The second-seeded Cranford High School girls basketball team made easy work of the 15th-seeded Rahway Indians, 53-21, in the first round of the Union County Tournament in Cranford on February 7. Two days later, the Cougars silenced the seventh- seeded Summit Hilltoppers, 3823, in the quarterfinal round at AL Johnson High School.
The Cougars recorded 18 steals against the 11-9 Indians, led 18-8 after the first quarter, 32-11, at the half then put the game further out of reach with a 14-6 third-quarter run. Lily Costello led the charge with 17 points, including a 3-pointer, four steals, three rebounds and an assist. Bella Curanovic finished with 12 points, three steals, a rebound and a block.
Cougar Courtney Toy finished with 10 points (2 3-pointers) and two rebounds. Kristina Lowe had four assists, three steals, three rebounds and a block. Maddy DeLong had four points, three assists and a rebound. Sophia DeMarco nailed a 3-pointer, and added four steals, two assists and three rebounds. Carly Lynch sank a 3pointer and had two steals. Molly Devlin had two points and a steal. Brooke Bentrewicz had two points, three rebounds and a steal.
Makaila Desire led Rahway with 15 points, four rebounds and two steals. Delenie Streeter had five points and four rebounds. Jaila Smith-Simons sank a free throw and added a rebound, assist and a steal.
The Cougars sank 14 of 18 free throws against the 15-8 Hilltoppers and Curanovic came in big with a double-double (16 points – 3-pointer, 5-for-5 free throws- 10 rebounds) and added three blocks. Lowe finished with seven points (3-pointer, 2-for-2 free throws), seven rebounds, three steals, two assists and a block. Costello had five points, five rebounds and an assist. DeLong had four points (2-for-2 free throws), six rebounds and an assist. Bentrewicz had three points, three rebounds and a block. DeMarco had three points, a steal and a rebound.
Charlotte Yarnell sank six of eight free throws for Summit. Emily Sensenich had six points. Maeve Keegan had five points, Aviva Cohen scored four points and Emily Demm had two points.
