CALDWELL- It was a game where Caldwell’s shots just weren’t falling which made shaking off persistent West Essex that much harder, but thanks to strong defensive pressure that they applied throughout, the Chiefs were able to earn a 42-37 victory over the Knights in the West Essex Area Holiday Hoops Festival championship game on Saturday afternoon at Caldwell University’s Newman Center.
Sophomore Addison Keenan scored 10 of her team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the foul line as Caldwell (5-1) withstood a valiant effort by West Essex (3-2) which rode a brilliant performance from senior forward Sasah Resnick who had 20 points and hauled down 17 rebounds.
“We knew that West Essex would play us tough, but we just stayed focused on playing good team defense, create some turnovers, and then be able to get some quick buckets,” said Keenan, who earned tourney MVP honors for her efforts, which also included 22 points in the Chiefs’ 56-11 first round win vs. Cedar Grove. “We’re a very young team that has a lot of potential and we’re just working to keep improving each game we play.”
Caldwell’s leadership comes from juniors such as Tea Fiore and Kaci Pace and sophomores like Keenan since there are also seven freshmen on the roster.
“Because our freshmen are able to keep up with everything we do in practice, it’s been easy for Addy, Kaci and me to try and lead this team,” said Fiore, who had 6 points and 4 rebounds vs. West Essex and played a solid floor game. “Playing a team like West Essex which plays a very physical game like we do is good for us because we can only grow from games like this and we’re excited about what our team is capable of moving into the New Year.”
Caldwell led West Essex, 17-9, at the half thanks to a 12-5 edge in the second quarter when freshman Grace Hodgson came off the bench and contributed five of her seven points.
The third quarter saw the Knights come alive thanks to Resnick, who scored seven points in the stanza before she added 11 more points in the fourth quarter as West Essex pulled to within 36-31 with 1:30 remaining on its senior center’s power move inside for two.
Keenan and freshman Fallon Fiore, Tea’s younger sister, each hit two free throws in the final 90 seconds as the Chiefs were able to maintain a 2-possession lead.
Two other Caldwell freshmen, Aaliyah Rodriguez (3 points, 5 rebounds) and Elena Kearns (4 points, 2 assists, 1 steal) also contributed to the victory.
“We have a bunch of freshmen who love to compete and we know that we can count on them,” said Keenan. “We work hard in practice, but it’s also a lot of fun because of the great chemistry our young team is building.”
The Chiefs and Knights both compete in the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division which means they will meet twice more this season, Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 21 at West Essex, and Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 18, in West Caldwell.
That also means Caldwell will have to continue to look for ways to try and slow down the production of the Knights’ star Resnick, who is a veritable force at both ends of the court.
“Sasha always gives us a hard time and is relentless under the basket,” said Caldwell coach Amanda Keenan, who is also Addison’s mom. “I told our girls before the game today that she is the one we have to try and stop because she is such a factor in the paint and played a hell of a game.
“We have to keep having gritty performances like we had against them today where it can be the little things like getting to the loose balls, and causing turnovers that can wind up producing points at the other end, which is so important especially if we’re not shooting well that particular day.
