The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 22

PVffoiledi Ibid for fourth St atecrowii TOC PAiniflQS Special closeness a source of strength IP v. By! Paul Schwartz i Correspondent WEST LONG BRANCH The. Pascack Valley girls basketball team that reached the State Group 3 final was held together with" ace bandages, aspirin, and a strong will to win. i But Sunday night at Monmouth Qollege, the will to wi wasn't enough to overcome an outstanding individual performance by SJiea Matlock of Egg Harbor Township. The Lady Eagles used 25 points, eight rebounds, and two assists by their star junior to defeat Pascack Valley, 40-31'.

"She's a fine player and they have four other good players," said PV coach Jeff Jasper, whose team up short in an attempt to become the first team to win four Group 3 titles. "We don't have that-many weapons and if me of ours doesn't click, we have i problem 'scoring." Before the game, Jasper said that he thought the Indians needed a near-perfect game tq defeat Egg Harbor, 59-47 losers 1o Clifford Scott in last year's Group 3 game. despite never coming close to perfection, PV still had tumer-ous chances to win. In the final minutes, the Indians missed four shots and turned the over three times, whiU their defense was shutting out Matlock and her Eagle teammates. We couldn't get the ball to fall," sai4, Jasper.

"We got some shots we wanted, but they playedipretty good defense and we coulch't get them to go down." Egg Harbor led, 39-35, when Maria Mekjian got free uncter the basket for an uncontested Jayup. The, shot missed. Mekjian then forced an Egg Harbor turjiover, but PV couldn't convert. Mtkjian By Kevin Newell Record Staff Writer WEST LONG BRANCH It was a poignant moment outside the Pascack Valley locker room Sunday night, following the Indians' heartbreaking 40-37 loss to Egg Harbor Township in the Group 3 girls basketball final. PVs five seniors Heather Miles, Ali Hirschman, Maria Mekjian, Amy Adrion, and Anna Lee were holding hands and comforting each oth-er as they spoke of what brought them so far.

"I wish it could have gone on a little further," said Miles. "We didn't give up without a fight," Hirschman said. Perhaps the most emotional reply came from Mekjian: "Together we're all friends off the court," she said. "I figure if we didn't love each other, we never would have gotten this far." Then Mekjian turned to her teammates and said, "I love you guys." Yes, Pascack Valley was denied its fourth State title, but it wasn't due to a lack of effort. Indeed, a 30-2 record, including Northern Bergen Interscholas-tic League, Bergen County, and sectional titles, are impressive credentials.

As PV coach Jeff Jasper will tell you, winning isn't preached in his program. Chemistry and teamwork are. "In the huddle after the game, I told the girls that it was just a game," said Jasper. "I told them to keep their heads up and be as humble in defeat as we are in victory. After all, we have each other.

"Sunday night the girls will' say, 'What an ugly way to have the season Jasper said. "But today, when they put everything in perspective, they'll realize that winning or losing is not so important. As far as I'm concerned, we're winners." Miles ended her brilliant career with a team-high 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists. Mekjian contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Adrion, despite playing on an injured left knee for most of the season, ended with two points and six rebounds.

Although Lee and Hirschman didn't score, their contributions were no less significant. Perhaps the hardest thing for Jasper and the girls is that they won't be returning to the gym for another practice session. The relationship that Jasper and the girls share goes beyond the usual coach-player variety they're good friends. "You know, the hardest thing for me is going into that locker room and saying goodbye to them as they go on to another part of their lives," Jasper said of his seniors. "I'm just lucky that we could share it together." ly, DANIELLE P.

RICHARDSTHE RECORD Pascack Valley's Maria Mekjian reaching through her legs in battle for loose ball with Egg Harbor's Shea Matlock Sunday in Group 3 final. Whippany Park falls short TUESDAY Monmouth Coltogt) Jefferson (4) vs. Egg Harbor Townshop (5), 6:30 p.m. Linden (3) vs. South Hunterdon (6), 8 p.m.

THURSDAY (2) St. Peter's (New Brunswick) vs. WO Linden-S. Hunterdon, 6:30 p.m. St.

