Thursday, February 28, 2013

Seymour Shines as Valley defeats Northern Highlands in State Tournament

Since I have been extremely busy lately and the game that Boys Basketball has against Teaneck is in about an hour, I am going to give a few quotes from Jamie Seymour, who scored a career high 27 points on Tuesday night. Senior Kyle Schneider also added a quote.

For starters, Pascack Valley defeated Northern Highlands 78-64 to advance to the Quarterfinals of the state tournament.

When asked about his performance, Seymour responded, " I didn't really think much of my shots. I was focused on the scoreboard and getting the W."

I then asked if he knew that he had scored 27 points, which was a career high. Seymour added, "I didn't know how many points I had. All I had in my head was "win".

When asked the keys to the game, Kyle Schneider answered, "They were playing a triangle and 2 and they played a small lineup. We were able to find the mismatches and get the ball down low."

Finally, I asked Seymour what the Indians needed to do to defeat top seeded Teaneck. "If we want to defeat Teaneck, we have to stop them in transition because that is where Teaneck is most effective. We also have to take care of the ball. We can't commit turnovers against a team that can get out on the break. We have to clean up the boards and get up on the three point line. If we do these things, I believe we will be fine.

It is do or die now for Pascack Valley.

Will they step up?

Daily Recap: Tuesday, February 26th


Both Boys and Girls Basketball played for their lives on Tuesday. It was either win or go home. It was do or die. Did they step up to the challenge? Let’s find out.

Girls Basketball:

Pascack Valley 37, Mount Olive 27

4 years.

After 4 years of blood, sweat, and tears, the five Pascack Valley Seniors knew this was the last game they would play on their home floor.

However, they were so focused on their game against Mt. Olive that the thought never seemed to cross their mind.

When I asked Seniors Dara Liebeskind and Sara Petro about how they felt about playing their last home game, both responded with, “Oh wow. I didn’t even realize that.”

That focus and determination at the task at hand is a big reason Pascack Valley came away with a 37-27 win over Mount Olive in the first round of the state tournament.

It was a sloppy first quarter for the Indians. Although they were getting open shots by passing through the Mount Olive zone, nothing would go down in the early going. Both teams combined for 10 points, 5 each, by the time the first quarter had ended.

The scoring started to pick up in the second. Leading scorer Michelle Garay started hitting from the outside while Liebeskind and Petro chipped in with baskets of their own. After a back and forth first 16 minutes, Pascack Valley went into halftime with a 16-15 lead.

Balance was definitely one thing Pascack Valley displayed in the first half. Five players scored, but they only combined for 16 points. I’m sure Coach Jasper told his girls to attack the zone because of how soft Mount Olive was playing.

Whatever Jasper told them at halftime, it worked.

Pascack Valley came out on a 6-0 run to take a 22-15 lead before Mount Olive could even blink. The defense continued to cause havoc and the Indians departed the third quarter with a 7-point lead.

In the final game at Pascack Valley, it was only fitting that the Seniors closed the game out. Throughout the quarter, they handled the press and put Pascack Valley on top.

Final Score: Pascack Valley 37, River Dell 27

With the win, the 6th seeded Indians will take on River Dell in the Quarterfinals on Thursday night.

With a stellar defense that has already been established throughout the season, offensive efficiency will the key to advancing.

After four years and everything they have been through, there is only one thing on the mind of the seniors.

Survive and advance.

Shoutout to my girl Dara Liebeskind.

Record: 17-9

Next game: Thursday, February 27th at 7 PM against River Dell (7 PM)
_______________________

Boys Basketball:

Pascack Valley 78, Northern Highlands 64

Article will be up when Jamie Seymour decides to answer my questions about his outstanding game.

Record: 15-12

Next Game: Thursday, February 28th at 7 PM against Teaneck (Away

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Weekend Recap: 2/21 - 2/24


Boys Basketball:

Old Tappan 45, Pascack Valley 41 (Thursday)

Last time these two teams met, Old Tappan got out to an early lead and were able to cruise by the Indians.

