By: Kyle Moylan
It may not be a state playoff or county tournament contest, but tonight’s game at Point Pleasant Beach is the biggest one the Allentown High girls’ basketball team has played in a long time.
With a late rally in the season, Allentown has improved to 11-12 on the year. A win at Point Pleasant Beach in the season finale would allow the girls to finish with a .500 record.
"Our goal was 10 wins," noted Allentown Coach Bob Dubina. "Now we have a chance at a .500 record. It’s a big game. Allentown hasn’t been .500 since 1994."
Allentown will get a chance to play for .500 tonight after winning both of its consolation games in the Mercer County Tournament. Allentown even defeated a Hamilton squad that will be playing in the state tournament this upcoming week.
Against Hamilton, Barbara Jones scored 20 points to lead Allentown to a 46-39 victory. Angelina Sancilio and Lauren Winston added six points each, Lindsey Leck five points, and Margaret Ryan and Dominique Cerulo four points each.
Allentown was trailing going into the fourth quarter this past Friday, but it rallied to pull out a 40-37 win against Lawrence. Once again, Jones delivered a big game with 25 points.
"She’s been good and consistent," noted Dubina. "In our 23 games, she has had 12 double doubles."
Jones has averaged 16.8 points and 12.1 rebounds for Allentown.
Leck, who had five points against Lawrence, has provided great defense. In the second half of the season, she is averaging 3.5 steals a game.
Liana Hernandez, who also had five points in the win against Lawrence, went to a point guard camp over the summer in order to win that job for Allentown.
Dubina is also pleased with the work of Lauren Winston, Margaret Ryan, etc.
"The program is definitely going in the right direction," Dubina noted.
A win tonight would continue that voyage.
"I don’t know what we’ll do if we win," Dubina said. "I know we’ll be happy. If we can be .500 this year, that’s a great start for next year. We’re returning eight of our top 10 players."
The progress doesn’t end tonight and start up again in last November, though.
"We’ll need to work hard over the summer," Dubina said. "This will be a big summer for a lot of reasons."
That’s months away, though. Right now Allentown is concentrating on just one very big game.
