Pearl River Girls Basketball Rallies, But Falls in OT

Pearl River rallied from 13 points down in the second half to force overtime at home Monday against North Rockland, but the Raiders pulled away in the extra period for a 77-68 victory.

"For us to get a win at Pearl River is tremendous," North Rockland Head Coach Kevin Metcalf said. "For them to come back from 13 points is a credit to them. That was tremendous."

"I had no doubt in my mind we were going to make one final push at the end," Pearl River Head Coach Dan Lauture said. "I really do think a free throw here or there and we take the lead and end this game (in regulation), because I don't think they would have been able to come back from us getting over the hump."

Junior forward Emma Daly scored 10 of Pearl River's final 12 points in regulation, including a basket with under 10 seconds remaining to tie the game at 63-63. She finished with a career-high 32 points one game after putting up 31 in a loss to Clarkstown South, bringing her average to 20.5 points per game. Click here for video of the end of regulation. 

"She missed a couple of bunnies, too, but she's slowly turning herself into one of the better players in Rockland County," Lauture said. "She's been a very bright spot."

"Emma was incredible today," Metcalf said. "I know in the last game, she scored 31 against South. She's really grown into her game."

Metcalf pointed to the defensive work of Pam Miceus in holding Daly to two points in the overtime as a key. Just before Daly's game-tying basket in regulation, Miceus had missed a pair of free throws.

"When Pam came off the floor after missing the two free throws, she was really punishing herself, but she went back out and really disrupted Emma on offense in overtime," Metcalf said. "I said to her in the locker room, 'You let it go and didn't let that define you and you defined yourself in overtime."

Senior guard Sam Alicandri was Pearl River's only other scorer in double digits, contributing 15 points for the Pirates (4-2). 

North Rockland (4-1) had four players score in double digits, led by junior Cierra Rivera led North Rockland (4-1). Junior guard Alyssa Williams with 16 points, junior guard Olivia Burden with 15 and sophomore Chloe Mullarkey with 14. Most of their points came from attacking the basket and creating layups.

"We just need to tighten up defensively," Lauture said. "That's pretty much it. We allowed too many easy baskets, too many easy dump-offs. They just figured they could go to the basket whenever they wanted and we just weren't there. That's something we ahve to improve on.

"That's the best we've looked offensively all year. For the first time, I saw some fight in the girls for four quarters. We didn't hang our heads because we were down. IT's just the defensive side of the ball where the problems lie."

Lauture also spoke to his players during the game about rebounding, particularly on the defensive end. 

"We struggle a bit (rebounding) when Maura (Sullivan) is not in the game," Lauture said. "She's one of our bigger bodies that we can throw at somebody."

Lauture said the Pirates would be working on their defense between now and Pearl River's next game Jan. 3 at Albertus Magnus at 4:15 p.m.

"We'll spend a little time on our defense and move forward because the games don't get easier," Lauture said. "They get harder."