River Dell Varsity Girls Basketball Team season ends with a hard-fought loss to Demarest in the North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 Quarterfinals

The River Dell Golden Hawks Varsity Girls Basketball Team(16-9) 2024-25 season ended in a fiercely contested battle against the Demarest Norsemen(22-5) 58-53 in the North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 Quarterfinals at Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest.

Dalia Interiano followed up her stellar performance against Roxbury in the first round, tallying a game-high 21 points, while Morgan Sconza contributed 13 points, and Val Visconti added 12 points.

"I'm proud of the way the girls handled the season and how close they are as a group," River Dell Head Coach Lindsay Steffner explained. "I'm proud of the friendships they've made, and leadership and they hit every mark and for me it was an enjoyable season." "I looked forward to going to practice every single day and at the end of the season you just wanted one more practice and game and more with this group."

"Yes, we got 16 wins and it was a great season and all-league and counties coming out and they're being recognized but I'm super proud of how the team came together and you never know how it's going to go but they're just an enjoyable group of girls that really like each other and yes it's about the wins and losses but at the end of the day they're going to remember the friendships they made, bus rides and inside jokes and things we laughed at."

The game started with a quick 5-0 lead for Demarest, but River Dell quickly responded with a 7-0 spurt. The first quarter was a display of back-and-forth action, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Dalia Interiano picked up where she left off against Roxbury in terms of scoring, notching eight points, including two trifectas. By the end of the period, the Golden Hawks were up 17-15.

"As the season went on you saw a lot of growth and confidence in Dalia," Head Coach Lindsay Steffner described. "There's more growth that needs to happen but it's tremendous and she went in the right direction." "She asks the right questions, understands the game and follows the scouting report and embraced her role defensively as one of our better defenders which is not easy as well when trying to exhaust the other team's best guard then put points up in the other end."

The Norsemen reclaimed the advantage in the second quarter behind the strong play of Gabriella Mittlemen, who dropped six points, extending the Demarest margin to 23-19 with less than five minutes remaining.

The Golden Hawks responded with tenacity when driving to the rim for layups. Meanwhile, Val Visconti duplicated her first quarter point total, netting six additional points.

With time winding in the first half, Kasey Ziegler secured the ball, drove baseline, and flicked up a nifty shot that dropped through the bucket, putting River Dell up 29-28 at halftime.

"Kasey never lets me down, and as far as what she brings to the table and her hustle is unmatched," Head Coach Lindsay Steffner said. "She's full of bruises always, has no fear, and exemplifies what leaving it all on the court means." "She'll dive headfirst into the scorer's table, diving on the floor for a loose ball and take out four of five kids if she needs to. She always gets to the possession and when we need a jump ball." "She brings that energy and makes the other girls play harder because they don't want to let her down because she's doing so much."

In the third quarter, the Golden Hawks maintained their lead as Dalia Interiano continued her exemplary play. Interiano scored six points and displayed outside perimeter shooting skills.

However, Demarest answered back with a 7-0 spurt in the final minute play by knocking down free throws, and Caitlyn Fontana(12 points) scored seven points, including a pair of triples, as the Norsemen entered the fourth quarter ahead 42-37.

Once the fourth quarter commenced, Demarest widened the lead to 45-37 on a trey from Ella Peck(11 points). River Dell ignited a rebuttal that narrowed the deficit to 46-43 on a pair of free throws with five and a half minutes to go.

The Norsemen countered the blitz on a pearl by Ava Francica to make it 49-43. Down the stretch, the Golden Hawks struggled to convert outside shots and layups, which forced them into committing fouls. Demarest was calm and collected at the charity stripe line, hitting nine shots, with Gabriella Mittleman(19 points) sinking seven.

Despite the odds, the Golden Hawks refused to give up. Kasey Ziegler's determined play in the low post and Morgan Sconza's three-pointer from well behind the arc brought the score to 57-53. However, time was not on their side, and the Norsemen held on to the victory.

"We missed a couple of shots here and there which we tend to during the season," Head Coach Lindsay Steffner stated. "We were getting hit pretty hard sometimes around the basket but that's the state tournament and it's all about just being consistent."

"A couple of bounces here and there and it's a different conversation." "The girls played very hard and left everything out on the floor and I couldn't ask anything more of them."

"We had a great crowd and nice to see the support we had and just random fans to see a good match-up in Bergen County." "I think we grew our fan base over the season and see the way we move the ball, Kasey's hustle, Morgan hitting tremendous shots, watching Val play inside, watching Dalia get to the basket and Alexa is making plays here and there." "There was always a wow factor with us and having a fan base that is even beyond the parents."

"The biggest gift Morgan and Kasey are leaving behind is a really strong legacy and that's important for the underclassman to see that bar set so high for them because I scheduled a very hard schedule in general and hardest in my 10 years here at River Dell." "We had Teaneck and Demarest, top ten teams in North Jersey and overall, I think a lot of coaches were scared of us and to see us on their schedule and that's a testament to the way that these kids took the challenge every day."

"We've got to put some work in the off-season just like everyone else and you could see some real growth in some of our current players and how much they've improved from year to year and sky's the limit with this group."