River Dell Varsity Girls Basketball Team pulls off thrilling comeback win over Fair Lawn

The River Dell Golden Hawks Varsity Girls Basketball Team (14-4, 6-1 Big North Patriot) rallied late for a dramatic 43-42 victory over the Fair Lawn Cutters at River Dell High School in Oradell, New Jersey. (12-9, 6-0 Big North Independence), and extending their winning streak to three games. 

Dalia Interiano poured in a game-high 16 points while Maddie Roth added 10 points.

River Dell trailed 42-41 with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, then Alexa DePol chucked up a shot from behind the arc that hit off the glass, and Maddie Roth, perfectly positioned in the low post, grabbed the rebound and converted the one-handed put back shot just as time expired, which set off a jubilant celebration amongst teammates on the court.

Golden Hawks Head Coach Lindsay Steffner on the incredible win, “The team never lost focus, and we executed the game down the stretch very well.” “It’s hard to simulate better in practice sometimes and you don’t want to be in those types of games often but one of the highlights was the girls were really locked in and understood the game plan and if we make or miss in those situations we handled the play very well.”

The play call was to get the ball into Val (Visconti), but she was double-teamed. She kicked the ball back to Alexa, who got a decent look despite defenders rushing at her. Maddie, as the opposite post player to Molly (Irving) in that situation, had the job of crashing the offensive boards and getting the ball up to the rim as quickly as possible. Both players were right there, and their effort created the opportunity.

Maddie is an easy kid to celebrate and be happy for. She’s given our program a lot this year by lifting us up and playing some crucial minutes. It’s just a great story for her to come back as a senior and have that type of moment—she truly embodies the unsung hero concept. She’s not a player you have to guard on the perimeter, but she does the little things very well. In that moment, she was a workhorse. She tries hard, and if things don’t go her way, she takes each game as a learning opportunity. She always gives us her best and is easy to root for.

Entering the fourth quarter, River Dell trailed by a single point at 32-31, then Alexa De Pol got possession of the ball, drove into the paint, and knocked down a jump shot to put the Golden Hawks in front.

Both teams traded the lead, then Fair Lawn went on a 5-0 spurt, highlighted by Shahdy Delgado sinking a triple that extended the Cutters' advantage to 39-35.

River Dell responded with a run of their own to tie the game up at 39-39 with less than two minutes remaining. The Golden Hawks effectively passed the ball with Dalia Interiano feeding a pass to Maddie Roth at the foul line, then Roth dished a dime to Alexa De Pol for a floater in the low post. Interiano is showing her quickness in transition by dribbling rapidly down the court, then flying by a defender and hoisting an off-balanced shot off the glass by the baseline.

Down the stretch, the lead fluctuated as the game became more active and physical, sending both teams to the free-throw line.

“During one time out which I’ve never done I asked them what they wanted to run and they felt confident and named the play and we called it and worked the next two times to get us the lead and to get down the foul line,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner explained. “For me to trust them with the play call they wanted and could see it in their eyes, and they were going to run it well and proud of them in that moment.”

“Alexa is shooting the ball the ball very well and playing high level basketball too.” “Her game against Westwood she hit some tough shots from quite a distance and when people close in on her she’s able to get to the rim and she’s playing with a lot of confidence right now.”

“When Dalia crossed over and used her left hand and the body control athleticism, awareness and the girl guarding her is pretty fast and she wasn’t going around a slow post player and really attacked at that moment with confidence and she was going pretty hard and wasn’t timid.”

Once the third quarter commenced, the Golden Hawks trailed the Cutters 24-20, but Dalia Interiano provided a major spark, canning back-to-back pearls. River Dell was on fire from behind the arc as Alexa De Pol buried a trifecta to put the Golden Hawks ahead since the first quarter.

“We were relieved to be only down by four because we did not play well offensively at all, Head Coach Lindsay Steffner noted. “We missed shots that we normally make and put back, and one of the stats where we missed 25 shots within the key, and that’s not usually happening for us.” “I told them that once they felt their routine and those shots would eventually fall, and we were settling for more outside shots rather than getting to the rim.”

“We just didn’t get a really great warm-up and didn’t get into the flow until the second half which happens and I’m glad our girls finally responded.” “Fair Lawn is a very good team and been battling all season long and getting better as the season goes on and just had a remarkable game against Ramapo and they were there to definitely beat us and ready to play and give them a lot of credit.”

“Dalia has been playing great offensively and defensively and those were big shots that she took and made and getting herself open and we found her on the kickout.”

With the early 11 a.m. tip-off, Fair Lawn displayed a lot of energy and zest from the opening tap, seizing control of the ball and unleashing a quick trey. The Golden Hawks struggled to put the ball in the basket, missing close-range shots and perimeter shots.

Altogether, the Cutters splashed four triples in the first quarter and showcased their speed, leading 16-9 at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter, Fair Lawn widened the advantage to double digits at 20-9. River Dell answered back with a run, with Dalia Interiano delivering the bulk of the offense with eight points, including hitting two trifectas.

“Fair Lawn is obviously a very good team and with them having four guards on the court with one post player,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner described.” “That sped up our defense, and we haven’t seen that in a long time.” “They were setting flare screens and down screens and hitting screens left and right.” “We weren’t prepared for that type of speed and how to cover it.”

“Once we made the adjustment as the game went on, they struggled a little bit more, but their guards are incredibly quick and gifted shooters and took us a little while to settle into making them drive versus them shoot and really closing out.”

The Golden Hawks return to action on Tuesday, February 10th, with an away game at Indian Hills(7-14, 0-7 Big North Patriot), with tip-off set for 7 p.m. at Indian High School in Oakland, New Jersey. Back on January 13th, River Dell won handily, 70-38, at River Dell High School.

“Playing on the road in general is always tough and they’re a well-coached team,” Head Coach Lindsay Steffner mentioned. “They’re playing hard and game Westwood some fits last week and going to play zone and we have to make sure to hit our outside shots and really attack.”

“They have some really good outside shooters and coming along and young teams are dangerous.” “You know that they’re going to do and they don’t really care what our record is and who they’re playing and just want to play basketball and do the best they can, stay on the court and it’s going to be a battle.”