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Ortega's late basket propels Bergtraum in NJ thriller
By Marc Raimondi January 18, 2009
ASBURY PARK, N.J. – Most games end for the Murry Bergtraum girls’ basketball team with a few crooked numbers on the scoreboard, a huge margin of victory and its reserves in the game for the final few minutes.
But not this one.
The closing seconds of Bergtraum’s classic with St. John Vianney (N.J.) included a huge defensive play, an overturned call by the referees, the game tying and winning baskets by junior Doris Ortega and senior Shanee Williams jumping on Ortega’s back in adulation after a 61-59 win Sunday at the Boardwalk Hoop Group Showcase at the Asbury Park Convention Center.
Yes, the Lady Blazers’ 70th straight win might have been the streak’s most difficult. Bergtraum (17-0) survived a fourth-quarter barrage by Fairfield-bound Katelyn Linney and one of Jersey’s – and the East Coast’s – best teams.
“That’s the most well-coached team we’ve played all year,” Lady Blazers coach Ed Grezinsky said. “We’re not going to play against a better team.”
For the first time all season, Bergtraum, ranked eighth in the nation by USA Today, didn’t hold a big lead late – instead the Lady Blazers were down 59-57 with 1:04 left and St. John Vianney (13-1) had the ball. That’s when Ortega came up with a huge blocked shot on Linney, who had 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter. On the other end, Ortega powered her way to a layup to tie the game at 59 with 52 seconds left.
Following a Laray Drayton foul, St. John Vianney senior Jennifer Mulvey missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 36 seconds left, opening the door for Bergtraum to take the final shot given the lack of a shot clock under New Jersey rules. But with 11.8 seconds left, the whistle was blown: it was a 3-second violation called against Lady Blazers sophomore Monae Abrams. The Lancers were going to get the final possession.
“I was scared,” Ortega said.
The other official overturned the call quickly, though. Abrams wasn’t standing in the lane; she was just outside of it in an area that was also painted.
“They were trying to cheat us,” Williams said.
The Lady Blazers would not be deterred. Junior CeCe Dixon penetrated into the lane and lost the ball, but it went right to Ortega on the left block. She twisted in the air and tossed up a shot from about 5 feet. It bounced along the rim twice before finally falling through the net with three seconds left. Williams was on Ortega’s back before Linney could throw up a prayer from the opposite end of the court.
“I had to,” Williams said with a laugh. “I knew the game was over.”
For once, Williams couldn’t say that until the very end of the game. Bergtraum has played some very solid teams this season, but none has come as close as St. John Vianney. Two weeks ago, division foe Manhattan Center got within seven points of the 10-time defending PSAL city champion.
Ortega, fittingly, led the way with 18 points and Williams had 13 points. Junior Shukurah Washington, who fouled out with 3:16 left, had 12 points and Dixon added 10 for the Lady Blazers, who were impressed with the Lancers’ relentless halfcourt offense, chock full of screens, misdirection and constant motion.
Sophomore Jackie Kates had 13 points and freshman Michaela Mabrey and junior Teresa Manigrasso each had 11 points to along with Linney’s 12.
“That’s a good team, I ain’t gonna front,” Williams said. “Those screens are crazy. They’re so strong.”
Unlike Bergtraum, St. John Vianney isn’t incredibly athletic. But the Lancers are in terrific shape and can run around all day, which is why the Lady Blazers’ vaunted press didn’t wear them out like it would other teams. Vianney got pushed around a bit in the first half and Bergtraum went into the locker room with a 34-30 lead.
The Lady Blazers extended that lead to 50-41 on a Washington power layup with 1:03 left in the third quarter. But the Lancers stuck with their strategy, getting Washington and Drayton into foul trouble. A 9-0 run, capped by a Linney mid-range jumper, got them even at 50.
After that there were five lead changes and two ties. It came down to the wire, something Bergtraum just isn’t used to doing. But the Lady Blazers showed they were more than capable of pulling out a game like this.
“It’s very important to win a close game like this,” Grezinsky said.
Ortega was the hero, coming through in the clutch like no Bergtraum player has needed to in a long time. If the Lady Blazers had confidence coming in, they were brimming with it leaving the Asbury Park Convention Center as winners of 70 straight.
