February 26, 2011
HCT: Bayonne/North Bergen
Bayonne's Lisa Rovatsos (right) is averaging 14.8 points per game this season.
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By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
1. Bayonne vs 2. North Bergen (Saturday, 7 p.m.)
1. Bayonne Bees (22-3)
How They Got Here:
1st Round: McNair 62-17
Quarterfinals: Union City 59-49
Semifinals: Holy Family Academy 54-39
Projected Starting 5:
G: Tara Flynn, Junior
G: Luisa Montalvo, Senior
G/F: Kerrie Kosakowski, Senior
G/F: Lisa Rovatsos, Junior
F: Amanda Novielli, Sophomore
Player to Watch: Tara Flynn
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| Tara Flynn |
With 47 3-pointers, Flynn has been the Bees’ most dangerous outside shooter. Bayonne will need the junior’s long-range attack to be on target as the team’s shooting woes were a key factor in a regular season loss to North Bergen. Flynn’s biggest impact may be on the defensive end as she’s often matched up against the opponent’s top guard.
X-Factor: Luisa Montalvo
Montalvo may have been under the radar as a reserve a season ago, but that’s changed with her play of late. A guard who is unafraid attack the basket, Montalvo dropped 15 points in the semifinals against Holy Family and followed it up with a double-double against Lakeland the next night.
2. North Bergen Bruins (22-3)
How They Got Here:
1st Round: Hoboken 61-33
Quarterfinals: St. Dominic Academy 40-38
Semifinals: Secaucus 50-38
Projected Starting 5:
G: Jazmin Palma, Senior
G: Amanda Rivera, Sophomore
G: Ashley Vazzona, Senior
G: Ashley Heredia, Senior
F: Doris Ilic, Sophomore
Player to Watch: Ashley Vazzona
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| Ashley Heredia |
While North Bergen has one of the area’s most balanced scoring attacks, Vazzona is the one the Bruins will look for in crunch time. The senior has averaged more than 13 points a game and is the team’s leading 3-point shooter. Vazzona is also more than capable of driving to the basket for points.
X-Factor: Ashley Heredia
After beginning the year as a reserve, midseason injuries forced Heredia back into the starting lineup after starting the previous three years. The move has coincided with the best scoring stretch of the season. She has averaged more than 12 points per game in February, highlighted by 15 in the HCT semifinals against Secaucus.
Bayonne vs North Bergen
In the Regular Season: North Bergen 39, Bayonne 30 (Feb. 16 at North Bergen)
In a matchup of unbeatens within the county, the Bruins were able to shut down the Bees’ offense. Bayonne has four players with scoring averages in double figures, but on this night, none of them scored more than seven points. Heredia led all scorers with 14 points and Vazzona had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Key Matchup: Lisa Rovatsos vs Doris Ilic
Stopping Rovatsos is a difficult challenge for any player, let alone a sophomore guard who had been forced to center due to injury. But Ilic proved up to the task in the first meeting as Rovatsos was held to just seven points, well below her average of 14.8 per game. In addition to her defense, Ilic pulled down 11 rebounds.
Limiting Rovatsos and her combination of strength and athleticism again won’t be an easy task. Helping the cause for North Bergen is Nicole Paulino who missed the first meeting due to a concussion.
