Dayton head coach Dave Rennie maps out play for his Bulldogs, who recorded big win over Cranford Friday night. (Photos by JR Parachini)

3-Point Savvy Dayton Impressed
With A Big Win Over Cranford
By JR Parachini
For sidelinechatter.com

When Dayton upset Cranford in last year's Union County Tournament quarterfinals at Rahway, the Bulldogs made seven 3-pointers, including six in the first half. Dayton held on for a 43-42 triumph.

When Dayton defeated Cranford Friday night in Springfield in Union County Conference-Mountain Division play, the Bulldogs used the same formula to down the undefeated Cougars.

Once again, Dayton made seven 3-pointers, including six in the first half, and then held on for a 46-43 victory.

When 12th-seeded Dayton defeated fourth-seeded Cranford in the UCT last year, Cranford was 18-4 and on a six-game winning streak. When Dayton defeated Cranford Friday night, Cranford was 6-0 and 4-0 in the Mountain Division.

Dayton improved to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain Division.

The teams will clash again in Mountain Division play Feb. 2 in Cranford.

"We got out to a fast start by hitting our shots," Dayton head coach Dave Rennie said. "We were up by 15 at halftime and made them chase us."

Cranford pulled to within one point twice in the waning moments. The first time was at 42-41 before Dayton senior guard Anna Lies made two free throws. The second was at 44-43 before Dayton's Lea Ginefra made two free throws for the game's final points.

Dayton was sparked by a 14-point performance from senior swing player Jen Kuczynski.

"We played tough defense and worked for good shots on offense, which is what we typically try to do," Rennie said. "Although we struggled to score in the second half we did have some good possessions."

Cranford was paced offensively by senior guard Morgan Miller, who poured in 13 points. She made four 3-pointers in the first half. Junior guard Jenna Goeller produced 11 points.

"We worked well by keying on players," Rennie said. "We did a better job on Miller in the second half, but then Goeller got going and (Jessica) McCoy a little bit.

"Cranford is a very aggressive, athletic team. We expected them to come hard at us in the second half."

McCoy scored 20 and Miller 17 in last year's UCT setback. Emily MacDonnell scored 13, Lies 11 and Kuczynski 10 in that Bulldog tournament triumph.

Dayton was able to switch with Hillside and move up to the Mountain Division this season one year ahead of schedule. Rennie thought his squad, sparked by four-year starters Kuczynski, Lies and MacDonnell, would benefit from a more challenging schedule.

Hillside is off to a fine start as well. The Comets are 5-1 and lead the Valley Division at 4-0.

The Mountain Division standings as of Monday, Jan. 9 have Governor Livingston in the lead at 4-0, Cranford next at 4-1 and then Dayton, Oak Knoll and defending champion New Providence next at 2-2. Johnson and Union Catholic were 2-3 and Elizabeth 0-5.

Dayton lost at GL 46-34 last Tuesday. The Bulldogs also won at Union Catholic 46-40 and lost at Johnson 44-34 in division play.

"GL is very well balanced," Rennie said.

GL, like Cranford and Dayton, returned all five starters.

"With GL, you can't key on one player. They have a lot of weapons," Rennie said. "Their players fill their roles very well. It's very difficult to defend them and they also play very good defense."

GL begins the week at 7-0 and is the only undefeated team remaining in Union County.

Dayton's schedule this week includes St. Anthony at home Monday at 4:30 p.m., at Oak Knoll Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Roselle Catholic at home Friday night at 7.

GL ONLY UNDEFEATED TEAM REMAINING

The only undefeated team remaining in Union County is Gov. Livingston. The Highlanders begin the week at 7-0 and lead the Mountain Division with a 4-0 mark.

If you were to seed the Union County Tournament now, GL- sparked by returning starters Alyssa Polimeni, Sam Dowling, Erin Ferguson, Mallory George and Rebecca Johnson - would be the top seed. However, we still have a month to go before the tournament will be officially seeded.

GL beat Dayton 46-34 at home Tuesday and then Elizabeth 52-41 at home Friday.

The Highlanders will remain at home for their only two games this week, with the first one vs. Watchung Division opponent Union Thursday night at 7. GL is then scheduled to host Mountain Division rival New Providence Saturday at 11:45 a.m.

UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE

2011-2012 GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

STANDINGS THROUGH GAMES PLAYED JAN. 7:

WATCHUNG DIVISION:

Roselle Catholic (4-0)

Scotch Plains (3-0)

Linden (3-2)

Union (2-2)

Summit (1-2)

Plainfield (1-2)

Westfield (0-3)

Roselle (0-3)

MOUNTAIN DIVISION:

Gov. Livingston (4-0)

Cranford (4-1)

Dayton (2-2)

Oak Knoll (2-2)

New Providence (2-2)

Johnson (2-3)

Union Catholic (2-3)

Elizabeth (0-5)

VALLEY DIVISION:

Hillside (4-0)

Brearley (3-1)

Kent Place (2-1)

Benedictine Academy (2-1)

Rahway (2-3)

St. Patrick (1-2)

Roselle Park (1-3)

St. Mary’s, Elizabeth (0-4)

OVERALL RECORDS:

Gov. Livingston (7-0)

Cranford (6-1)

Hillside (5-1)

Linden (6-3)

Roselle Catholic (5-2)

Scotch Plains (5-2)

Dayton (5-2)

Union Catholic (5-3)

Brearley (5-3)

New Providence (4-2)

Benedictine Academy (4-4)

Kent Place (3-2)

Summit (3-3)

Oak Knoll (3-4)

Rahway (3-4)

Union (3-5)

Plainfield (2-5)

Johnson (2-5)

Westfield (2-6)

Roselle Park (2-6)

St. Patrick (1-2)

Roselle (1-5)

Elizabeth (1-6)

St. Mary's, Elizabeth (1-6)

GMC school: Mother Seton (2-2)

JR’S TOP 10

THROUGH JAN. 7:

1-Gov. Livingston (7-0)

2-Cranford (6-1)

3-Roselle Catholic (5-2)

4-Linden (6-3)

5-Scotch Plains (5-2)

6-Dayton (5-2)

7-Oak Knoll (3-4)

8-New Providence (4-2)

9-Summit (3-3)

10-Union (3-4)

DIVISION GAMES OF NOTE THIS WEEK:

Watchung – Summit at Scotch Plains Tuesday (Jan. 10) night at 6.

Scotch Plains (3-0) and Roselle Catholic (4-0) are the only undefeated

teams in the division. On the Union County Conference website, Summit’s schedule lists the game as a 4 p.m. start and the Scotch Plains schedule lists it as a 6 p.m. tipoff.

Mountain – New Providence at GL Saturday (Jan. 14) at 11:45 a.m.

GL split with New Providence in Mountain Division play last year and

also defeated the Pioneers in the Millburn Tournament final and the

UCT semifinals.

Valley – Hillside at St. Mary’s, Elizabeth Tuesday (Jan. 10) at 4 p.m.

Hillside leads the division at 4-0.

Brearley at St. Patrick Tuesday (Jan. 10) at 6 p.m.

Brearley is second in the division at 3-1.

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