“We know we can beat every team now,” Williams said. “Nobody is better than that team.”
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com
The closing seconds of Bergtraum’s classic with St. John Vianney (N.J.) included a huge defensive play, an overturned call by the referees, the game tying and winning baskets by junior Doris Ortega and senior Shanee Williams jumping on Ortega’s back in adulation after a 61-59 win Sunday at the Boardwalk Hoop Group Showcase at the Asbury Park Convention Center.
Yes, the Lady Blazers’ 70th straight win might have been the streak’s most difficult. Bergtraum (17-0) survived a fourth-quarter barrage by Fairfield-bound Katelyn Linney and one of Jersey’s – and the East Coast’s – best teams.
“That’s the most well-coached team we’ve played all year,” Lady Blazers coach Ed Grezinsky said. “We’re not going to play against a better team.”
For the first time all season, Bergtraum, ranked eighth in the nation by USA Today, didn’t hold a big lead late – instead the Lady Blazers were down 59-57 with 1:04 left and St. John Vianney (13-1) had the ball. That’s when Ortega came up with a huge blocked shot on Linney, who had 10 of her 12 points in the fourth quarter. On the other end, Ortega powered her way to a layup to tie the game at 59 with 52 seconds left.
Following a Laray Drayton foul, St. John Vianney senior Jennifer Mulvey missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 36 seconds left, opening the door for Bergtraum to take the final shot given the lack of a shot clock under New Jersey rules. But with 11.8 seconds left, the whistle was blown: it was a 3-second violation called against Lady Blazers sophomore Monae Abrams. The Lancers were going to get the final possession.
“I was scared,” Ortega said.
The other official overturned the call quickly, though. Abrams wasn’t standing in the lane; she was just outside of it in an area that was also painted.
“They were trying to cheat us,” Williams said.
The Lady Blazers would not be deterred. Junior CeCe Dixon penetrated into the lane and lost the ball, but it went right to Ortega on the left block. She twisted in the air and tossed up a shot from about 5 feet. It bounced along the rim twice before finally falling through the net with three seconds left. Williams was on Ortega’s back before Linney could throw up a prayer from the opposite end of the court.
“I had to,” Williams said with a laugh. “I knew the game was over.”
For once, Williams couldn’t say that until the very end of the game. Bergtraum has played some very solid teams this season, but none has come as close as St. John Vianney. Two weeks ago, division foe Manhattan Center got within seven points of the 10-time defending PSAL city champion.
Ortega, fittingly, led the way with 18 points and Williams had 13 points. Junior Shukurah Washington, who fouled out with 3:16 left, had 12 points and Dixon added 10 for the Lady Blazers, who were impressed with the Lancers’ relentless halfcourt offense, chock full of screens, misdirection and constant motion.
Sophomore Jackie Kates had 13 points and freshman Michaela Mabrey and junior Teresa Manigrasso each had 11 points to along with Linney’s 12.
“That’s a good team, I ain’t gonna front,” Williams said. “Those screens are crazy. They’re so strong.”
Unlike Bergtraum, St. John Vianney isn’t incredibly athletic. But the Lancers are in terrific shape and can run around all day, which is why the Lady Blazers’ vaunted press didn’t wear them out like it would other teams. Vianney got pushed around a bit in the first half and Bergtraum went into the locker room with a 34-30 lead.
The Lady Blazers extended that lead to 50-41 on a Washington power layup with 1:03 left in the third quarter. But the Lancers stuck with their strategy, getting Washington and Drayton into foul trouble. A 9-0 run, capped by a Linney mid-range jumper, got them even at 50.
After that there were five lead changes and two ties. It came down to the wire, something Bergtraum just isn’t used to doing. But the Lady Blazers showed they were more than capable of pulling out a game like this.
“It’s very important to win a close game like this,” Grezinsky said.
Ortega was the hero, coming through in the clutch like no Bergtraum player has needed to in a long time. If the Lady Blazers had confidence coming in, they were brimming with it leaving the Asbury Park Convention Center as winners of 70 straight.
“We know we can beat every team now,” Williams said. “Nobody is better than that team.”
mraimondi@fiveborosports.com