Paramus Catholic Varsity Girls Basketball took control late, defeating Cresskill Cougars 54-45 in the Bergen Invitational Tournament Championship at Paramus Catholic High School.

Olivia Buckingham led with 24 points. Sydnee Smith and Tiarah Riley added 10 each. For Cresskill, Zohar Catran scored 17, and Aya Catran had 14.

Paramus Catholic Head Coach Ed Hodge reflected on the victory. "For the first 14 games of the season, we just couldn’t even find the basket. Our percentages from the two were 29%. From three, they were 19%. At the free-throw line, we shot 40%. We just couldn’t put the ball in the basket. But we kept telling the kids to keep playing. Out of halftime, my message was simple: Cresskill was playing its best. We had to adjust. I’m proud of my girls; it’s about the kids and competition. Real recognizes real. Cresskill played with six kids, all 32 minutes."

Cresskill led 25-24 at halftime. They extended the lead to 35-29 with three minutes left. Zohar Catran hit her third three-pointer for her 13th point.

Paramus Catholic answered back with a 5-0 run by driving to the basket for layups. Zohar Catran stopped the Paladins' momentum with two free throws. Paramus Catholic closed the gap to 37-36 at quarter’s end. Yashomie Mazara intercepted a pass and dribbled coast-to-coast. She assisted Olivia Buckingham, who finished with a layup for her eighth point. "Most of the time, Olivia knows expectations and has clicked since. She was more unselfish, set screens, and led." In the fourth, the Paladins led 39-37 as Sydnee Smith hit a three off a screen. 

“We had to lock in and had to get that quick three. I made it,” Sydnee Smith explained. “We all came together as a team and knew that we could beat Cresskill. We played to the zeros.” “We have a lot of camaraderie and trust each other on the floor.”

Paramus Catholic’s full-court press repeatedly forced Cresskill turnovers. After one, Olivia Buckingham sank a three-pointer, starting an 8-0 run.

“We had to lock in. Our shots weren’t falling, but we just had to do our best,” said Olivia Buckingham. 

The Paladins extended their lead. Tiarah Riley drove into the paint, shielded the ball, and jumped for a controlled shot off the glass. 

Paramus Catholic's defense was stifling. Anna Vargas knocked the ball loose, dove, and flung a pass to Olivia Buckingham, who drove for a layup. The score rose to 46-38.

“I tip my hat to Captain Anna Vargas; she’s a motor next to Olivia,” said Coach Hodge. 

During an inbounds play, Olivia Buckingham read the Cresskill player’s eyes, anticipated the pass, intercepted it, and quickly drove under the hoop to score a reverse layup off the glass.

The Paladins fired on all cylinders. Anna Vargas got into the post and flicked up a shot off the glass. That made it 50-42 at the two-minute mark. Paramus Catholic sealed the win with four free throws.

“This win was a turning point. We can go far in the state tournament if we play together,” said Sydnee Smith.