Greg Tartaglia / NorthJersey.co
North 1, Group 1: Park Ridge
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, noon, home against No. 2 Mountain Lakes
WHAT TO KNOW: The No. 1 Owls (22-5) have a coveted chance to rewrite history. Seeking the program’s first sectional title at home against a Morris County foe, they let a halftime lead slip away in a 41-35 loss to Boonton last season.
Take 2 will come against a 19-7 Mountain Lakes team that thwarted an all-NJIC Patriot final by turning back Waldwick, 56-39, in Thursday’s semis.
Park Ridge, meanwhile, had to get past rival Cresskill for a third time, and junior Allie Shenloogian (35 points, 7 rebounds, 8 steals) led the charge to put away a 59-50 victory.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: This will be Park Ridge’s fourth North 1, Group 1 final in 15 years – it fell to New Milford in 2009 and Cresskill in 2019. Mountain Lakes won four sectional crowns in the early 2000s and seeks to end an 18-year title drought.
KEY PLAYERS: While Shenloogian (1,644 career points) is the star, the supporting cast is strong. Senior Mary Craffey came through with 10 points in the quarterfinals, and Kate Broderick tallied 9 points and 6 rebounds against Cresskill. The Lakers’ leading scorer is junior G/F Abby Haws (15.3 average).
QUOTABLE: “We are very excited to get back to the sectional final. It’s something we have worked really hard for this season, and we are excited to have another chance at it.” —Owls coach Ryan Dennis
North 1, Group 2: Glen Rock
WHEN/WHERE: Friday, 5 p.m. at No. 1 Jefferson Township
WHAT TO KNOW: The No. 3 seed Panthers are going to their first sectional final since 2013, when they defeated Lenape Valley to win this same bracket. They have won their last two North 1, Group 2 tournament meetings with Mahwah after knocking off the No. 2 Thunderbirds in Wednesday’s semifinals, 42-37.
Glen Rock (20-6) should be well-prepared for its venture out to Morris County, since they visited Jefferson (23-4) on Jan. 5 and went to overtime before bowing, 45-37. The Panthers actually led in the final minute, 36-34, before the home team ended on an 11-1 run spanning the fourth quarter and OT.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Both teams claimed North 1 trophies in 2013, with Glen Rock winning in Group 2 and Jefferson in Group 3. The Falcons are the two-time defending champs in this bracket.
Steve Grenz has a chance to become the third different coach to lead Glen Rock to a sectional crown. David Mosconi did so 11 years ago, and Sharon Iacono oversaw back-to-back titles in 1988-89.
KEY PLAYERS: The Panthers rely on balance and have four players to score more than 200 points this season, including senior guard Maggie Harris (37 threes). Sophomore Mia Vergel de Dios has the top average at 10 points per game.
Senior Emily Poulas set the Jefferson record for career three-pointers in the teams’ first meeting and surpassed 1,000 career points in a quarterfinal win over Pequannock.
QUOTABLE: When asked to sum up the Panthers’ semifinal upset of Mahwah, Grenz responded with three simple words: “Total team game.” That philosophy has gotten Glen Rock to where it is, so expect the formula to remain unchanged.
North 2, Group 2: Secaucus
WHEN/WHERE: Friday, 4:30 p.m., home against No. 3 Madison
WHAT TO KNOW: The top seed and defending champion beat Madison for the 2023 sectional title, the first in program history. This time, both teams go in at 22-6 with 10-0 records in their divisions, and Secaucus also added the NJIC Tournament championship.
The Hudson County team’s past two games ended with the opponent making a 3 at or near the buzzer to narrow a 4-point gap. Hanover Park did so as overtime expired in the quarterfinals, but the Patriots held on, 46-45. In Wednesday’s semis, Newark Central hit a late 3, but Mia Cruz answered with 1-of-2 free throws to secure a 52-50 win.
Meanwhile, Madison has dominated on defense in its three postseason games, allowing a total of 55 points.
POSTSEASON HISTORY: Secaucus prevailed in last year’s final, 44-37, and scored a 65-53 victory in the teams’ 2019 North 2, Group 2 playoff opener. The Dodgers won this bracket in 2022 and earned a pair of Group 1 sectional titles in the 1990s.
KEY PLAYERS: Each side has a proven go-to girl leading the way. Senior G/F Alyssa Craigwell averages 20 points per game for the Patriots and tallied 23 points and 13 rebounds vs. Central. She and Madison junior F Charlotte Tuhy (24.4 average) each have more than 1,600 career points.
QUOTABLE: “They have an exceptional player in Tuhy and a veteran group,” Secaucus coach John Sterling said of the Dodgers. “They’re a well-rounded team, and they play a very good schedule, too. So it’ll be another really tough game, but we’re looking forward to it.”
