UNION, NJ — Last year, the Cranford High School girls basketball team started with a season-opening 39-22 triumph at home against Union County Conference–Watchung Division rival Roselle Catholic High School.
This year, it took the Cougars a bit of time to reach the .500 mark and even their record, but they did so on Saturday, Jan. 28, and they did so in convincing fashion.
Cranford turned a close game, as the Cougars led by just 5 late in the first half, into a dominating performance by decisively beating conference-crossover foe Union High School 53-31 at Union’s Louis J. Rettino Gymnasium.
Cranford limited Union to 8 points or fewer in three of the four quarters to extend its winning streak to four. Since a 1-7 start that included a five-game losing streak, the Cougars won eight of their next 10 going into the Watchung Division game scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 31, after press time, at home against Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child.
Cranford lost at Oak Knoll 52-35 on Wednesday, Dec. 21, in Summit. The Jan. 31 home game against Oak Knoll was to be Cranford’s final division contest of the season, with the Cougars 5-6 in the Watchung Division before tipoff.
Third-year head coach Allison Skrec explained the turnaround in the following manner, as her Cougars did not get down on themselves after opening with losses in seven of their first eight games: “We’ve shown a different kind of maturity. Trust is huge. Now the girls are starting to see the benefits.”
Cranford began the week 9-9. The Cougars, in a 10-12 season a year ago, did not win their ninth game until Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022.
Cranford won at Roselle Catholic 58-37 on Thursday, Jan. 12, after falling at home to the Lions 63-49 on Saturday, Dec. 17. The Cougars swept Scotch Plains–Fanwood, which began the week with an overall record of 12-6 and a 6-5 mark in the Watchung Division, in division play. First came a 54-47 win at Scotch Plains–Fanwood on Thursday, Jan. 5, followed by a more dominating 51-39 triumph at home against the Raiders on Thursday, Jan. 26.
“The Watchung Division is really competitive, so I give the girls a lot of credit for those wins,” Skrec said. “There are certainly no easy games.”
Cranford’s only two losses in its stretch of eight wins in 10 games came to defending champion New Providence High School and second-place Westfield High School. New Providence was in position to repeat as division champions with an expected win at home against Roselle Catholic in the division clash scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 31.
The Union County Tournament was also set to be seeded on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 31. Cranford might have made a case for a top-five seed. The tournament will end with the championship game the third weekend in February at Kean University.
“The tournament is usually really competitive, with a lot of talented players and coaches,” Skrec said.
As the Union County Player of the Year her junior and senior seasons of 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, Skrec helped lead Roselle Catholic to back-to-back UCT championships.
“There’s always so much on the line,” Skrec said.
In the win against Union, seven Cranford players scored, with junior Maddy DeLong leading the way with 13 points. Fellow junior Sophia DeMarco scored 11, and senior guard Sarah O’Donnell 10. DeLong led in rebounds with nine and steals with five, while O’Donnell paced the Cougars in assists with five.
“It comes down to playing as a team,” Skrec said. “We’ve been moving the ball well and have been patient on offense. The girls have been executing the game plan.”
Sophomore Bella Curanovic began the week leading the team in points with 186, while junior Kristina Lowe was first in rebounds with 108 and steals with 32.
“We’re playing at close to our best at the right time of the year, right before tournament play,” Skrec said.
The state competition starts on Monday, Feb. 20, a week earlier than in the past, with Cranford situated again in North 2, Group 3. As of Monday, Jan. 30, the Cougars were seeded ninth in the section, with 347 power points. Last year, Cranford, as the 11th seed, lost at sixth-seeded West Morris Mendham High School 56-46 in first-round play.
Photo Courtesy of Allison Skrec