John Vlanney (1) vs. WO Jefferson-Egg Harbor, 8 p.m. 8UNDAY in Byrne Arena FINAL, 1:30 p.m. GROUP 3 got another steal but Kim Beezer was called for a walk as her shot fell with 1:14 to go. Another turnover and a blocked shot seemed to seal PVs fate, but Mekjian came up with a steal that led to follow-up layup with 13 seconds to play to cut the gap to 39-37.

"We tried to call timeout there, but none of the kids saw us," said Jasper. Instead, Stephanie DeFeo was fouled with five seconds to play and converted a foul shot to ice the victory. Jasper was as poised in defeat as he is in victory, hugging each of his players and praising their effort, as he had all season. "If you told me after last season that we would win the league and counties and lose in the state final by three points, I'd have asked where the transfer came from," said Jasper. "But these kids overa-chieved and maybe even exceeded their potential, although I don't know if you can really do that.

"I think Beezer's been sick all week, and Wendy Bennett glandular infection just got out of the hospital Tuesday. Amy Adrion probably shouldn't be playing be- GROUP 1 plaints defensively," said Wilson, who was making his second trip to a State final, the first in 1984 when his club was beaten by As-bury Park. "When you can hold a team to just 40 points, you have a good shot at winning. Laura Manuel, Weezy Calderone, and Shanna Caulfielo did a nice job of alternat-ing on defending Colleen McCrea." McCrea, a 5-foot-8-inch junior with over 1,600 career points, was limited to 14, well below her 23-point average. "We've seen some good man-toman before, but Whippany Park was different because the other kids played such good help defense," said McCrea, who hit just GROUP 4 "Last year we had a senior-dominated team and no one thought she was that good because she blended in and only averaged 11 points a game," said Linden coach Andrew Eng.

"But it's easy to see how good she is." Dixon started slowly as Piscataway led, 3-2, after three possessions. But in the next four minutes, she scored 12 straight points as Linden (25-2) grabbed a lead it never relinquished. Piscataway, a 56-55 loser to Ridgewood in the State final last year, tried to stay with Linden and managed to stay in striking range for most of the first half. Dixon Jefferson rises to the occasion cause of the knee." Heather Miles and Mekjian were healthy and almost took the game away from Egg Harbor with their inside play. Miles made nine of 18 shots for 19 points, while Mekjian added 10.

"We tried to jam two and three people on Miles inside because we knew she could dominate the game," said Egg Harbor coach Sam Botta. "We saw them twice and I know how good a coach Jeff is and how well his teams play." "Maria did everything she could," said Jasper. "And Heather 6-of-23 from the floor. "In the first half, I was not following through and not squaring up, but in the second half I hit a couple in a row and that helped a lot." McCrea didn't get untracked until the third period, when she tallied eight points as the Eagles took a 27-23 lead. Whippany Park never led in the fourth period, but did close to 30-29 when Cynthia Jackson hit a basket with 5:30 to play.

South Hunterdon secured the victory at the foul line, hitting six of seven attempts in the final 1:22 including 4-of-4 by Peggy Minsch-waner for her only points. Whippany Park's offense was limited mainly to Kathleen Madden and Jackson, who had 12 and 10 points, respectively. The Wildcats took just 34 shots, despite By John Mayer Pnrrp.snnnrlpnt 1 'WEST LONG BRANCH! Tom Wilson's week-long aiven-ture of coaching two sports amul-taneously is over, but net by choice. His Whippany Park girls basketball team dropped the Group 1 final to South Huntedon, 40-33, Sunday at Monmouth College. "It was a little crazy going fam 3 o'clock to 5 with softball pnftice and then 5 to 7 with basketball, but I wouldn't have mindedif it lasted another week," said Wjson, referring to the upcoming Tournament of Champions which concludes Sunday in Byrne Areift.

The loss couldn't be attributed to Whippany's defense. "I have absolutely no torn- played as well as she always does. All our kids gave everything they had. But it just wasn't enough." EGG HARBOR 40. PASCACK V.

