FAIR LAWN — Paulina Paris was in attendance when Saddle River Day won its record-tying fifth straight Bergen County girls basketball championship in 2020.
At the time, the highly-touted recruit was a sophomore at Albertus Magnus in Rockland County, N.Y.
She transferred to Saddle River Day prior to her junior year, but COVID put the kibosh on Paris helping to extend the streak.
The North Carolina commit finally was able to seize the moment Thursday night at Fair Lawn High School, scoring 34 points to lead the top-seeded Rebels past No. 3 seed Immaculate Heart, 72-60.
“I went to their county championship two years ago against IHA, and being able to see it was amazing,” Paris said. “[Last year], all the girls were telling me that it was a big experience. And I’m so glad that we were able to win, because this is even more amazing.”
What it means
Not only did Saddle River Day (22-1) set a record for most consecutive tournament titles with six, it also combined with IHA (20-5) to produce the highest-scoring championship game in the event's 47-year history.
The great Paramus Catholic teams of Dr. Rose Battaglia in the late 1970s set the standard with five straight Bergen championships, winning each by an average of 21 points.
The Rebels’ average margin of victory in their six finals is 11, and Immaculate Heart made them earn this trophy by getting back within shouting distance after trailing by as many as 17 in the second quarter.
“IHA played hard, they really showed up,” Saddle River Day coach Danny Brown said. “I thought it was a good battle, I really did. If we had stuck to the game plan, it would’ve been a little bit different of a gap at the end there, but they took advantage of our mistakes.”
Key sequences
Paris and fellow senior Cierra Pearson hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the first 45 seconds to give the Rebels a lead they would never relinquish.
IHA whittled the gap down to six midway thought the second and trailed at halftime, 41-32. But Paris sank two more treys in the opening minute of the third quarter, and the Blue Eagles did not get closer than nine the rest of the way.
“She’s the real deal,” Brown said of Paris.
By the numbers
132: The teams’ aggregate score bested the previous record of 121, which happened when Teaneck beat Northern Highlands for the 2012 title, 72-49.
55: The previous record for most points scored in the final by the losing team, which Pascack Valley turned in against Saddle River Day (60) in 2018.
5: Times in the 47-year history of the tournament that a team has scored 70-plus points in the final. The Rebels joined 2012 Teaneck, 1989 Pascack Valley (70) and the Paramus Catholic teams of 1979 (72) and 1983 (77).
Game balls
? In addition to Paris, senior Dakota Corey had an all-around brilliant game for the Rebels: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals.
? Saddle River Day junior Julianna Almeida led all players in rebounds with 12.
? IHA point guard Isabella Asencio netted 18 points, while Gina Gaccione chipped in 13 points and 5 assists.
They said it
“It means a lot doing it with this team. We are doubted a lot, especially after the [St. John Vianney] loss [76-51 on Feb. 6], we were told we wouldn’t be able to bounce back from it, and I think we have. And the way we showed up tonight was just perfect.” —Paris
Greg Tartaglia is a high school sports reporter for NorthJersey.com. For full access to live scores, breaking news and analysis from our Varsity Aces team, subscribe today. To get breaking news directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter and download our app.
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