Sports
Glen Rock Girls Advance in State Basketball Tournament
Margi Rivara was the game's top scorer with 20 points
The Girls North 1, Group 2 state basketball tournament continued on Wednesday as the fifth seeded Glen Rock Panthers beat the fourth seeded New Milford Lady Knights.
The teams battled back-and-forth in what turned out to be quite a physical game between two evenly matched competitors.
It was Glen Rock’s high-pressure defense that turned out to be the difference as the Lady Knights fell to the Panthers by a score of 53-38.
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“Their pressure was tremendous the entire game,” said New Milford Head Coach Mike Kilgalen. “But I think that our offensive chances were better in the first half than in the second.”
Sam DeFresse and Victoria Astillero took advantage of their first half chances and each banged home a dozen first-half points to give New Milford a 26-24 lead at the half.
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Everything changed in the second stanza. Glen Rock came out and turned up their defense and hit a couple of long-range jumpers to get the offense going as well.
Margi Rivara was the game’s top scorer with 20 points for Glen Rock, while teammate Sophie Lederer chipped in with 11.
Victoria Astillero was New Milford’s high scorer with 18 points. The sophomore point guard was able to use her speed and quickness to create opportunities for herself. “She was really special tonight,” said Coach Kilgalen.
Sam DeFreese contributed 15 points, but she did everything for the team. “It was a physical game,” said the coach. “I know that most teams really want to bang around with her. She’s stronger than she looks. Sam was great!”
Glen Rock head coach David Mosconi knew that stopping DeFreese would be essential for them to win the game.
“We knew that if we could pressure the guards, we could keep the ball out of DeFeeese’s hands which would make life a lot easier for us,” said Coach Mosconi. “She still scored a lot of points,” he added.
With the victory, Glen Rock advances to the sectional semifinal game where they will meet top-seeded Pascack Hills on Friday evening in Montvale.
