Midland Park Girls Basketball takes BIT Crown !

by | Feb 28, 2020

The Midland Park girls basketball team hoists the Bergen Invitational Tournament trophy after defeating Ridgewood at home, 36-27, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.The Midland Park girls basketball team hoists the Bergen Invitational Tournament trophy after defeating Ridgewood at home, 36-27, on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. (Photo: Greg Tartaglia/NorthJersey.com)

 

MIDLAND PARK — Once Mackenzie Cleary got her hands on the Bergen Invitational Tournament trophy, there was no letting go.The senior guard and her Midland Park teammates emerged from Friday evening’s BIT girls basketball final with a hard-fought, 36-27 victory over Ridgewood.

The championship was especially rewarding for Cleary. She suffered a knee injury at the end of her junior soccer season, which relegated her to keeping the Panthers’ scorebook last winter.

“After tearing my ACL in the state-sectional final, it was hard for me not to come back and play [basketball], because I missed the one thing I love the most,” she said. “To finally do it again makes me feel really good. And to win a championship here in one of our last home games is redeeming.”

Midland Park girls soccer coach Scott Ernest – who also led Pascack Hills to the 2019 BIT final – was among the first to congratulate Cleary after she ceded the trophy to classmates.

What it means

The Panthers (17-8) can now claim titles in county, conference (2017 NJIC) and sectional (2013-14 North 1, Group 1) events. They host Wood-Ridge on Monday to begin the NJSIAA tournament.

“For us to feel like we completed something is awesome, because we’ve worked so hard,” Cleary said. “Now, going to states, this is a nice boost of confidence. We just need to keep driving ourselves to get even more.”

Ridgewood (11-13) was bidding to earn its first county trophy since winning the Bergen championship in 1998. The Maroons open the North 1, Group 4 tournament Tuesday at Morris Knolls.

Key plays

Senior forward Gillian Luberoff scored three straight Panther baskets in the third quarter before picking up her fourth foul midway through the period.

After Ridgewood trimmed an 11-point deficit to seven late in the third, Alyssa Genao made a steal and got fouled on the breakaway with 0.9 on the clock. She made both free throws.

In the final minute, Katie McCarthy lined up a three-pointer that could have cut the Midland Park lead to five if good. Guard Olivia Calderone outleapt her taller opponent to redirect the shot out of bounds.

“When it comes time to make a play, you can always count on one of those kids,” Panthers coach Sean O’Connor said. “What we lack in size, we more than make up for in heart.”

► Midland Park scored all seven of its fourth-quarter points from the foul line. The team went 11-for-15 in the second half to finish 16-for-27 (59 percent).

► Ridgewood made 3-of-7 free throws late in the first half but did not get back to the line until 10 seconds remained in the game.

Game balls

► Luberoff ended with 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

► Senior forward Tess Olson also overcame foul trouble to post nine rebounds and three steal.

► Forwards Clare McCooe and Shea Gorman had nine rebounds apiece, helping the Maroons to a 46-30 advantage on the boards.

They said it

“It was exciting. The girls work really hard. Ridgewood is a really big, athletic basketball team… so, much credit to them, but our girls fought so hard. I’m so proud of them.” —O’Connor

Greg Tartaglia is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.