On Thursday night, Old Tappan rushed out to an 11-0 lead and all that I kept thinking was, “Here we go again.”

Fortunately, on a night where the Seniors were honored, Pascack Valley was able to claw their way back into the game.

At the end of the first, the Indians were in a 13-3 hole. Instead of giving up, they fought and made a game of it.

With a balanced scoring attack and a strong defense, Valley cut the Old Tappan lead to 17-11 with 3 minutes left in the half. By the time intermission had hit, what was an 11-0 start turned into a three-point deficit.

In front of a pretty large hometown crowd, it didn’t take long to get the Indian fans going. Early in the third quarter, Ryan Onderdonk drilled a 3 to tie the game at 21. That three must have been a sign of good things to come because the Onderdonks dominated the third quarter. They stuck jump shot after jump shot to keep the Indians in the game. Kyle finished with 15 points and Ryan added 9 points to a Pascack Valley team that saw themselves tied at 31 going into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was one filled with drama. Clutch baskets by both teams left fans on the edge of their seats. With 18 seconds to go, Old Tappan split a pair of free throws, extending their lead to a deuce. Just like in other games this season, Pascack Valley couldn’t make the shot when it counted.

Final Score: Old Tappan 45, Pascack Valley 41.

This was the last regular season game for Pascack Valley. They finished with a record of 14-12 and should be happy of what they have accomplished.

However, the season isn’t over yet. Come support Pascack Valley on Tuesday night at 7 PM as they host Northern Highlands in the first round of the state tournament.

Record: 14-12

Next Game: Tuesday, February 26th at 7 PM against Northern Highlands (Home)

Girls Basketball:

Old Tappan 43, Pascack Valley 35 (Thursday)

Pascack Valley 46, Lakeland 24 (Friday)

After falling to Old Tappan for the second time this season, Pascack Valley needed a bounce back game. It turns out that a match up with Lakeland was jus the thing they needed.

The Indians dominated from the opening tip, taking a 28-16 lead into halftime.

The lead was only extended after the break. Lakeland was inept on offensive while Pascack Valley was hitting midrange jumpers left and right.

When all was said and done, Pascack Valley got a well-deserved 46-24 win.

The Girls team also has a state game on Tuesday afternoon. They play home at 4 PM against Mt. Olive.

If you have anything planned on Tuesday, you might want to cancel that now. Instead, make an appointment to watch Pascack Valley basketball look to keep their seasons alive.

Record: 16-9

Next Game: Tuesday, February 26th at 4:00 PM against Mt. Olive (Home)

Hockey:

Pascack Valley 3, Montclair 3 (Saturday)

Record: 10-10-2

Next Game: Monday, February 25th at 6:15 PM against Hunterdon Central Regional

Wrestling:

With the regular season over, Pascack Valley wrestling had the District 8 tournament on Saturday.

Here are the wrestlers who made an impact and where they are headed next.

Cory Gottlieb (Sr.): At weight class 145, Gottlieb won the District 8 title. He moves on to the   Region 2 tournament and will wrestle on Friday.

Alex Moore (Jr.): At weight class 132, Alex Moore also won the District 8 title. After being tied with 1:23 left in the third period, second-seeded Moore got a reversal at the buzzer to score the 4-2 victory. This is his first District title. He moves on to the Region 2 tournament and will wrestle on Friday.

Danny White (Jr.): At weight class 138, White came in third in the District tournament. Because of this, he moves on to the Regional 2 tournament but will wrestle on Wednesday.

Cameron McLearie (So.): At weight class 113, McLearie came in third in the District tournament. Because of this, he will also move on to the Region 2 tournament and will also wrestle Wednesday.

As a team, Pascack Valley came place third in the District.

Cheerleading:

On Sunday afternoon, Pascack Valley cheerleading had the Eastern States Cheerleading competition at FDU. Pascack Valley earned varsity all girl cheer/dance division champs!

This is a great accomplishment and one that they should be very proud of.


