Two Fort Lee Girls Travel Teams Bring Home Championship Trophies

Both the sixth and seventh grade Fort Lee Girls Recreation Basketball League travel teams won championships over the weekend in the Tenafly Travel League in Mahwah.

Both teams had won close games at home last week to advance to the championship round to face number one seeds.

The sixth grade team rallied from a 10-point, halftime deficit Saturday for a come-from-behind win against previously undefeated Washington Township (15-0), 34-22.

Faith Diaz led the way with a game-high 19 points.

“Congratulations to Coaches Ralph Dimeglio, Frank Ferraro and Danny Gaito for a job well done,” said Fort Lee Girls Recreation Basketball League president Michael Klein.
In the seventh grade championship game Sunday, the Fort Lee girls beat top-seeded Tenafly, 60-44. Fort Lee held a double-digit lead for most of the second half, but with key players in foul trouble, they saw their lead cut to just three points, 43-40. But clutch foul shooting in the fourth quarter allowed the Fort Lee girls to pull away. Fort Lee was led by a career game from Sarah Diaz, who had a game-high 32 points and 20 rebounds. Jamie Rosa had 11 points, and Nicole Maldonado chipped in eight.
Klein congratulated coaches Scott Mittman and Greg Vucci “for a great season.”

“I thought the game by seventh-grader Sarah Diaz was the greatest performance I have ever seen in a rec or travel game—ever,” Klein said. “Thirty-two points and 20 rebounds in a championship game is incredible. [Sarah] played all 32 minutes and didn't stop hustling—not for one minute.”

But he also said that with Nicole Maldonado and Jamie Rose in foul trouble, solid team play was ultimately the key to victory.

“Point guard Jackie McKenna, Ellie Schulman, Gianna DeJesus, Nina Conticelllo and Jane Kim had no choice but to pick up their game and did,” Klein said. “They all contributed to this victory with a total team effort.”

Klein said that when the sixth- and seventh-graders join up in a few years at Fort Lee High School—some of them as Lady Bridgemen varsity players—they are going to be a very strong team.

“Coach Stacey Zafiris and coach Billy Straub, who have been attending the last few travel games at both divisions, were both very impressed with what they saw coming up in the future,” Klein said. “I am so proud of everyone of these travel players. Their first practice was back in October, and now in the middle of March, they have really come a long way, which is a testament to their coaches, who did a tremendous job with these girls.”

He added, “I'm hoping for a repeat next season.”

Fort Lee’s scoring totals for the seventh grade game were as follows:

• Sarah Diaz - 32
• Jamie Rosa - 11
• Nicole Maldonado - 8
• Jackie Mckenna - 4
• Ellie Schulman - 2
• Gianna DeJesus - 2
• Jane Kim - 1

The scoring totals for the sixth grade team:

• Faith Diaz - 19
• Nicole Gaito - 6
• Tommasina DiMeglio - 5
• Natalie Elmers - 2
• Leslie Pimentel - 2

Below is the sixth grade coaching staff’s take on their team’s championship:

The sixth grade Fort Lee girls' travel team prevailed in one of the most exciting games in Fort Lee girls travel basketball league history, winning the Bergen Travel Basketball League 6th Grade Navy division Championship 34-22 against a previously undefeated Washington Township squad. With a slow start to the game, the Fort Lee girls found themselves in a hole, down 2 - 10 at end of the 1st qtr and 6 - 15 at half, trailing by 13 at one point. However, after a motivational halftime speech by coaches Ralph DiMeglio, Frank Ferraro, and Daniel Gaito preaching “It’ s our time now” stressing defense wins championships as well reminding the girls that they have been a second half team all season – the girls were determined and energized to fight hard the second half and bring Fort Lee a championship.  Throughout the second half, the coaches stressed defensive stops and to take the game back one bucket at a time.  The 3rd qtr began mildly enough with coach Frank barking out plays up and down the side lines, however unsuspectingly to Washington Township, the second half onslaught was about to be set in motion…  An unwavering Fort Lee team was determined to get back into this game and win a championship.  Sparked by a three-pointer by Faith Diaz, who hit for nine points in the quarter and timely jump shots by Nicole Gaito, Fort Lee closed the gap to one going into the 4th qtr down 19 – 20.  The 4th quarter was met with tenacious Fort Lee team defense, holding a talented Washington Township team to two 4th quarter points, (seven points in total the entire second half).  The defense was guided by the steady and strong play of Tommasina Di Meglio, Leslie Pimentel and Sakura Kagawa.  The 4th quarter offensive push was once again paced by Faith Diaz who had six points in the quarter and a game high 19 points, with Fort Lee outscoring Washington Township in the 4th quarter 15-2 (28 – 7 second half FL advantage).  Additional team contributions to a hard fought victory were also provided by Natalie Elmers who contributed 2 points at a key moment in the game and a stifling and controlling defensive efforts by Grace Huang, Athena Sinisi, Kaitlyn Moran, and Danielle Wertheim.  Special note also goes out to the year long team play of Daniel Raskin and Brianna Dominquez.  And just like that, in a “Fort Lee minute”, the superior Fort Lee squad went ahead, building a 10 point advantage with a minute left in the game – thoughts of a FL championship filled the gymnasium.  As Tommasina iced the game with a final free throw with 15 seconds left in the game, giving the mighty Fort Lee team a decisive 34-22 advantage, thoughts of winning a championship were now truly overflowing…  As the game clock landed on zero in combination with the game ending horn screaming loudly, a deafening cheer roared and echoed throughout the sports center – “Do you believe in Miracles”,  The Fort Lee 6th grade team came back and is victorious - 34-22 win - capturing the 2012 BTBL Championship.  The team, fans, family members and coaches were all ecstatic with joy. The dream was realized. This inaugural fledgling 6th grade team has been crowned 2012  champions. A win to cherish and memories to keep for a life time....

Congratulations on the victory!!! Fort Lee 6th Grade Team you are 2012 BTBL Champions.