BHS girls' hoops upset Nutley

By Joe Ragozzino
Sports editor
Senior guard Megan Hanna hit a running layup with 40 seconds remaining to lift the 19th-seeded Bloomfield High School girls’ varsity basketball team to a 36-35 upset over 14th-seeded Nutley in the second round preliminary of the Essex County Tournament this past Monday Jan. 30 at Nutley High.
Hanna hit a three-pointer with 1:30 remaining to tie the game at 34-34. Hanna’s layup put the Lady Bengals up 36-34.
Junior forward Maya Harris had 13 points, including nine in the third quarter when the Bengals outscored Nutley, 13-5, to take a 25-22 lead.
Hanna and junior Cierra Middleton each finished with nine points as the Bengals improved to 7-8. The Bengals will visit third-seeded Mount St. Dominic in the round of 16 this Saturday Feb. 4 in Caldwell.
The Bengals defeated No. 19 seed Newark Vocational, 58-11, in the first round preliminary last Saturday Jan. 28 at BHS.
Sophomore forward Audrey Cannon had 10 points and Harris,  Middleton and junior guard Demariz Mercado each had eight points to lead the Bengals.
 Junior forward Alexis Bell had six points, Hanna had five points, and sophomore guard Briana LaFiura and junior guard Cristina Velez each had four points for BHS.
Nutley received a bye in the first round preliminary.
The Bengals lost a tough 49-47 overtime decision to Caldwell on Jan. 24 in Caldwell.
Harris had 14 points and Hanna added 11 points for the Bengals, which rallied in the second half, outscoring Caldwell, 22-19, to tie the score at 42-42 and send the game to overtime.
Middleton had 10 points and LaFiura chipped in eight points. Harris scored 15 points and Hanna added eight points in the 70-37 loss at Whippany Park on Jan. 26.