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Daily Recap: Tuesday, February 19th


Boys Basketball:

Pascack Valley 53, Governor Livingston 33

Rarely is the Pascack Valley Boys Basketball team unprepared for an opponent.

They usually watch film and receive in depth scouting reports, getting them what they need to know before the game even starts.

However, Pascack Valley knew as much about Governor Livingston as all the fans in the crowd. All they had was a scouting report of the starting lineup, each of their points per game, and a brief summary of what they do.

With that being said, you could say that Pascack Valley handled the game pretty well. They walked out of the gym with a 53-33 win with what was one of the better performances of the year.

The key to the game was starting out last. Pascack Valley came out with a purpose while Governor Livingston came out sleepwalking. By the end of the first half, the Indians were already in control with a 12-5 lead.

They would only extend their lead in the second quarter. Governor Livingston could not handle the press and struggled mightily on the offensive end because of it. By halftime, it was blowout city as Pascack Valley held a 27-12 lead.

The Indians cruised in the second half. They were able to get almost everyone in the game and all of them contributed in different ways. For example, Senior Dylan Ferraro stole a pass at midcourt and took it in for the easy layup. Fellow Senior Glen Mendel also got in the scorebook, firing up his teammates who cheered from the bench. It was an all around team effort in Tuesday night and one that Pascack Valley won’t surely forget.

With only two more games guaranteed, it is vital that the Indians cherish every second they have left.

That means having fun while playing hard.

On Tuesday night, they did that pretty well.

Record: 14-11

Next Game: Thursday, February 21st at 7 PM against Old Tappan (Home)
_______________

Girls Basketball:

Pascack Valley 56, Fair Lawn 37

Pascack Valley had no trouble in disposing Fair Lawn on Tuesday afternoon. After being tied at 9 after the first quarter, the Indians went on a 7-0 run and never looked back.

The Indians led by 10 at the half and kept that lead at 10 after the third quarter.

They pulled away even more in the fourth, winning by 19 points. Senior Sara Petro scored 16 points for a Pascack Valley team looking to gain some momentum going into the state tournament in a week.

I’d say this was a pretty good start.

Record: 15-8

Next Game: Thursday, February 21st at 4:15 PM against Old Tappan (Away)
________

Hockey:

Mountain Lakes 5, Pascack Valley 3

Record: 10-10-1

Next Game: TBD
______________

Winter Track:

Winter Track had the County Championships on Tuesday. Here are some of the performances of note.

            Junior Jaleel Felton finished first in the 400 m with a time of 50.4 s.

            Senior Ben Malone finished first in the 1600 m with a time of 4:25.

            Senior Kayla Begen came in third in the 400 m with a time of 61.6 s.

            Junior Alice Urbiel finished fourth in the 400 m with a time of 61.7 s.



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Weekend Recap: 2/14 - 2/17


Boys Basketball:

Pascack Valley 76, Paramus 54 (Thursday)

Pascack Valley has won games this year by doing a few things well.

The first would be their defense. The Indians play solid man to man while sometimes switching to zone to disrupt their opponent’s offensive rhythm.

The second is being efficient on offense. Pascack Valley doesn’t put up the most points, but they don’t turn the ball over and get easy shots.

On Valentine’s Day, the Indians did neither of these things.

And still won by more than 20 points.

With the offensive explosion that occurred on Thursday night, Pascack Valley rarely needed to play good defense because they could score at will.

The scoring was done early and often for the Indians, who scored 34 points in the first half. Despite the hot shooting, PV only held a 7-point lead going into halftime.

The lead was extended in the third quarter, thanks in part to Senior Kyle Schneider. Paramus did not have anyone inside that could stop the big man. He would get the ball inside and either get fouled or convert the layup. His strong play along with Ryan Onderdonk’s barrage of threes helped Valley to a 18 point lead going into the fourth.

Pascack Valley added 20 more points in the 4th, giving them a total of 76 points. Onderdonk led the team with 24 points and Schneider added 21 in what was his best game on the season.

With the state tournament coming up, Pascack Valley cannot assume that they can now simply outscore their opponents. Solid defense and efficient offense will be what propels the Indians through the state tournament.

