By Andy Loigu

Just about anybody who has played a sport seriously has heard the phrase, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

Getting going usually involves figuring out what has gone wrong and implementing a plan of action to turn things around. That’s what the Warren Hills girls basketball team did, when faced with adversity. After sailing through the first part of the season, they hit some rough seas in the form of a three-game losing streak, and were facing elimination from the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex tournament as they trailed Phillipsburg with three minutes left in regulation time.

After pulling out a 46-42 quarterfinal win over the stubborn Stateliners, Blue Streaks head coach Meghan McGeehan said the team needed to play a more composed and patient game on offense and work for the high percentage shot.

Junior guard Heather Laffan canned a three-pointer to give the Streaks the lead and then, by taking their time operating a half-court offense, they forced Phillipsburg to foul in order to stop the clock as precious seconds were ticking away. The Streaks made three free throws down the stretch to wrap things up and advance to the tournament semifinals. Warren Hills (17-3 overall) now travels the long and winding road, just like the Beatles, to Hardyston, for a 1:15 Saturday afternoon tip at Wallkill Valley High School (along Route 94) to confront a Newton Braves squad which has caught fire and is confidently playing outstanding basketball. It is the second half of a matinee doubleheader following the other semifinal game between High Point and Hunterdon Central.

Underdog Phillipsburg gave itself a chance to spring the upset at Warren Hills by handling the Streaks’ defensive pressure, staying away from the transition game Warren Hills likes to play. The Stateliners’ McKenzie Blake scored 13 points in the first half, but was held scoreless the rest of the way. Phillipsburg only scored two points in the fourth quarter. 

Ultimately, the game was won on the foul line, as Warren Hills made 23 shots from the stripe while Phillipsburg only scored on 13. Laffan led the Streaks with a game-high 19 points, Nicole Mallard scored 14 and junior center Advika Thandoni grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, most of them in the second half when a slower tempo allowed her to establish good rebounding position. By clearing the boards, she only allowed P’burg one shot on several possessions down the stretch, a big key to the win.

BOYS ACTION

In the boys tournament, the Hackettstown Tigers (now 12-8 overall) were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the H/W/S by Delaware Valley. Hackettstown was unable to contend with the Terriers’ inside game in a 54-44 setback.

The Warren Hills wrestlers also experienced a disappointing loss last week, in North 2 Group 3 sectional action. They were eliminated 32-25 by a Voorhees team which they had beaten 37-19 during the regular season. Apparently the Vikings made some adjustments in preparing for the rematch.

STATE TOURNAMENT

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association announced the seedings for the boys and girls basketball tournaments last week. The Hackettstown Tigers drew a fourth seed in North 2 Group 2 and will host number 13 Newark Tech on February 25 in the first round. In North 2 Group 3 Warren Hills is an eight seed and will host number nine Payne Tech on February 26.

On the girls side Hackettstown is seeded 13th in North 2 Group 2 and visits fourth seed Lincoln on February 25 in the opening round. Warren Hills is the second seed in North 2 Group 3 and will host 15th seed Payne Tech as part of a girls/boys doubleheader on February 26.

*** Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.