River Dell Varsity Girls Basketball Team displays gritty effort in win over Paramus Catholic

Building on recent momentum, the River Dell Golden Hawks Varsity Girls Basketball Team (11-3, 4-1 Big North Patriot) notched its second straight win, defeating the Paramus Catholic Paladins (6-9, 1-2 Big North United) 59-38 at River Dell High School in Oradell, New Jersey.

Val Visconti compiled a dominating double-double performance, tallying 30 points and 22 rebounds. Alexa DePol and Maddie Roth each added eight points apiece.

Coach Lindsay Steffner said, "Paramus Catholic brings energy, talent, and athleticism—they are relentless. The score doesn’t show how close it was. I was apprehensive. We had a snow day, just came off a big win, and had no scouting or practice."

Coach Steffner highlighted Paramus Catholic’s strengths: “They have multiple scoring threats, vary their defenses, and are very athletic. They played well against DePaul Catholic and in the Hold Angels game. Buckingham was outstanding. Their record doesn’t reflect their skill.”

Paramus Catholic hit an early three-pointer. The Golden Hawks then went on a 20-0 run, turning the game into a fast-paced contest.

Val Visconti was unstoppable, scoring 12 points in the paint. River Dell moved the ball well, mainly scoring around the perimeter and low post.

Coach Steffner said, "Val set the tone. Maddie and Val move the ball well together and are exciting to watch. Maddie grabbed many rebounds and complements Val with their high-low action."

Defensively, the Golden Hawks increased their intensity, forcing turnovers with aggressive man-to-man and full-court press, leading to fast breaks.

In the second quarter, River Dell led 25-5 after a three-pointer from Hope Arturi. Alexa DePol added a trey while Val Visconti kept scoring, adding six points.

“When Paramus Catholic started changing their defense and focusing on Val, our guards were seeing a zone. They were able to knock down shots in the corner. Alexa had a high percentage shot,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner remarked.

Even with the Paladins reeling off a 5-0 spurt, the Golden Hawks were up by a comfortable margin at halftime. The score was 31-12.

Coach Steffner told her team at halftime, "Paramus Catholic is relentless—they’ll fight back. Holding them to 12 points isn’t typical for them. They’ll come out and guard us man-to-man."

In the third quarter, Paramus Catholic switched to a full-court press and began double-teaming River Dell's ball handlers. However, this did not stop River Dell from increasing its lead. Val Visconti continued her strong play in the low post, scoring eight points by finding open opportunities for close shots.

River Dell’s passing game was patient and precise, with Dalia Interiano leading in assists. Maddie Roth added six points, making it 48-25 after three quarters.

Coach Steffner explained, "They switched to man-to-man and that let Val play one-on-one inside. It opened driving lanes and outside shots. We could attack the rim in more ways."

Coach Steffner praised Dalia’s playmaking: “Dalia is a key facilitator who delivered the ball precisely where it needed to go. She should have had three more assists if our timing hadn’t been off in a few situations. She’s reading the game faster now, guiding teammates to the basket, and playing at a very high level, which makes me proud.”

In the fourth, reserves contributed as Emma Yeandle hit a three-pointer and Kayleigh Windram scored on a fast break.

Coach Steffner said, "Emma’s shot was perfect and we were able to get her a good look for that three-pointer. We found Kayleigh for a layup in transition. Our subs finished the game strong and gave our starters a rest."

The Golden Hawks return Saturday, January 31, in the Bergen County Tournament as the seventh seed after a bye. They will face the winner of Saddle River Day and Midland Park. The game is at Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan at 2 p.m.

Last year in the tournament, River Dell reached the quarterfinals, falling to Teaneck in a very competitive contest, 65-59.

Coach Steffner commented, "I’m not satisfied with everything. We still have things to work on. The Ridgewood and Paramus Catholic games were tough. The Ramapo game was emotionally hard. We’ve been working hard, even with the snow day. But I don’t want to push the players too much. Some are getting sick. I want us ready for Saturday."

Coach Steffner said, "My message is that every game matters. Focus on one game at a time and aim for a league championship. Next week’s games are as important as Saturday's. Winning a county championship would be a dream. It’s not our only goal."

Coach Steffner noted, "This was a strong performance worth power points for the state tournament. We’re focusing on a league that’s playing well. We’re right where we want to be, playing good basketball."