The Alternative Press

SUMMIT, NJ – Senior guard Kate Martino finished with 22 points and Kelly Osmulski added 15 as the Summit Lady Hilltoppers built a 20-point lead in the early part of the third quarter and went on to defeat the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Lady Red Raiders 60-44 on Thursday night at Summit High School.

 

The win improves the Summit record to 11-4 on the season as the team has won nine of its last 10 games.

 

“For us, we want to control the things we can control. We want to play good, solid quarters. If it means we win the game then great,” Summit Head Coach said Brian Erickson said. “Playing good hard defense, executing offensively and controlling our enthusiasm, that’s the thing we really focus on."

 

And certainly Summit was clicking on all of those facets for the good majority of the game.

 

After being in an early 4-0 hole, Carly Wilson scored the first points of the game for her team at the 3:55 mark of the first quarter after an offensive rebound put back; she finished with 16 rebounds in her first ever varsity start. From there, Summit went on an 8-2 run to close out the quarter and took a 12-6 lead after the first eight minutes of play.

 

Midway through the third quarter, Summit had a seemingly commanding lead after Osmulski made a layup to make the score 36-16.

 

The Scotch-Plains offense would finally come to life after that as they scored the next eleven points of the contest to draw within nine.

 

Guard Katie Harper, who led Scotch Plains with 14 points, made a layup after a steal and a three pointer during that stretch as the score was 36-27 in Summit’s favor with less than three minutes left until the final quarter.

 

“I don’t think you ever have a game under control. Even if you think you do it’s a false sense of security. Scotch Plains is a well-coached team from top to bottom,” Erickson. “The kids shoot well and they also can defend. I’m never comfortable with any game until the final buzzer.”

 

Martino would make sure the Summit lead did not dwindle any further at that point when she scored four points in a span of under a minute to bump her team’s lead back up to 15.

 

Showing tremendous fight, Scotch Plains would come back to score the last five points of the third to make the score 42-32 heading into the fourth. Harper had all of those when she hit a three off an inbound pass and a layup in transition off yet another steal.

 

The beginning of the fourth quarter saw some tremendous defense played by both teams before Nicole Johnson hit a long two for Summit to make the score 47-36 with 5:21 left.

 

Taylor Sebolao answerd right back for Scotch Plains with a three ball followed by two made free throws as they drew to within six, their closest margin of the second half, with just over three minutes left in the game.

 

From there, Summit went on a strong, statement making 13-3 run to close out the game. Martino, Osmulski and Johnson hit some clutch free throws down the stretch and they were able to take advantage of some transition chances when Scotch Plains attempted to double team Summit players on their end of the court.

 

“What I felt good about tonight was our team defense. We really locked down a little bit and got out on their shooters. I thought tonight our peaks outnumbered our valleys. Our transition game was solid and that’s something that we need to generate some points. We did a good job of shooting some free throws down the stretch, too,” Erickson said.

 

Speaking of generating some points, that is something Martino has done throughout her four year career at Summit. Although it happened a few nights ago in a win over Linden High School, it is worth mentioning that All Union-Second Team selection star scored her 1,000^th career point in that contest.

 

“I think it was really big. It was a good experience. It’s something I’ve been working for the past four years and it was nice that it finally came together,” Martino told TheAlternativePress.com

 

“She’s the concept of teammate. It’s never about her. It’s never about a personal achievement for her. She has earned every one of those points that she’s scored. It was a great evening for her. I think a lot of pressure was released after she was able to get that. It couldn’t happen to a nicer student-athlete,” Erickson said of his senior star’s achievement.

 

Things do not get any easier for Summit on their tough schedule as they face yet another formidable Union County opponent in Plainfield, this Saturday at 1 p.m. in Summit.