For the 16th time this season, the Columbia girls basketball team proved that any team not named Shabazz cannot hang with the Lady Cougars for four quarters. On Tuesday night at South Orange Middle School, Columbia turned a three-point game into a 13-point margin in less than five minutes, cruising to a 57-43 win over East Orange.
After the Lady Jaguars were able to stay close to the Cougars through the first 15 minutes of play, with Columbia holding onto a 23-20 lead with under one minute to play in the opening half, Columbia mounted a 15-1 run that lasted deep into the third quarter.
"I thought they were a little lethargic in the beginning, just trying to get our bearings and things right, and once they started stepping up on defense, it was a different game," said Columbia girl head coach Johanna Wright.
Gabby Jackson chased down a long outlet pass from teammate Jade Johnson-Walker and found a wide open Melissa Carelli for a baseline three pointer to spark Columbia's essentially game-ending run. On the next play, Brianna Thomas came up with a steal and layup to send the Cougars into the break up by seven points.
"I thought Gabby did a great job. She's just getting back from her concussion, she has been out for three weeks. So in the last two games she has really turned it up. Plus, she has fresh legs," Wright said.
As they have for most of the season, Columbia dominated the third quarter and basically ended any chance of an East Orange comeback. The girls outscored the Jaguars 14-7 in the third and held on in the fourth quarter. The Cougars have outscored the opposition in the third quarter 12 times this season, with each contest ending in a double-digit win.
"I think that's when they get their second wind and they realize what's at stake and you can't fool around," Wright said of the team's third quarter success. "If we do, we'll be in a dog fight."
The biggest difference in the game for Columbia was its ability to protect the ball. Columbia turned it over 14 times, but only four times in the second half. Meanwhile, East Orange lost the rock 21 times, nine times in the second half, with Columbia coming up with 14 steals in the game and 16 points off of turnovers.
Columbia did not shoot the ball particularly well, connecting on 21 of 51 shots from the floor for a 41.2 percent mark, compared to 16 of 32 for East Orange. But because of all of the Jaguar turnovers, coupled with them attempting only three free throws through the first three quarters and making just nine of 15 from the line all game, they never really made Columbia pay for its sub-par shooting effort. On top of it, the Cougars got three three-point baskets compared to none from East Orange and also sank 12 of 15 from the charity stripe.
East Orange fought back in the fourth quarter, making eight free throws and having its best offensive period, with 16 points, but Columbia was able to match the opposition basket for basket and never let the Jaguars back into the game.
Columbia got great production from Jackson, who scored 13 points to go along with 10 rebounds, six of which were offensive. Thomas also scored 13 and Carelli added 12 for Columbia. East Orange was led by Linda Hamilton with 11 points, while both Teana Muldrow and Delisha Thompson scored 10 each.
Columbia, which improved to 16-2 and is unbeaten against teams not named Shabazz this season, is at home against University on Thursday night, and then hosts Caldwell in the first round of the Essex County Tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m.
