Photos
-
Seniors (left to right) Marielle Jankowski, Mallory George, Erin Ferguson and Alyssa Cranston pose with their parents and coaches after being honor before their senior night game against Jonathan Dayton. Credits: Stephen Valenti
-
Governor Livingston and Jonathan Dayton get ready for opening tip. The Highlanders defeated the Bulldogs 54-29 on Friday. Credits: Stephen Valenti
Governor Livingston Defeats Jonathan Dayton 54-29 on Senior Night
Saturday, February 2, 2013 • 12:10am
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. - On senior night, the Governor Livingston seniors did not disappoint as they combined to score 40 of the Highlanders' 54 points in a 25 point victory over Jonathan Dayton on Friday night. The Highlanders improved to 15-4 on the season.
Senior Erin Ferguson led all scorers with 22 points for Governor Livingston and was followed by fellow senior Mallory George’s 10 points.
“It great to go out with a win for them,” head coach Andy Silvagni said. “They worked hard for four years and to pull out the victory tonight is great.”
While the 54-29 final score may indicate an easy game for the Highlanders, the first half was no blowout.
After scoring the first five points of the game, the Highlanders found themselves on the opposite side of a 9-0 run as Jonathan Dayton led 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.
“Senior night is always a tough night for the girls,” Silvagni said. “It’s always emotional for (the seniors) last home game, so sometimes they might try too hard and force action. Once the game got in a flow we were fine.”
That flow started to be found in the second quarter. After both teams traded an early basket, Governor Livingston went on an 11-2 run to help them open up a 23-15 halftime lead.
Out of the locker room for the second half, the Highlanders stepped up their defensive pressure and started to press the Bulldogs. The pressure led to defensive stops and easy baskets as Governor Livingston outscored Jonathan Dayton 23-7 for the quarter.
“We just wanted to continue to pressure the ball and do what we do and try to get the ball to our seniors because this is their night,” Silvagni said.
The dominant third quarter left no question of the outcome of the game when the fourth quarter started.
Since it was senior night for the four seniors on Governor Livingston, Silvagni made a mass substitution with just over two minutes to play to insert his seniors back into the game. Then at each dead ball he substituted one of the girls out so that they can be recognized by the crowd.
Governor Livingston has one game remaining on their regular season schedule as they face Union at home on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