37 EGG HARBOR Amy Nlckles 2-4 2-5 6, Stephanie DeFeo 3-9 3-4 9, Shea Mattock 10-19 3-3 25, Michele McGowan 0-0 0-0 0, Jennifer Hannum 0-1 0-1 0, Danielle Castaldl 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 15-35 8-13 40. Three-point goals: Matlock 2. Rebounds: 30 (Nlckles 9); Assists: 7 (DeFeo, Matlock, Hannum 2). PASCACK VALLEY Amy Adrion 1-2 0-0 2, Maria Mekilan 3-13 4-4 10, Heather Miles 9-11 1-1 19, Anna Lee 0-0 0-0 0, Kim Beezer 1-7 0-0 2, Allison Hirschman 0-0 0-0 0, Wendy Bennett 2-4 0-0 4.

Totals: 16-44 5-5 37. Three-point goals: None. Rebounds: 22 (Adrion 6, Miles 6); Assists: (Mek-Ilan 3). (274) Egg Harbor 11 HI 9-40 (29-2) Pascack Valley 4 II 10 10 37 GROUP 1 8. HUNTERDON 40, WHIPPANY PK.

33 SOUTH HUNTERDON Peggy Minschwaner 2-0 4-4 8, Colleen McCrea 6-23 2-3 14, Christine Plerman 0-0 4-4 4, Megan Perrl 2-5 0-14, Amanda Plltore 1-3 1-2 3, Missy Williamson 1-1 1-4 3, Carrie Neal 2-4 0-0 4, Jennifer Kadezabek 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 14-45 12-18 40. Three-point goals: None. Rebounds: 25 (Minschwaner 7); Assists: 5 (McCrea 3). WHIPPANY PARK Sandy Peltz 0-2 1-3 1, Weezy Calderon 1-12 2-4 4, Cynthia Jackson 5-7 0-0 10, Shana Caullflelo 0-2 1-2 1, Kathleen Madden 4-7 4-5 12, Laura Manuel 2-4 1-1 5, Christine Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Kelly Merck 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 12-34 9-17 33. Three-point goals: None. Rebounds: 3 (Jackson 13); Assists: 8 icaiaeron 4). (24-1) South Hunttrdon 5 10 II 13 (244) Whippany Park I 4 9 33 outrebounding South Hunterdon, 39-25. "We didn't get off nearly as many shots as we needed to," said Wilson.

"My hope was to get off some quick strikes against their zone, but we weren't getting the kind of ball movement we needed, especially in trying to work it inside where we had the height advantage." that night and realized that they had to play every night because the next loss was the last game of the year." Danielle Louis had 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead Piscataway (26-4). LINDEN 73, PISCATAWAY 51 PISCATAWAY Danielle Louis 1-21 4-8 20, Jamie Chmlelowlez 2-1 3-5 8, Chelsea Ferguson 4-11 0-0 12, Nlkkl Jones 2-11 2-4 6, Tracy Reaves 2-14 0-0 5, Lisa Hart 0-0 0-0 0, Lorl Hughes 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-65 9-17 51. Three-poM goals: Chmlelowlez, Reaves. Rebounds: 43 (Lous IS); Assists: 7 (Jones 3).

LINDEN Sharon Kukal 2-2 4-9 1, Sharmane Koonce 2-5 1-2 Raqla Johnson 3-5 0-1 4, Simone Gilliam 5-12 2-4 12, Tamecka Dixon 17-29 4-5 39, Lori Wilson 0-1 0-0 0, Kim Ledford 0-0 0-0 0, Takiesha Mashhood 0-0 0-1 0, Tamecka McRae 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Wigfall 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 30-54 11-22 73. Three-point goals: Koonce, Dixon. Rebounds: 44 (Dixon 18); Assists: 15 (Gilliam 8). (24-4) Piscataway I 15 12 14 51 (25-2) Linden 2) 15 20 73 Junior does it all for champion Linden By John Mayer Correspondent WEST LONG BRANCH Jessica Annuzzi, averaging five points a game, is the first to admit that her role is to run the offense.