That being said, 76 points wouldn’t hurt either.


Ridgefield Park 66, Pascack Valley 64 (Friday)

Playing games on consecutive days is never easy.

That is the predicament that Pascack Valley was in on Friday night against Ridgefield Park. Since they played the night before against Paramus, they had no time to prepare for what was bound to be dogfight.

Pascack Valley rarely led during the game, but always kept it close. After the first, they were down 19-17.

Pascack Valley continued to score well in the second quarter. The main problem was their defense. The Indians allowed 34 points in the half, something they aren’t accustom to doing. With that being said, they only trailed by 6 at the half.

The Indians finally captured their first lead of the game with 2 minutes left, giving them the 59-56 lead.  They still held a 2-point lead with 1:23 to play and a win was looking promising.

However, with 40 seconds to go, Ridgefield Park stuck a three to take a 62-64 lead. After a pair of free throws 12 seconds later, Ridgefield Park was up 3 and Pascack Valley had the ball.

As he has done all year, Ryan Onderdonk stepped up and nailed a clutch 3 pointer, tying the game at 64 with 8 seconds to go.

For a reason that I am unaware of, Pascack Valley decided to switch to zone on the final possession. Consequently, someone missed their assignment and gave Ridgefield Park a wide-open layup at the buzzer to win the game.

As upset as the Indians might be, they have to look past this game. They only have a couple of games left and need to make the most of them.

Record: 13-11

Next Game: Tuesday, February 19th at 7 PM against Governor Livingston (Home)

Girls Basketball:

Paramus 41, Pascack Valley 30 (Thursday)

Pascack Valley 49, Midland Park 35 (Saturday)


Record:  14-8

Next Game: Tuesday, February 19th at 4:15 PM against Fair Lawn (Away)




Wrestling:

Pascack Valley 46, Butler 28 (Saturday)

Record: 14-9

Next Game:


Hockey:

Paramus 3, Pascack Valley 2 (Sunday)

Record: 10-9-1

Next Game: Tuesday, February 19 at 8 PM against Mountain Lakes


Track:

Senior standout Ben Malone competed in the annual Millrose Games over the weekend. He competed in the High School mile and finished in first place with a time of 4:12.

He will be running for Villanova in the fall.

Best of luck to him in the future.


Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Daily Recap: Tuesday, February 12th


Basketball took headlines on Tuesday as Pascack Valley took on Ridgewood.
Let’s see how each team fared.

Girls Basketball:

Pascack Valley 41, Ridgewood 38

After their loss in the County Tournament to Old Tappan, Pascack Valley still had plenty to play for and that started Tuesday night against Ridgewood.

The game started out competitive and would end that way. After the first, Pascack Valley was down 10-8, a position they couldn’t complain about.

During the second quarter, play continued to go back and forth with both teams making tough baskets. At the intermission, Valley still trailed by three but felt they were in a good position to win the game.

The third quarter was where the Indians made their mark. They outscored Ridgewood 12-4 in the third and took a 35-33 lead into the fourth.

Drama filled the final quarter. Lead changes were frequent and the play was intense. Valley was able to finally take a 41-38 lead with 42 seconds to play and held on by that same score.

This was a good win for a Valley team that still has the state tournament to play for. They must gain as much momentum as they can before that time arrives.

Record: 13-8

Next Game: Thursday, February 14th at 4 PM against Paramus (Home)


Boys Basketball:

Pascack Valley 66, Ridgewood 56

After a tough loss to St. Joes on Sunday in the Quarterfinals of the Jamboree, some might have thought that Pascack Valley would not come to play on Tuesday night against Ridgewood.

Instead, the Indians came out focused and walked away with a 10 point win over a solid Ridgewood squad.

The game started out quick for both teams. They combined to score 32 points in the quarter. After 1, Pascack Valley held a 18-14 lead.

Valley continued their hot shooting in the second quarter. Ryan Onderdonk, who scored a game high 23 points, shot the lights out of the ball from downtown and gave the Indians a 34-22 lead at the half.

