Cook Makes Two Big Shots, Pearl River Defeats Tappan Zee in OT

Pearl River junior Allison Cook struggled to find her shot through most of Wednesday's game at Tappan Zee.

She found it just in time, draining one long-range shot for a four-point play in regulation and a three-pointer in overtime to help Pearl River defeat Tappan Zee, 59-57.

"I had to pick it up," Cook said. "I have to make big shots. Once I make one, I know I can make more."

"She has a lot of confidence her her shooting ability," Pearl River coach Lorraine Moylan said. "She came through big for us."

Pearl River improved to 16-1 for the season, remaining tied with Albertus Magnus (15-1) for the league title and a spot in Saturday's Rockland County Championship Game at Clarkstown South, which will be settled by a series of tiebreakers because both teams have completed their regular-season schedule. If the Pirates are not in the county title game, they will play another county opponent Monday, though they are more focused on Sectionals. The Section seedings will be released Feb. 16.

"(This game) was important, but if we are in or Albertus is in, it doesn't matter," said Pearl River junior Christa Scognamiglio, who scored a game-high 24 points against Tappan Zee. "We've got Sectionals next week, which is a lot bigger."

Tappan Zee (12-5) will also be in the Section tournament after a county game Monday. They lost both meetings with Pearl River this season by two points, but still went 0-4 againt the Pirates and Falcons while going 12-1 against everybody else. Tappan Zee lost to Albertus Magnus, 77-70, Monday.

"When it gets down to a situation to make a play, they made it tonight," Tappan Zee coach Tom Cromer said of Pearl River. "Albertus on Monday, they made that play. That’s a credit to them. We’re taking those baby steps and the girls are motivated to get over the hump. This wasn’t something to end their season. Their season is still in front of them. Once Section starts, everyone is 0-0."

Megan Curran had another strong game for Tappan Zee, contributing 18 points, 12 of them in the second half and overtime. Regina Argenzio and Sarah Wenke each scored 11 for the Dutchies.

Curran hit a three-pointer to give Tappan Zee its largest lead of the game at 39-32 with 4:20 to go in the third quarter, but Scognamiglio sparked a 9-0 run with two free throws and a three-point shot. Nicole Grossbard, who finished with 14 points, scored to end the run and give the Pirates a two-point edge, which is where the teams stood going into the fourth.

Neither team led by more than three points the entire fourth quarter, but Curran gave Tappan Zee a 50-48 advantage with a three-point shot with 2:45 remaining in the game. Less than a minute later, Cook came through with the first of her two big plays, draining a three-point shot from the corner while being fouled. She hit the free thow to give Pearl River a 52-48 lead with 1:57 remaining.

"When I released it, I knew it was going in," Cook said.

"That was a big one," Moylan said. "That was an awesome three with a foul and it really got us rolling."

Argenzio tied the game at 52-52 with two free throws and both teams missed opportunities to score in the final seconds of regulation.

Wenke brought the Dutchies even again at 55-55 with a three-point shot halfway through overtime. Cook, who finished with 10 points, answered with her third three-point shot of the game with 2:20 left to give Pearl River a lead it would never relinquish. Scognamiglio made a free throw for the final margin at 59-57.

Pearl River left the door open by missing three free throws and a couple of layups in the final 45 seconds, but Tappan Zee missed its last shot as time expired.

"I think we are going to have a layup practice because we missed a lot," Moylan said.