Goncalves' Effort Sparks Warriors' Win

With starter Brielle Macellara not available due to injury, and with Kelsey Conway in foul trouble just four minutes into the game, Head Coach Sandy Whelan needed a lift from her bench.

She turned to Monique Goncalves, who did exactly that.   

Goncalves’s play at both ends of the floor sparked the Warriors (16-7) to a 52-47 win over Bridgewater-Raritan on Thursday night, less than a week after falling to them in the county tournament quarterfinals. 

Whether it was getting steals, dishing the ball to open teammates, or just showing poise, Goncalves was everything Coach Whelan needed her to be in a tough game.

“I don’t think there’s a coach out there who would have taken her off the floor tonight,” said Coach Whelan.  “We talked about it all year long, finding a way to maximize her speed and quickness.  She has to gain confidence and she’s been working on it.  She’s been getting more minutes as the season goes along. 

"Tonight it all came together," Whelan said. "I couldn’t be happier for her.”

Whelan told Goncalves, who played the final 28 minutes of the game, to stay all over Bridgewater’s Denisha Petty-Evans and do whatever it took to keep her off the scoresheet.  She did not disappoint, limiting the Panthers star guard to just 15 points for the game. 

“Coach asked me to be hard on no. 12 [Petty-Evans] and get her frustrated, so I did," Goncalves, who contributed 8 points in addition to her tough defense and smart ball handling, said. "I tried my best.  That was our objective…to shut them down.”

“She frustrated no. 12 today—it was nice to see,” the Watchung head coach said. 

The Warriors bounced back from Saturday’s loss against BRHS (14-10), with wins at Hillsborough and home against Hunterdon Central before Thursday’s game.  Coach Whelan knew those wins wouldn’t mean much, if they couldn’t avenge the county tournament loss against Bridgewater.

“They wanted to prove something.  The county loss was really emotionally devastating to us,” said Whelan.  “I have to give my team credit…they’ve won three straight since then, if nothing out of sheer will and heart.  They weren’t the prettiest wins we've ever had, but I would take that over pretty basketball.  I think we needed to prove to ourselves, that we’re ready to keep playing.”

“It was pretty big for us.  We’ve been having a good week.  We wanted to get back at them for [Saturday],” Goncalves said.

As soon as Goncalves entered the game in the 1^st quarter, the fire was immediately apparent.  Down 6-4, the Warriors went on a 10-0 run, getting five easy layups, including two out of the hand of senior forward Alana Tielmann and one from Goncalves.  Bridgewater went on a 5-0 run of their own before the quarter ended, making it a 14-11 Watchung lead after one quarter. 

Through the second and third period, Watchung and Bridgewater would trade runs, creating a tight, tug-of-war battle all the way into the 4^th quarter.  Watchung held a 22-20 lead at halftime, and a 34-30 lead after 3 quarters of play.

To that point, Watchung held Petty-Evans to 11 points, and their other top gunner, Jess Venturelli, to 8 points.  In Saturday’s game, both went off for 19 points each.  Coach Whelan said that was the turning point.

“We were able to [slow down 12 and 13] the first time we played them.  And for whatever reason on Saturday, our mental focus wasn’t there,” said the Warrior head coach.  “Credit to B-R, they took us out of our game.  Obviously, everything spirals from being frustrated offensively.  We made adjustments and it made the difference in this game.” 

In the final frame, Watchung dominated the early minutes.  20 seconds into the 4^th, Breanua Williams converted two layups along with a free throw, extending the Warrior lead to 39-30.  After a Bridgewater basket, Williams popped in another layup while Amy Park knocked down a free throw, making it 42-32 Watchung with 6 minutes to go. 

Another Bridgewater hoop, allowed delaying the inevitable, as the Warriors went on a 6-0 run through the middle minutes, thanks to a pair of layups by Breanne Mackie.  This put Watchung up 14 with 3:40 to go, as they held on down the stretch, winning the game 52-47.

One of the other keys for Watchung, compared to the loss on Saturday, was their ability to break the full court press and get up the court and get high quality looks at the basket.

“We were prepared for that [full court pressure],” said Goncalves.

“It’s the same press break we were trying to run on Saturday,” said Whelan.  “All sports are a mental focus.  When things aren’t going well, it’s hard to execute what your coach is asking you to do.  It’s just that we were into this game mentally better and were able to execute the Xs and Os that I was trying to set up.” 

With just a week and a half before the state tournament kicks off, this is just the springboard Watchung needed. 

“Its pretty big [tonight’s win]…we’re just trying to get ready for states,” said Goncalves.

“I think so [needing the win].  From an emotional standpoint, I think this is that little adrenaline boost that they needed to get them fired up for the state tournament,” said Whelan.  “But I couldn’t be happier…couldn’t be prouder of the team tonight.  Everyone stepped up.  It was fun.  It was a fun night.”

And they have Goncalves to thank, for making it such a great night.

“She’s the greatest kid you ever want to meet," Whelan said. "She truly was the difference in the game tonight.”

Alana Tielmann was the top scorer with 16 points followed by Breanua Williams with 13.  Amy Park pitched in with 5, while Breanne Mackie and Kara Smeigocki had 4 apiece.  Kelsey Conway added 2.

The Warriors next game is 7 p.m. Tuesday at Immaculata.