Both the Hasbrouck Heights boys and girls basketball teams found themselves behind at halftime only to come back and take care of their respective Wallington opponents on Tuesday night.
The Lady Aviators were down by three at halftime, 20-17, only to come back with some good defense and defeat the Lady Panthers, 37-33, at home.
For the boys they turned around a one-point deficit at halftime, 31-29, to defeat the Panthers, 69-61, at Wallington.
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Both teams raised their records to 3-5 on the season.
"It was huge, a must win for us," said Hasbrouck Heights boys head coach Mike Cebula whose team sunk 24-of-29 free throw attempts. "We made our free throws and got the rebounds, that's how you win, hit your free throws and get the rebounds."
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In the girls victory over Wallington, Daniella Castellanos collected seven of her game-high 12 points in the second half.
Three Hasbrouck Heights girls teammates added six points each in Nicole Callen, Pauline Paulino and Swati Shivkumar.
For the Hasbrouck Heights boys team, junior Joe Crabbe had a game-high 23 points and sophomore point guard Mike Schroback added 17 points.
In addition the Aviators defense held the Panthers top-scorer Peter Polan to five of his team-high 20 points in the second half and scoreless in the fourth quarter.
Both teams faced Wood-Ridge on Thursday and then the Lady Aviators travel to Secaucus on Friday at 7 p.m. while the boys hoops team hosts the Patriots on Friday at 7 p.m.
Wrestling
The Hasbrouck Heights team had a tough task on Wednesday and could not keep up with a Becton/Wallington team that has its best team in the last few years.
The Aviators dropped a 52-18 decision in the dual match, but it was actually closer than the score indicated.
Heights wrestlers lost three bouts by two or fewer points. Heights Kevin Torres dropped a 5-3 decision to Becton's Anthony Martinez in overtime in the 220-pound battle. Also, Heights Matthew Danz and Matthew Innis lost one-point matches at 113 and 126-pound bouts. Danz dropped a 6-5 decision to Becton's Eric Garcia at 113 while Innis was nipped 4-3 by Becton's Roy Forys at 126.
Aviators Marc Mastropietro continued his dominance from the Bergen County Tournament with a pin of Becton's Andrew Quintana at 4:30 at 113 pounds.
Also two other Heights wrestlers pulled off pins in Edward Cox at 145 in taking down Becton's Kamil Olechowski at 1:28 while Aviators Alec Claudio pinned Becton's Joe Horan in a quick 1:06 at 152.
Hasbrouck Heights High School varsity schedule
Friday
Indoor track- Hasbrouck Heights at Paul Schwartz Invitational at FDU-Rothman Center, 4 p.m.
Girls basketball - Hasbrouck Heights at Secaucus, 7 p.m.
Boys basketball- Secaucus at Hasbrouck Heights, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Hasbrouck Heights at Colts Classic, Kinnelon, 10 a.m.
Indoor track - Hasbrouck Heights at Group 1 Relay Championship at John Bennett Athletic Center, 3:30 p.m.
Monday
Girls basketball - New Milford at Hasbrouck Heights, 5:45 p.m.
Indoor track - Hasbrouck Heights at Garfield Shot and High Jump, Garfield High School, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Bowling - Hasbrouck Heights vs. Park Ridge, Wallington Lanes, 4 p.m.
Boys basketball - Hasbrouck Heights at Pascack Hills, 7 p.m.
Wrestling - Hasbrouck Heights vs. Pompton Lakes at Wood-Ridge High School, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Swimming - Hasbrouck Heights vs. Leonia at Secaucus Recreation Center, 4 p.m.
Hasbrouck Heights at Torah Academy, 6:30 p.m.