The Indians only extended their lead in the third, getting it up to 20 at one point. Although Ridgewood was able to make it close at the end, the Indians were able to hang on for a big bounce back victory.

With 10 points apiece, Seniors Kyle Schneider and Jamie Seymour helped out the Indians on the offensive end.

To make a run in the state tournament, this team needs to get on the right track.

I would say this was a pretty good start.

Record: 12-10

Next Game: Thursday, February 14th at 7 PM against Paramus (Away)

Monday, February 11, 2013

Weekend Recap: 2/7 - 2/10


Despite Winter Storm Nemo blowing through the Northeast, Pascack Valley sports kept on going. Basketball and Hockey both got their games in despite the messy conditions. Lets see how each of them did.

Boys Basketball:

Pascack Valley 62, Northern Highlands 55 (Thursday)

Before the game on Tuesday, I was informed that Pascack Valley earned the 8 seed in the state tournament.

Their first round opponent?

Northern Highlands, which is the same team they went up against on Tuesday night.

The game started out just as planned for the Indians, who were playing without Senior Nick Soravilla because of a knee injury. They moved the ball well and were receiving wide-open shots because of it. At the end of the first, Valley held a 20-10 lead and seemed primed to cruise to a victory.

The Indians then came complacent in the second quarter. Northern Highlands started to press and Pascack Valley was having a hard time with it. Countless turnover led to easy transition buckets for a Highlander team that scored 16 points in the quarter. What seemed like a blowout turned into a one-point lead for Pascack Valley at intermission.

After struggling in the first half, the Onderdonks caught fire in the third quarter. They lit it up from the field and Northern Highland didn’t know what hit them.

With a strong third quarter, the Indians were able to cruise to the 62-55 victory. Going forward, Pascack Valley now knows they have a good chance to advance in the state tournament.

St. Joes 47, Pascack Valley 44 (Sunday)

After falling to the Green Knights on Tuesday, Pascack Valley reached the same fate on Sunday afternoon in the Quarterfinals of the Jamboree.

The Indians played a solid first half, holding the lead for the majority of it. However, when I looked up at the scoreboard at halftime, they were trailing by one.

In the second half, St. Joes finally started to press and it sure was effective. It took the Indians completely out of rhythm and gave Joes a nice cushion going into the fourth quarter.

The last stanza was as entertaining as basketball gets. The action was both exciting and crisp. In the end, the Green Knights made more shots down the stretch and came away with the win because of it.

The Indians should not be disappointed in their performance on Sunday. To make the quarterfinals as a 14th seed is an accomplishment in itself. The season is certainly not over for this team. They will have one final chance to make their mark on the state tournament.

They will play Northern Highlands on Tuesday, February 26th at 7 PM at Pascack Valley High School.

Record: 11-10

Next Game: Tuesday, February 12th at 7 PM against Ridgewood (Home)

Hockey:

St. Joes 6, Pascack Valley 2 (Sunday)

Record: 9-8-1

Next Game: TBD


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Daily Recap: Tuesday, February 5th


Boys Basketball:

St. Joes 54, Pascack Valley 50

After defeating Don Bosco on Sunday in the second round of the Jamboree, Pascack Valley drew St. Joes in the Quarterfinals.

It just so happens that the two teams also met on Tuesday night in a scheduled regular season game.

If this is any indication of what the game on Sunday is going to be like, then get the popcorn ready because these two teams will put on a show.

In the preview of the main event, St. Joes ousted Pascack Valley 54-50 in front of one of the biggest crowds the Indians have had so far this season.

The game started out well for Valley, who held a 12-8 lead after the opening quarter. They looked even better in the second, running their motion offense and scoring easy points because of it. At the half, Pascack Valley had a 24-16 lead.

It wasn’t until the third quarter where St. Joes got into a groove. They were entering the lane at will and when stopped, would kick out for open baseline jumpers. The Green Knights controlled the third as the score was tied at 36 after three.