She leaves the scoring to the shooters. All that changed Sunday, however, when the 5-foot-5 senior point guard tallied a career-high 18 points in leading Jefferson to a 51-42 win over previously unbeaten Middle Township for its first Group 2 girls basketball championship. "They were overplaying our wings so much that it was difficult to get them the ball," said Annuzzi, who also collected seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals to gain Most Valuable Player honors. "But what it did was leave me open to either drive or take the outside jumper." After missing all of her three-point attempts in the last two State games, Annuzzi connected on two of three tries Sunday. The second, with 3:05 left in the third quarter, came after her coast-to-coast drive tied the score at 34.

That brought Jefferson back from a five-point deficit. Jefferson led 39-36 at the end of three quarters, and that was as close as Middle Township got. The losers hit one of 14 shots in the final eight minutes. The Falcons secured the victory in the final minute, hitting six of six free throws including 4-of-4 by Annuzzi. "I've been a pretty consistent foul shooter, but I really don't go GROUP 2 to the line that often," said Annuzzi, who was impressive from the field as well, hitting eight of 12 attempts.

"Our foul shooting has really pulled us through the last two games," said Jefferson coach Jim O'Connor, whose team hit 9-of-13 Sunday and also had a solid outing from the foul line in Thursday's 55-51 win over Rutherford in the State semifinals. Middle Township was not nearly as proficient from the line, hitting 8-of-17 and just 4-of-10 in the fourth quarter. The Panthers (30-1) struggled from the field against Jefferson's 2-3 zone, hitting 17-of-50. Melissa Swain and Megan Com-pain combined for 30 points to lead Middle Township, while teammate Crystal Robinson grabbed 12 rebounds. In addition to Annuzzi's 18 points, Jefferson got 14 points from Aurora Gonzalez and 11 from Pam Brandell, the player who usually leads the Falcons in scoring.

JEFFERSON 51. MIDDLE TWP. 42 MIDDLE TOWNSHIP Melissa Swain 6-14 4-8 14, Megan Compaln 4-10 2-4 14, Dlnean McBrlde 0-7 0-0 0, Crystal Robinson 3-10 0-1 4, Dawn Slaten 0-2 1-2 1, Jodi Coffee 0-2 0-0 0, Brandee Kennedy 2-5 1-2 5. Totals: 17-50 1-17 42. Throe-point goals: None.

Rebounds: 34 (Robinson 12); Assists: 10 (McBrlde 4). JEFFERSON Jessica Annuzzi 4-9 4-4 18, Pam Brandell S-12 1-1 11, Aurora Gonzalez 7-15 0-0 14, Tracy Heyooer 0-0 0-0 0, Tara Jacobl 1-4 2-4 4, Jen Meisner 1-3 2-3 4, Lisa Torres 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 20-43 9-13 51. Throe-point goals: Annuzzi 2. Rebounds: 32 (Brandell 11); Assists: 13 (Meisner 5).

138-1) Middle Twp. 9 14 11 4 42 (214) Jefferson 13 12 12 51 look By Paul Schwartz Correspondent WEST LONG BRANCH There have been many sensatic lal performances in the 17 years si ce the New Jersey State Intersc o-lastic Athletic Association wen to group girls championships in 19 6. But it's doubtful that anyue has dominated all phases of le game the way Linden's Tameica Dixon did Sunday in the Tig s' 73-51 victory over Piscataway )r the Group 4 State champions! at Monmouth College. Dixon, a 6-foot-0 junior, scor 39 points, grabbed 18 rebouno, had five assists, made five stea and blocked three shots to pow the Tigers to their first girls chat and her sophomore cousin, Simone Gilliam, combined for 29 of Linden's first-half points, including a buzzer-beating 22-footer to end the first half. Piscataway was still in the game with three minutes left in the half, trailing 43-35.

But it was time for Dixon to come alive again. In the final 2:38 of the third period, Linden scored 11 straight points, six by Dixon on assorted drives and wonderful moves. The run continued through the first 4:43 of the final period as Linden extended the lead to 66-41. "When we lost to Union Catholic 49-48 in the finals of the Union County tournament, we were going through some adolescent problems," said Eng. "The kids grew up Tournament of Champions is getting a fresh For the first time in the four-year history of the Tournament of Champions, there will be no St.

