#9-Northern Highlands vs #8-Demarest</strong></h2>   <p>Coming off a dominating 53-27 win over #24-Waldwick, the Highlanders will meet the hottest team in the tournament this afternoon when they face #8-Demarest. Demarest who has won 9 straight including wins over #7-Old Tappan and #3-Teaneck since January 4 comes into this one with something to prove. Northern Highlands traveled to Demarest on 12/19 and handed the home team a 49-31 defeat. Highlanders leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='326664' first='Sienna' last='Corey'] won the battle of the PGs in that one with 19 points to 2 for [player_tooltip player_id='600897' first='Gabriella' last='Mittelman']. Mittelman has scored in double figures in 8 of the last 9 and along with Angie Tirado they are playing with as much confidence as any duo in the county. Sienna and [player_tooltip player_id='488839' first='Cate' last='Weinberger'] will have to match the offensive output of Mittelman and Tirado because the edge in supporting cast goes to Demarest with Taylor Millier, [player_tooltip player_id='651513' first='Deana' last='Finkelstein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='835246' first='Ella' last='Peck']. I think Demarest keeps on rolling with a 10-point win sending them on to the quarterfinals.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#12-Pascack Valley vs #5-Holy Angels</strong></h2>   <p>Just like March Madness, I am calling the 5/12 upset in this one. These teams met at Holy Angels on 12/19 with the home team prevailing 50-40. After a 34-point loss to Teaneck on January 4, PV sat at 4-5. Since then, the Panthers have gone 7-2 with the only losses coming by 6 points against #8-Demarest and 4 points at #7-Old Tappan. Holy Angels has the best player in this game with [player_tooltip player_id='488858' first='Samantha' last='Serrano'] who is averaging 26+ppg and 3+ 3-pointers per game. She has 5 30-point games this season and 1 40-point game in which she hit 10 3s. In the first meeting she had a double double with 32 points including 3 3-pointers,12 rebounds and 4 steals. She and fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='488859' first='Celeste' last='Harper'] account for just under 79% of their team's points this season. Pascack Valley has their own stud guard in junior [player_tooltip player_id='414399' first='Celina' last='Bussanich'] who averages 16+ppg and just under 3 3-pointers per game. With junior [player_tooltip player_id='525311' first='Ava' last='Burke'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='677605' first='Raina' last='Gibbs'], PV has a 3-headed monster to put up against the 2-headed monster of Holy Angels who are coming off a 6-point loss to #13-Paramus Catholic. I'll take PV in a close one Coach Jeff Jasper moves on to yet another county quarterfinal.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#13-Paramus Catholic vs #4-Ramapo</strong></h2>   <p>These two teams met 2 weeks ago in the She Balls Too Showcase at Newark Collegiate with Ramapo coming out on top of a 52-35 decision. This game was in the middle of an 8-game losing streak for the Paladins who have since won 2 in a row against #5-Holy Angels and #20-Dumont. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='325170' first='Kylie' last='Cabana'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488850' first='Bianca' last='Ellis'] combine for more than 66% of the PC's points and Coach Hodge will need both of them to score in this one. In the 1st meeting they combined for 25 points even though Ellis did drain 4 3-pointers. Today, I think they will have to combine for closer to 35-40 to stay in this one. Ramapo feels they have a defensive stopper in [player_tooltip player_id='564268' first='Toni' last='Pernetti'] who will likely start on Cabana as she did in the 1st meeting. Ramapo's 3 scorers consist of the aforementioned Pernetti and leading scorers [player_tooltip player_id='559136' first='Camden' last='Epstein'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488847' first='Cayla' last='Menicola']. All 3 average in double figures and have at least 1 20-pont game to their name this season. Whether playing man, zone or box and 1, PC made it a point to not let Epstein beat them in the 1st matchup. In that game Menicola and Pernetti stepped up with 19 and 18 respectively while combining for 7 3-pointers. If PC has a similar gameplan those two and their teammates will have to shoot it well again. I think this game is close for a half as Ramapo has been off for a week and has not been a great 1st quarter team this season. In the 2nd half, I think Ramapo's scoring and depth becomes too much for PC as they will also have starter Maddie Saxton and twin sister [player_tooltip player_id='600887' first='Grace' last='Saxton'] back after they missed the 1st matchup. I'm calling Ramapo by 12-15 and going back to the quarterfinals after falling in the round of 16 to Holy Angels last year. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#14-Ridgewood vs #3-Teaneck</strong></h2>   <p>After a 5-8 start, Ridgewood comes into this one on a 5-game winning streak. They beat #19-Rutherford 37-27 in the preliminary round to setup a meeting with #3-Teaneck who has lost 3 of their last 5 games since starting 11-2. Teaneck has been playing with starter [player_tooltip player_id='600896' first='Jillian' last='Carter'] since 1/4 and superstar [player_tooltip player_id='559047' first='Lexi' last='Carnegie'] since her 1/13 injury. Let's not panic on Teaneck just yet as they play one of the toughest schedules around as those 3 losses have come against Bayonne, IHA and Demarest. They are still loaded with talent with Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='325206' first='Demi' last='Simpson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488845' first='Erin' last='Frazier'] are leading this crew along with freshman [player_tooltip player_id='677128' first='Leayana' last='Dorville']. Simpson is averaging 13+ppg, 12+rpg and 3+bpg and has 10 double doubles this season. After 2 double digit scoring games in her 1st 13 this season, Frazier has stepped up to produce 3 in the last 5 games since Carnegie's injury. Dorville is averaging 10+ppg and has 2 20-point games in her last 4 contests. