Cresskill trailed Belvidere 37-34 as the fourth quarter began in the North 1, Group 1 state section title game Monday.

It was time for the Colleen Ahearn show.

The junior center had scored but four points through the first three quarters, but that all changed in the final quarter as the Cougars came inside to Ahearn time after time with bounce passes down low and alley oop passes up high.

As a result Ahearn scored 15 points in the quarter to close out the County Seaters 59-44.

In the first half sophomore Carly Cerone drove to the basket for points, while classmate Floriana Borova drove inside and hit shots from the outside.

"They are some of the best athletes I have ever coached, ever been around," said Cresskill coach Jen Rilli. "They played last year so they had some experience. We had some big games this year and they stepped up every single time and proved they were the ones that belonged out there."

Several times Cerone was mugged on the way in but no foul was called.

"They [Belvidere] were aggressive in the first half," said Rilli. "No one likes to get pushed and shoved but Carly can take it. She is a tough player."

"We weren’t leaving here without a win," said Cerone. "We had the motivation in the locker room. We weren’t losing. That’s it."

Toward the end of the second quarter and into the third the County Seaters began to hit shots from the outside, taking a seven-point lead in the third quarter.

"You hope a streaky shooter gets off at some point," said Rilli. "It’s not how you start the game it’s how you end it."

Sarah Malmut drilled a three and Cerone netted a pair of free throws and scored on a drive to the basket to bring the Cougars within one. Ahearn put Cresskill ahead 40-39 with a layup and free throw with 6:22 left in the game.

"I knew I had a height advantage," said Ahearn. "And we had a height advantage inside so we could work it in and score."

"She gets going when she realizes she can do it," Rilli said of Ahearn. "It was a matter of keep giving it to her and giving it to her and it builds her confidence. Once she gets confidence she is unstoppable."

After Dana Drake tied the game for Belvidere 25 seconds later, Cresskill went on a 9-1 run over the next two and one-half minutes to pull away.

Andrea Dunne drained a three for the County Seaters to pull the team within five, 49-44, but the Cougars scored the final 10 points to turn the game into a blowout.

"The longer we play basketball the more fun it is," said Rilli. "To get this far is and to get it done is awesome. They deserve it."

""We are the champs in the league," said Borova. "We knew we could make it this far and we did it."