Old Tappan posts a win over Teaneck

OLD TAPPAN – Golden Knights junior Maya Giordano scored eight points from in close in the third quarter to open up an 11-point lead and Old Tappan coasted to a 56-39 victory over Teaneck Tuesday afternoon.

“I’ve been having trouble posting up and getting into my right technique,” she said. “But she (a Teaneck defender)  was playing behind me and I saw that. It wasn’t a mismatch – she was just playing behind me. They can’t really stop me when they’re behind me. We work really hard in practice to get our post passes in.”

The Knights had a 26-23 halftime lead when Giordano took a pass from her twin sister Layla and scored a minute into the third quarter. She scored again midway through the quarter on a drive to the basket.

With time ticking down senior guard Mackenzie Ward fed Maya Giordano for two points and 26 seconds later Layla Giordano’s perfect pass to her sister earned Old Tappan two more to boost the lead to 38-30.

Ward followed with a 3-pointer and Old Tappan had a comfortable lead heading into the fourth quarter.

“She has to be confident in doing her thing for people to get her the ball,” said Old Tappan coach Brian Dunn. “It’s a two-way street. When you’re a post person you rely on everyone else getting you the ball. But you have to present yourself, get open, know where to cut, find the opening.”

In addition to the offensive explosion the Old Tappan defense took Teaneck out of its game, outscoring the Highwaywomen 30-16 in the second half.

“They like to speed up the game,” Ward said, “and we try to slow them down, take them out of their normal routine and put them at our pace. If we control the pace of the game we control them. We go at every team like that, but especially with a quick team like this. To be able to take them out of their offense is really vital. Getting stops when they are trying to move the ball quickly really unravels them.”

“We were better prepared this time,” added Maya Giordano. “We played them a few weeks ago and today we were more prepared for the press. They’re a great defensive team but we knew it was coming and we practiced it.”

The game started fast with Teaneck getting some quick points and grabbing an 8-4 lead on baskets by sophomore Imani McKenzie and freshman Lexi Carnegie. Knights senior Melissa Brennan canned a three-pointer to cut the lead to 8-7, but Teaneck senior Ciara Forbes drained a 3 of her own to boost the lead back up to 11-7.

A pass inside to Maya Giordano netted a pair and then Old Tappan senior Natalie Carril stole the ball and drove the length of the court for a layup. About 30 seconds later the Knights zipped the ball around  the perimeter and found Brennan who swished another three and Old Tappan took the lead for good, 14-11.

Layla Giordano led all scorers with 18 points. Maya Giordano finished with 16 and Ward chipped in with 11. Carnegie and Forbes led the Highwaywomen with 11 apiece and McKenzie contributed 10.

“We know if we don’t get the ball inside at least once every three possessions it’s not going to go well,” said Ward. “Our offense runs through Maya and we’re successful when she’s in the game. When she has a good game everybody has a good game. It’s vital for us to win. She’s important.”

“Layla did a good job with a couple of high-low passes inside,” said Dunn. “I was happy for Maya – she’s been due for a game like that. If she’s playing like that she’s tough to handle and we’re tough to beat.

ByJC Baumuller/NJS.com Contributor