Old Tappan will play for sectional championships – Girls Basketball

Greg Tartaglia NorthJersey.com • Mar 01, 2024

Photo Credits: High School Sports Elite

Old Tappan at Teaneck for the North 1, Group 3 Title

The public sectional semifinals in the NJSIAA girls basketball tournament wrapped up Wednesday and Thursday.

WHAT TO KNOW: The No. 1 seed Highwaywomen (22-7) are the defending section champs. They are also co-champs of the Big North National Division this season, along with No. 2 Old Tappan (23-6).

To recap: Teaneck won at Old Tappan in January, 48-40. The Golden Knights returned the favor in Teaneck, 65-59 on Feb. 6. Four days later, when they met in the Bergen County semifinals at Fair Lawn, the Highwaywomen prevailed, 51-45.

“Round 4 will be the hardest,” Teaneck coach Brad Allen said after Thursday’s 45-37 semifinal win over Demarest. “Obviously, there’s much more to play for this time. Both teams will battle it out until the very last whistle.”Old Tappan reached the final by fending off Ramapo, 61-58, in the semis. The Golden Knights have won 15-of-16, and during that run, senior Layla Giordano scored her 1,000th career point during a Feb. 27 quarterfinal victory vs. West Essex.

POSTSEASON HISTORY: Teaneck is in its second consecutive final and tends to qualify in streaks. The program reached eight straight North 1, Group 3 title games from 2007-14, winning four.

Old Tappan is in its first sectional final since 2018, and that culminated a string of four in a row – three of which led to titles, with two of them preceding Group 3 state championships.

KEY PLAYERS: Giordano (15.5 points per game) and her twin sister Maya (9.6) supply the Golden Knights’ frontcourt power, and sophomores Mia Derrico and Sienna Drullinsky provide strong guard play.

Teaneck has its own fantastic forwards in seniors Demi Simpson (13.2 points, 13 rebounds per game) and Erin Frazier (9.1 points, 9.7 rebounds), while frosh Leayana Dorville has become indispensable following a season-ending injury to PG Lexi Carnegie.

North 1, Group 3: Old Tappan, Teaneck

WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, 1 p.m. at Teaneck

Source Link: https://www.northjersey.com/story/sports/high-school/girls-basketball/2024/02/28/nj-girls-basketball-these-north-jersey-teams-are-in-2024-sectional-finals/72764468007/

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