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='976730' first='Imani' last='McKenzie'] has also stepped up with 2 double digit scoring games in the last 4. They are a tough out as it is with their press and the pace they play with and even tougher if they can get Carter back. Ridgewood has a balanced attack led by [player_tooltip player_id='871281' first='Catie' last='Klemm'] and [player_tooltip player_id='588682' first='Sofia' last='Morino'] and [player_tooltip player_id='488838' first='Alysha' last='Arora']. This game will come down to Klemm handling the Teaneck pressure and Arora being able to score from the perimeter. Despite the injuries I think Teaneck is too talented to lose this one. They may not win by 34 like their first meeting but I see this one being a 20-point victory as they move on to the quarterfinals.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#11-Mahwah vs #6-River Dell</strong></h2>   <p>The last of the 6 matchups between teams who have already met this season, River Dell came out on top of a 50-42 home decision on January 16. This started a 3-game losing streak for Mahwah who has since won 2 in a row including a 41-27 win over #22-Ridgefield Park in the preliminary round. In Kerin Roche's 1st season, the Thunderbirds are led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='488846' first='Marissa' last='LaVerghetta'], freshman [player_tooltip player_id='677735' first='Harper' last='Cohn'] and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='600901' first='Taylor' last='Tremblay'] and [player_tooltip player_id='559078' first='Ava' last='Comer']. LaVerghetta is a slasher who averages 12+ppg, 6+spg, 4+rpg and 3+apg. Cohn averages 10ppg and leads the team with 22 3-pointers while playing the PG position. Tremblay and Comer have combined for 33 3-pointers. After starting 3-4, River Dell has won 8 straight and their aggressive, physical brand of basketball is a challenge for any opponent they face. They are 6-2 against the top 24 seeds and had a signature 54-50 win against #7-Old Tappan on December 26. This one is a toss-up, but I will go with the favorite and their physicality to prevail in a tightly contested game that will be decided by 5 or less as River Dell moves on. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#10-Glen Rock vs #7-Old Tappan</strong></h2>   <p>This is the most interesting matchup of the 1st round to me. After an 8-2 start Old Tappan has gone 4-3 though they have won 4 straight including 3 straight road wins over #11-Mahwah, Jefferson and #15-Tenafly. [player_tooltip player_id='325207' first='Layla' last='Grace Giordano'] and [player_tooltip player_id='326665' first='Maya' last='Giordano'] fuel the engine for OT. When these twins are scoring efficiently, taking care of the ball and defending they are tough to beat. Layla is a slasher who loves to get downhill while Maya is a more classic back the basket post player. Their size is a problem for almost every team they face, and this is no exception. As a team they are very physical and aggressive on the defensive end and how much the officials allow will have a big impact on the outcome of this one. Glen Rock comes in at 12-3 having won 5 in a row. Their 3 losses are by a combined 22 points as they have been in every game. [player_tooltip player_id='601348' first='Mia' last='Vergel de Dios'] leads the scoring with 10+ppg. It's a balance scoring attack with [player_tooltip player_id='489453' first='Maggie' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='871420' first='Abby' last='Grove'] each averaging 8+ppg and spark plug Emily McKegney averaging 6+ppg. Grove has the size to matchup with Maya inside. The question is the Panthers can contain Layla. Both teams have strong supporting casts, and I am torn on this one, but I think the contributions of [player_tooltip player_id='789549' first='Sienna' last='Drullinsky'], Sadie Murphy, Mia Derrico and Alivia Badurina are the difference as OT pulls out a single digit victory to advance. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>#18-Cresskill vs #2-IHA</strong></h2>   <p>Cresskill comes in having won 7 of their last 8 including a 63-47 preliminary round win over #15-Tenafly. [player_tooltip player_id='489489' first='Erin' last='Fahy'] put up a monster 31-point 16 rebound performance in that one along with 17 points and 4 3-pointers form [player_tooltip player_id='489490' first='Julia' last='Hasenstab']. Erin is averaging 16+ppg and 9+rpg for the Cougars but I think their journey ends here at the hands of #2-IHA. The Blue Eagles come in with a 9-5 record, but they are 4-1 against teams in this tournament beating #3-Teaneck, #4-Ramapo, #5-Holy Angels and #23-Fair Lawn. Their only tournament team loss was a 6-point decision to #1-Saddle River Day. IHA is led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='488849' first='Selena' last='Cieszko'] and junior [player_tooltip player_id='333354' first='Sofia' last='Valente']. Cieszko averages 13+ppg, 3+rpg, 2+apg and 2+spg and runs the show for this team at PG. Valente averages 13+ppg with 36 3-pointers and 4+rpg. When all is said and done the depth of IHA will be too much for Cresskill and the Blue Eagles will soar into the quarterfinals with a 20-point victory.</p>   <p>Good luck Saturday girls. Enjoy it! Back Monday to highlight the best performances. </p>

After correctly picking 7 of 8 preliminary round games, we move on to the PGH preview and predictions for today's Bergen County Girls Tournament Round of 16.