During the deciding minutes of the game, it was St. Joes who were making plays. They took a 6-point lead early in the fourth and never looked back. Every time it looked as if the Indians would come back, St. Joes would answer. In the end, Pascack Valley fell 54-50 in what was a hard fought and entertaining game.

This is far from the worst thing that could happen for Pascack Valley. For one, they saved all of their offensive plays for Sunday when they play the Green Knights in the Jamboree. More importantly, they now know what to expect from St. Joes and can adjust accordingly.

Because of Valley hiding them offense, the game on Sunday will be played very differently.

Lets just hope it is just as entertaining.

Record: 10-9

Next Game: Thursday, February 7th at 7 PM against Northern Highlands (Away)
_______________ 

Girls Basketball:

Ramapo 44, Pascack Valley 43 (F/OT)

Pascack Valley lost a hard fought battle to Ramapo 44-43 in overtime on Tuesday afternoon.

The game was close throughout with each team accumulating 21 points at halftime.

Pascack Valley was able to make their move in the third quarter. They took good shots and made the majority of them. Going into the fourth, the Indians held a 5-point lead.

However, that lead would not last. Ramapo fought back to tie the game at 41 and send it into overtime.

In the overtime period, Ramapo was just a bit better and came out with the 44-43 win. 

Record: 12-8

Next Game: Thursday, February 7th at 4 PM against Northern Highlands (Home) *CANCELLED*

Monday, February 4, 2013

Weekend Recap: 1/31 : 2/1

This was a very busy weekend with both Basketball teams playing their County games and Hockey having their Senior Day. February is here and it is time for Pascack Valley sports teams to make a run. Lets see who took a step in the right direction this weekend.
______________________

Boys Basketball:

Pascack Valley 60, Bergenfield 46 (Thursday)

Pascack Valley 62, Don Bosco 51 (Sunday)


http://feartheindian.blogspot.com/2013/02/fear-indian-pascack-valley-upsets-don.html

Record: 10-8

Next Game: Tuesday, February 5th at 7 PM against St. Joes (Home)
____________________________

Girls Basketball:

Bergenfield 27, Pascack Valley 17 (Thursday)

Old Tappan 47, Pascack Valley 36 (Saturday)


Record: 12-7


Next Game: Tuesday, February 5th at 4 PM against Ramapo (Home)

___________________

Girls Bowling:

Bergenfield 1669, Pascack Valley 1512 (Thursday)


Pascack Valley is defeated by Teaneck (Friday)


Senior Alexa McManus had the high game of 172 and the high series of 443. That was the last game in what was a very exciting and fun season. I thoroughly enjoyed covering it. 


Record: 4-10


Next Match: N/A

___________________

Boys Bowling:

Pascack Valley 2264, Bergenfield 2069 (Thursday)


Pascack Valley defeats Teaneck (Friday)


With the win on Friday afternoon, the Boys team clinched the league title. Christian Burke had the high game of 255 and Ryan Vasel had the high series of 644. This has been a very successful season for the Indians so far and hopefully it will continue into the state tournament. 


Record: 11-3


Next Match: TBD

___________________

Wrestling:


Record: 12-9


Next Match:
Wednesday, February 6th against Westwod at 7 PM (Away)

_____________

Hockey:


Pascack Valley 6, Paramus 1 (Saturday)

After earning a tie with a very good Livingston team during the week, Pascack Valley had their Senior Day against Paramus on Saturday.


With all the adrenaline building up until this game, the Indians sure did come out ready to play. Before Paramus could blink, Pascack Valley was up 2-0 on goals by Rob Sawyer and John Scarano.

Senior Sam Komrower joined the scoring party next, giving the Indians a 3-0 lead. Although Paramus cut the lead to 3-1 in the second period, there wasn't a chance the Indians were losing this game.


Devon Palmieri scored next to give PV a 4-1 lead. David Littlehale and Chris Zariello also added goals to give Valley the 6-1 win.


If Pascack Valley can play the way they did today going forward, there is no reason why this team can't make a run in the state tournament. 


