Bengals Lose a Wild One Against Caldwell in Overtime

For Caldwell High School’s girl’s basketball team, it was an invigorating victory, one that could carry it to a great finish. For Bloomfield, it was a disheartening loss, the second overtime setback of the week.

The Chiefs (8-10) knocked off the improving Bengals 42-40 in overtime Thursday. The way the game ended had Bloomfield coach Mike Sceurman up late into the night, replaying the game in his mind and on film.

Bloomfield nearly had the game won in regulation and led by three points with seconds left. Caldwell’s Danielle Martucci hit the front end of a one-and-one to cut the Bloomfield lead to 36-34. Scheurman called time out to prepare his team for a number of possibilities.

“I told the kids to remember how we felt (after a 42-40 overtime loss to Irvington Tuesday),’’ Sceurman said. “We had to secure the basketball.’’

On the other side, Caldwell coach Bill Humes told Martucci to intentionally miss the second shot, so there would be a possibility of a rebound and tying bucket.

It worked.

Sophomore center Ijemoa Ikpe grabbed the rebound, and then tied the game at 36 with a put-back. She was fouled, but her free-throw rimmed out and the game went into overtime where Caldwell outscored the Bengals 6-4 to win. Bloomfield fell to 2-16.

“It was kind of surreal,’’ said Humes, whose team plays West Essex Saturday at 1 p.m.

“I can’t really explain it,’’ Sceurman said.

Bloomfield had 29-21 lead with 2:44 left, but Caldwell eventually cut into the lead.

“We just took some ill-advised shots and gave them too many second chance opportunities,’’ said Sceurman.

The Bengals also had a big lead the first time the teams played Jan. 13, but lost 46-37 at home. Hume was disappointed for most of the rematch.

Samantha Borges and Jennifer Torona scored nine apiece for the winners. Ikpe and Tierney Colon had eight apiece.

“We couldn’t score the whole game,’’ said Hume. “But we got some easy shots, relaxed and got some easy layups.

“I was happy that we came back – I’m disappointed in how we played, but the kids didn’t sulk, went out and played hard.’’

Hume was impressed with how much better the Bengals looked and praised their outside shooting game.

Megan Hanna had 14 points and Anika Dunbar added 12 for the Bengals. Bloomfield converted 10-of-15 free throws after going 0-for-8 in the loss to Irvington.

“We lost by two, but I’m still not getting a warm and fuzzy feeling, but we’re going to keep plugging away,’’ Sceurman said.