Dayton Girls Basketball Dominates Scotch Plains in First Round of Holiday Tournament

Dayton, perennially one of the top Group 1 Union County squads, put on a shooting display in the first quarter in their game against the Scotch Plains-Fanwood girls' basketball team. At the Dec. 28 game, the Bulldog girls jumped out to a big lead and never looked back.

The host Bulldogs made seven-of-14 field goal attempts in the first period—including five-of-six 3 pointers—en route to a commanding 48-19 triumph in Pepe/Levee Tournament play at Dayton High School in Springfield.

While Dayton made shots early on to establish a lead it would not relinquish, the Raiders got to the basket but couldn't get the ball in.

"When we practiced we were out there, we had some good practices," first-year Scotch Plains head coach Jennifer Ryan said. "I don't think that was it."

The Raiders (0-2) will take on North 13th St. Tech of Newark Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the third place game.

Dayton, now 3-1 and winners of three straight, will face Mount St. Mary of Watchung Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the championship contest.

Mount St. Mary (2-1 and winners of two straight) defeated North 13th St. Tech in Monday's first tournament contest at Dayton.

Junior guard and team captain Evie Klotz paced Scotch Plains with an 11-point effort and scored all five Raider points in the third period.

Dayton held Scotch Plains scoreless in the fourth quarter.

According to Dayton head coach Dave Rennie, the 19 points his team allowed was the lowest during his tenure at the Springfield school. Also, the Bulldogs never gave up less than 10 points in all four quarters of a game.

"Sometimes when you have a young team and you come out and you can't get some things going, it's like trying to light the spark and we just couldn't get the spark going," Ryan said.

A basket by Klotz gave Scotch Plains a 2-0 lead and then a layup by Aysia Peterson put the Raiders ahead 4-3.

Immediately following Peterson's basket, Rennie called a timeout because he did not like the way his team was getting into the early rhythm of the game, especially on offense.

"We were being too stagnant on offense, just passing and not cutting," Rennie said.

Once Lies and teammate Jen Kuczynski found an opening on the right side they let their shots go from 3-point range. Lies made all three of her 3s in the period and Kuczynski—who finished with 16 points—made both of hers.

They hit back-to-back 3s against the Raiders' 2-3 zone defense to end the first quarter, which concluded with Dayton going on a 12-0 run for a 20-6 advantage.

"We struggled against zones and the reason why is because we stand around too much," Rennie said. "We just have to get in the flow where we're passing and cutting and driving gaps to get open looks."

Dayton made four-of-eight shots in the second quarter and outscored Scotch Plains 12-8 in the period for a commanding 32-14 halftime cushion.     

"That was definitely the difference early, because if we're not making our shots it's a different game," Rennie said. "Anna was on from the perimeter and she's been doing a great job of slashing and attacking the basket and being our ball-handler in transition to create things for us. If she's hitting her outside shot like that, we're a tough team."

Lies scored the first three points of the third quarter, the first two on an underhanded layup under the basket and the third on her second free throw.

Klotz followed with a layup, but Lies answered right back with another one of her own.

It was just one of those games that whatever Scotch Plains tried, Dayton was up to the task to prevent or do much better.

Freshman guard Taylor Sebolao paced Scotch Plains with a 13-point performance in the Dec. 18 season-opening 42-35 home setback to Plainfield. Against Dayton, Sebolao was covered well and came up short on the five shots she took.

"Taylor had a rough game and just couldn't get anything going," Ryan said. "We just couldn't get it going. I was happy that we were actually taking some shots, because that's something that we haven't really been doing. The offense part I'm not too worried about - although I know not scoring in the fourth quarter will kill you - but I think the offense has to start with the defense. I think we were just getting beat on our baseline jumper and we just weren't helping each other out. We weren't helping out and being vocal on the court. One thing we have to do is look for a leader."

PEPE/LEVEE TOURNAMENT GAME AT DAYTON

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD (0-2)                  6           8           5        0 - 19

DAYTON (3-1)                                                     20        12        10         6 - 48  

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD (19): Evie Klotz 3-1-2-11, Becca Kreyer 2-0-0-4, Aysia Peterson 1-0-0-2, Taylor Sebolao 0-0-0-0, Tara Sweeney 0-0-0-0, Erin Brown 0-0-0-0, Lyndsey Douglas 1-0-0-2, Liz Gallo 0-0-0-0, Kelsey Meisch 0-0-0-0, Christine Monroy 0-0-0-0, Renee Oliver 0-0-0-0. Totals: 7-1-2-19.

DAYTON (48): Anna Lies 6-3-2-23, Jen Kuczynski 3-2-4-16, Lea Ginefra 1-0-0-2, Melissa Mansur 1-0-0-2, Sami Cariani 0-1-0-3, Heather Fritzen 1-0-0-2, Emily MacDonnell 0-0-0-0, Allie Weber 0-0-0-0, Megan Cieri 0-0-0-0, Stephanie Farber 0-0-0-0, Breanne Mooney 0-0-0-0. Totals: 12-6-6-48.

Pepe/Levee Memorial Holiday Tournament

at Dayton High School in Springfield

Monday, Dec. 28

Mount St. Mary defeated North 13th St. Tech

Dayton 48, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 19

Wednesday, Dec. 30

For third place: Scotch Plains-Fanwood vs. North 13th St. Tech, 1 p.m.

For first place: Mount St. Mary vs. Dayton, 5 p.m.