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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Cranford Defeats Somerville For First State Sectional Title Since 1973 (With VIDEO Highlights)

The girls move on to the North Jersey state final.

1973. It was the year the Carpenters hit the top of the music charts with a song called "Top of the World." It was also the last time the Cranford girls' varsity basketball team captured a state sectional title. Until now, that is. Led by the senior trio of Danielle Gross, Jamie Webb and Taylor D'Antico, the Lady Cougars sit on top of the New Jersey basketball world after their convincing 46-34 victory over Somerville in the NJSIAA state sectional championship game in Cranford Tuesday night. Gross led the way with 15 points and seven rebounds, Webb added 13 points and five assists and D'Antico chipped in with nine points. "I feel great," said third year head coach Jackie Huber. "I'm so happy for the girls, they worked really hard. They …

Monday, March 8, 2010

Danielle Gross Named Athlete of the Week

This senior has helped lead the Lady Cougars to a sectional final.

Her brother is a budding star for the boys' basketball team. Her dad played for Seton Hall University. So it was only natural that Cranford senior Danielle Gross would find her niche on the hardwood as well. "I started playing around third grade," said Gross. "My dad played basketball in college, so he's always been a big avid basketball player and wanted all his kids to play basketball. I probably started in the Police Athletic League around fourth grade and I've been playing ever since." As Gross kept developing her skills, she realized that she had a chance to be a very good player. "I went to Orange Avenue and was on the school team there," said Gross. "They're playing more competitive teams, teams from other towns. I started to see …

Lady Cougars One Win Away From State Fame (With VIDEO)

They beat Voorhees 44-40 to advance to final.

The Cranford girls' varsity basketball team is just one victory away from a state sectional title after earning a 44-40 triumph over Voorhees at Glen Gardner Friday night in the North Jersey, Group 3 Section 2 state tournament semifinal. It took another tough defensive effort and a second half offensive surge to get the job done. Senior Jamie Webb led the way for the second straight game with 16 points, while sophomore Morgan Miller stepped up with nine and senior Taylor D'Antico with eight points. The comeback kids did it again, fighting back from eight points down with six minutes to play in the fourth quarter. That's when D'Antico hit a three-pointer, and then right after, with the ball going out of bounds, D'Antico grabbed it, got …

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Giaccio, Brady Defeated in AC

Both lost their first Saturday matches to end Cranford's state tournament run.

Cranford senior Joe Brady and junior Joe Giaccio were bounced from this year's State Wrestling Tournament Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. After losing Friday night's competition, Giaccio (112 lbs.) and Brady (285 lbs.) were allowed to continue in the wrestle-backs and given a chance to fight for third in the state. Both wrestlers lost in their first matches Saturday morning and were eliminated from the tournament. "Giaccio wrestled great for us this season," said Cranford head coach Darren Torsone. "He scored a tremendous amount of points for us in dual meets this year. I think he knows he can wrestle with anyone in the state in his weight class now." Giaccio is only a junior, so the experience he gained at states will be …

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Just getting to Atlantic City is quite a feat. Cranford is proud of you, and you should be proud of yourselves. Congratulations!  more ›

Brady, Giaccio Fight to Place in States

Both have a chance to fill third place.

ATLANTIC CITY—Only the best of the state qualify for the New Jersey State Wrestling tournament at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Cranford sent two wrestlers Friday night: Joe Giaccio (32-2) in the 112 lbs. division, and Joe Brady (33-1) in the 285 lbs. division. Even though both lost their pre-quarter-final matches, they will go into the wrestle-back brackets on Saturday and have the chance to take third place. "My number one goal is to place," said Giaccio. "Giaccio has never been to states, but he has been wrestling tough the entire season. The goal is to come down and place, by taking it one match at a time," said head coach Darren Torsone. "He is good on his feet, good on the top, good on the bottom. He is a well rounded wrestler. He…

Friday, March 5, 2010

VIDEO: Cougars Tackle Tournament Season

Video tournament and playoff highlights.

It's tournament time. The latest sports update includes highlights from the region wrestling tournament, as well as interviews with champions Joe Brady and Joe Giaccio. We also have playoff highlights from the boys and girls basketball teams along with player interviews. We catch up with the junior varsity girls basketball teams, winners of the Union County Tournament. Plus we take a look ahead at the track and field nationals in Boston and wrap up the hockey season.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Hoopsters Two Wins Away From State Sectional Title (With VIDEO Highlights)

The Lady Cougars defeat Mendham 55-50.

There are a number of reasons the Cranford girls' varsity basketball team owns 19 wins this season. Quite possibly the top reason is their balanced offensive attack. That part of their game was never more evident than last night when five players had eight or more points to seal another victory and move on in the NJSIAA state basketball tournament. The Lady Cougars showed grittiness again. They were in control for much of the first three quarters before the visitors made a fourth-quarter comeback. But Cranford was undeterred, hitting the big shots and key free throws down the stretch to knock off West Morris-Mendham 55-50 in the quarterfinal round of the tournament, leaving them just two wins shy of a sectional title. "It feels very good, …

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Cranford Beats Carteret in State Tourney (With VIDEO Highlights)

Webb, McCoy tally 17 points apiece.

It was the perfect storm. Cranford's present and future teamed up as they've done all season. Senior Jamie Webb and freshman Jessica McCoy scored 17 points apiece Monday to help lead third-seeded Cranford to a 59-46 first round victory over 14th-seeded Carteret in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Group 3, Section 2 state tournament in Cranford. "The two of us are just going hard, playing our hardest, especially Jamie," said McCoy. "All of her shots came at big times." Sophomore Morgan Miller chipped in with eight points, while seniors Danielle Gross and Taylor D'Antico each netted seven. Webb said they wanted to make sure it wouldn't be the last game for the seniors. "We're going to be sad whatever game we end," said Webb. "Even if we keep winning…

Hoopsters Knocked From State Tournament (With VIDEO Highlights)

Cougars fall to Warren Hills in state tournament.

This game will be remembered for some time to come, but not for the reasons the Cougars had hoped for. Holding a 13-point lead late in the third quarter, the Cranford boys basketball team couldn't buy a bucket in the fourth quarter. Visiting Warren Hills found their missing touch just in the nick of time, coming back to edge the Cougars 50-43 Monday in the first round of the NJSIAA North Jersey Group 3 Section 2 state tournament in Cranford. "We let it get away," said head coach Ryan Huber. "We tried to execute, we missed too many easy lay-ups. (Defensively) we gave up just 25 points in three quarters, then we gave up 25 points in the fourth, it's unacceptable." Early on, both teams seemed to be off their game when it came to shooting, …

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Cranford Girls Win JV County Tournament (With VIDEO Highlights)

They finish a 20-1 season.

It's one thing to talk about high expectations. It's another to achieve them. The Cranford girls' junior varsity basketball team talked about being good this year, and they backed it up with a strong effort in the Union County Tournament Sunday, defeating Johnson 45-37 at Roselle Catholic High School in Roselle. "It was a good game, it was a championship," said first year coach Stacy Boff. "I tried all week to keep my girls calm, not to be nervous about anything. We were the better team coming into this game. We came out on top and we showed that we were the better team." Victoria Vetter led the Lady Cougars with 13 points, while freshman Aaron Wichelns added 10 points. Danielle Jakubik chipped in with nine. "I was so happy because my team…

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