Record: 9-7-1


Next Game: Saturday, February 9th at 7:45 against Old Tappan





Sunday, February 3, 2013

Fear The Indian: Pascack Valley Upsets Don Bosco to Advance to Jambo Quarterfinals

It was two years ago that Pascack Valley suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of Don Bosco in the semifinals of the Bergen County Jamboree. 

Seniors Nick Soravilla and Kyle Schneider, who were sophomores at the time, remember that game very well.

"They (Don Bosco) were devastated and we had them on the ropes," said Soravilla. "We talked about in practice that if we got the lead we couldn't stall. We had to keep scoring because they could go on a big run in the blink of an eye."

"I thought about it all yesterday and today," said Schneider. "I needed to do this one for my brothers who graduated two years ago."

These two Seniors, along with everyone else on the Valley team, avenged that loss by defeating Don Bosco 62-51 in the Round of 16 of the Bergen County Jamboree. 

Using their Senior leadership and experience, it was Soravilla (6 points) and Schneider (10 points) who kept Valley close in the first half. With the Onderdonks unable to find their rhythm early, it was these two who provided the scoring. They combined for 16 of the Indians' 28 points before intermission. 

"We can all shoot so when guys are not on, we see who has the hot hand and we get them the ball," added Schneider. "It just so happened that it was me in the first half." 

Despite only shooting 38% (13-34) in the first half, Pascack Valley took care of the ball and and took open shots. This and their defense are big reasons why Don Bosco only had a 29-28 lead at the break. 

Not many were surprised that Pascack Valley played with a team like Don Bosco in the first half. The Indians' 9-8 record coming in doesn't show how good this team really is because of how tough their schedule was. With that being said, many thought Don Bosco would take control and cruise to the quarterfinals. That is why the third quarter was so important and had to be the turning point of the game. 

After struggling in the first half, the Onderdonks came out with confidence after halftime. They combined for 22 points in the second half and kept Pascack Valley ahead.

"In the first half I was off," said Ryan Onderdonk, "but when you are off you just have to keep shooting. I did that and was able to find my rhythm."

"I was more patient in the second half," added Kyle Onderdonk. "In the second half, I had good looks and knocked them down."

Pascack Valley was able to outscore Don Bosco 15-8 in the third and take a 6 point lead into the fourth. The key stat had to be shot selection. After shooting 17 times in each of the first two quarters, Valley only had nine shots in the third, but made six of them.

"We just knew we had to be patient and the game would be a lot easier for us," added Soravilla. 

Pascack Valley's patience and offensive efficiency gave them the lead that they would not relinquish. 

In the fourth quarter, there wasn't even a need for the Indians to shoot. By playing solid defense, Pascack Valley earned most of their points at the foul line. With every miss, the pressure mounted on Don Bosco's shoulders. In the end, it was too much to overcome and Valley came away with a season defining 62-51 victory.

Ryan Onderdonk led the Indians in scoring with 17 points while Chris Jackson added 12 and Kyle Schneider had 13. All five starters scored at least 8 points. 

With the win, Pascack Valley will play St. Joes in the quarterfinals next Sunday at noon at Ramapo College. It just so happens that the Indians will be squaring off against the Green Knights Tuesday night in a reason season contest. 

"By playing them on Tuesday, we can see what they're like and go off that," added Soravilla. "We just know that we have to dictate the tempo."

Despite the huge match up looming next weekend, Kyle Schneider says his team will enjoy this one, at least for a little while.

"We'll enjoy this one today," said Schneider. "Tomorrow we will move on to St. Joes because we have to regain our focus. We cannot come out sleep walking against a good team like St. Joes."

By winning a game that is considered a huge upset (at least seeding wise), Bergen County needs to put Pascack Valley on notice. 

"When other teams play Pascack Valley, it is going to be a battle," Schneider added. "We have been battle tested all year and will continue to be down the road." 

There is a saying that goes "Fear no one, but respect everyone."

After Pascack Valley's win against Don Bosco on Sunday afternoon, it might be time for other teams across North Jersey to...

Fear the Indian.