Anthony or Elizabeth playing in Sunday's boys final in Byrne Arena. Entering the group semifinals, two-time winner St. Anthony figured to be seeded No. 1 for the TOC, followed by Atlantic City. And in the current vernacular NOT! Both were ousted.

Add the ousters of Elizabeth and Linden, and that's four BOB KURLAND Golden Hawks. Phil Barone led John Stoehs' team with a 22-3 record Longtime Bergen Jamboree follower Ralph Hacker of Hackensack writes that he enjoyed this year's version, which had the opening games played at the higher seed and the quarterfinals at Fair Lawn. "The Rothman FDU, semis and final concept was the best I've seen to date. The big thing was the abundant parking and easy access to the games. Even my brother, who had to come late, got a chance to see the game.

Perhaps 1,000 or more people would not get to see this game if it were still held at Hackensack." Damlan Halligan sort of bit the hand that feeds him when he led Bergen Catholic to a basketball win over St Peter's Prep in the Parochial A tourney. His father, Jerome, who was recently inducted into the Hudson County Hall of Fame, won 443 games when he coached St. Peter's. Jack Gordon of the Marauders scored 27 points against BC to finish with 1,559 Audrey Gomez, who led St. John Vianney to a 61-35 win over Ridgewood in last year's TOC finaL has missed the closing weeks of the college season because of a torn in her left knee.

The freshman, who scored 2,234 points in high school, was one of the top subs for Notre Dame. HIGH SCHOOLS son opens next month, well get some warm weather Midland Park lost a talented basketball player when Nancy Schuit decided to attend Hawthorne Christian. The 5-foot-8 freshman averaged 17 points in helping the Defenders post a 17-6 record. "She's for real," says coach Jane Brain. "Nancy is an excellent player." Former Northern Valley Demarest baseball coach Tom Kaechele, who during the summer coaches the national team of Belgium, will represent that country's program at the Olympics in Spain.

"We didn't qualify," says the Rutgers-Newark assistant. "Italy, will represent Europe." Kaechele hopes to help the sport grow in Belgium by bringing over two young teams. Hank Reese of Indian Hills and Dennis Arnold of Pompton Lakes will guide a high school team with Fred Conrad and Mike Healy of Northern Highlands coaching a junior high school squad. Any player interested in playing in Belgium can gain further information by calling Kaechele at 343-7751. The Bergen-Passaic All-Star Soccer Classic teams will be announced at a free clinic at Bergen Catholic on April 1.

All high school and youth coaches are invited to attend with their players, who must be at least 12 years old. Coaches such as William Pater-son's Roy Nygren and members of the all-star team will do the demonstrations. It will start at 7 p.m. Kearny's standout soccer player Mary Beth Byrnes has accepted a scholarship from Monmouth. The New Jersey Network (Channel 50) will show the wrestling championships Saturday at 6 p.m.

And on Sunday, it wil telecast the TOC finals on a delayed basis, with the girls game at 5 p.m. and the boys at 6:30 After holding the price for years, the Bergen County Coaches Association is raising its All-Bergen boys dinner tickets to a still reasonable $20. Tickets may be ordered through the mail until April 3, with the dinner April 6 at the Fiesta in Wood-Ridge. Orders may be sent to George Jocklsh, 407 Hickory Avenue, Paramus, N.J. 07652.

Checks should be made out to BCCA. The combined River Dell-Cresskill wrestling team posted a 19-2 record, the best in the history of the i glamour teams watching from thdstands. And with them some of the top players in Bie Maybe it will be good for the faces. After all, last year's tournaient didn't do too state. OC to have new year's cast will fhen the spring week, they were lsted a day, and at when the sea- well at the box office, so maybe tts renew the interest.

Never trust March weather. sports took to the outdoors last greeted with perfect weather. It winter returned. Maybe it means il tttahlJVtaMhJtafJ.