Berntsen's 31 Points Not Enough for Chatham

The girls basketball team faced Teaneck in the NJSIAA Group III semifinal game Thursday at Ramapo High School.

The Cougars stuck with Teaneck for the first half, even leading by as much as eight points, but were unable to keep up with the fast-paced play of the Highway Women in the second half. Teaneck outscored Chatham by 16 in the second half to win 82-60.

FINAL

IN SHORT

Much of this game was about Chatham's Amanda Berntsen: how she led Chatham and how Teaneck stopped her from overpowering the game. From the opening tip, Berntsen, who scored the game's first basket, brought the ball inside in Chatham's transition game and shoot 3-pointers when forced outside. 

"No. 14 (Berntsen) is an amazing player. Players like that you have to know where she is at, you have to focus on her; she killed us," Teaneck coach Shenee Clarke said. "A player like that is going to get her points so you have to contain everyone else." 

Teaneck ran a number double teams on Berntsen, but in the end, it was Rebecca Sparks who was able to contain Berntsen in the third period and allowed her only two points in the quarter. The emphasis on Berntsen by Teaneck freed up teammates Kendall Davies, who had four 3-pointers, and Grace Conroy who added 12 points. 

COUGAR OF THE GAME

Amanda Berntsen - Berntsen had a game-high 31 points, bringing her career total to 1,964 points as a Cougar. Berntsen was tough on both ends of the court and was strong in transition.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Kendall Davies (Chatham) - Davies scored 12 points on four 3-point baskets. "Kendall has had a rough couple games early on in the state tournament. I am so happy for her to play the way she did tonight and go out and bang those shots was huge." - Chatham head coach Joe Gaba

COACH'S TAKE

"They are a great team. They are not No. 4 in the state for no reason.  We fought.  That is what I would have expected out of my kids. It was going to be a monumental task for us to win this game. If we were going to go out, I wanted us to go out in the style that got us here over the course of our career. We are a transition team and we were not going to change from that. It worked for a half. We wore them down a little bit and I think they were a little surprised. They thrive on deflection turnovers. I told the kids, rather than overwork the ball, let's get a good shot rather than try for the perfect shot. I would rather have a missed shot and rebound. We went down swinging." - Gaba

"Us coming back, this senior group has been here before. They are focused and excited to be here and are staying together as a team. We knew what we expected from this team, but with just the film. When you are face-to-face with them, you have to make the right adjustments in the game. And that's on me." - Clarke 

THEY SAID IT

"I would not have wanted to go out any other way. We got this far. We won the sectional. And we came out today and gave it all of our effort. Obviously, the last game of my senior season is going to be hard, but I wouldn't have wanted it with any other group of girls. I am as happy as I can be and sad, too." - Amanda Berntsen