The Westwood Cardinals Varsity Girls Basketball Team (18-8) won in dominating fashion, 49-16, against the Dumont Huskies (4-22) in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 2 Tournament First Round at Westwood Regional High School.

Westwood junior Cameron Roche, fresh off reaching 1,000 career points, scored a game-high 20 points, while Brian Charles added 10.

Both teams were unable to put points up on the scoreboard in the first two minutes of action, but the Cardinals erupted for a 9-0 lead by Cameron Roche, netting six points, including hitting a sensational baseline jumper while maneuvering past a couple of defensive players. The buzzer ended. Westwood is displaying the ability to drive consistently into the lane for layups.

Meanwhile, Dumont struggled mightily from the perimeter, missing shots and unable to cash in at the free-throw line. The Huskies were finally able to end the drought and score with seven seconds remaining as Westwood led 9-2 at the end of the quarter.

“You expect stuff like that with them slowing the game down but might be able to outscore them, and we wanted to pick up the tempo a little bit, push the ball and just try to get some fast break and transition opportunities,” Westwood Head Coach Charlie Collis explained. “We have a bunch of kids that can attack the rim and don’t settle for the three and get to the foul line.”

In the second quarter, Dumont cut the deficit to single digits at 14-5 with a three-pointer at the five-minute mark. However, the Cardinals quickly reclaimed control, finishing the half on a 10-1 run to build a commanding 24-7 lead.

Westwood was pounding the offensive glass for second-chance opportunities and doing a masterful job of getting into the paint and the low post for layups. The Cardinals are amping up defensive pressure with a full-court press and double-teaming. 

"We work on the full court and double team a lot in practice. A lot of teams like to set ball screens," Head Coach Charlie Collis cited. "We push on what we’re doing on those ball screens and approaching them. The girls did a really good job of executing the game plan, keeping them in front, and not allowing Dumont to get any easy baskets."

Once the third quarter commenced, Westwood kept the foot on the gas pedal. A key moment came as Cameron Roche scored six straight points on the offensive end, helping Westwood stretch the margin to 37-12 by the end of the period.

"Cameron (Roche) has been doing it all year: scoring, playing good defense, getting in the passing lanes, and can do everything," Head Coach Charlie Collis described. "She can drive it, shoot the pull up jumper, which she did a lot of tonight, and can hit the three. She’s extremely difficult to stop, and tonight she showed all those aspects of the game."

"I said to the team at halftime not to get too comfortable, because we have 16 minutes of play left and anything can happen. It’s a state game and seasons on the line here, and I reminded them of that. There’s a lot of basketball left, and there were a couple of things we didn’t like in the first half, so we made some adjustments. I think those paid off in the second half. Huge credit to the girls for not taking any possessions off or relaxing with the double-digit lead. They showed maturity and played a complete game."

In the fourth quarter, with the game well in hand, the coach allowed players off the bench to get some quality court time.

"It’s a great feeling for the kids who don’t see a lot of varsity time to get into a state tournament game and maybe get a basket," Head Coach Charlie Collis mentioned. "It’s nice to get a break for some of the kids that are on the court a lot."

The second-seeded Cardinals host the seventh-seeded Leonia (16-10) Lions in the Quarterfinals on Saturday, February 27. Leonia advanced with a 47-44 victory against Pascack Hills. Tip-off is at noon at Westwood Regional High School.

"The past week we have talked about not taking anything for granted and wanting to practice one more day," Head Coach Charlie Collis remarked. "We preach to the team to come into the gym, be with your teammates, and enjoy this time. When the game tips off, there are no possessions off, and they did that for 32 minutes today."