In a game that featured a wild finish with screaming fans, swishing buckets and sensational passes, it was Malmut’s teammate, Flo Borova, who saved the best for last.

In the final minutes Borova drove down the lane, drawing Dwight-Englewood defenders. Then she used a no-look behind-the-back pass to a wide-open Carly Cerone underneath. Cerone sank the close r

	staff photo by joe camporeale Cresskill center Colleen Ahearn provides tight defense against Dwight-Englewood guard Sara Brescia.

Every girls’ high school basketball team in the area knows you cannot stop Lady Bulldog Julia Schneider. You can only hope to contain her and the Cougar defense, for the most part, did so Jan. 15.

At the end of the third the Cougars were hanging onto a one-point lead. Although the Borova-Cerone connection was astounding, it was the Cougars’ dominance on defense that really stole the show, as they held the Bulldogs to only five points in the final quarter.

"In the last quarter we got used to the rhythm of the triangle defense we were playing," said Malmut. "We played well and really came together in the end. This is a game we needed to win."

The zone defenses of both teams set the tone for the night, as the offenses took some time to heat up. All the inside shots were contested and it was up to each team’s accuracy from the perimeter. Malmut did it on both ends of the court, draining outside shots, but also holding Schneider to three points in the first quarter.

As a result Cresskill took a 12-7 lead.

"I usually only shoot when I’m open and normally I look to pass it to one of the other girls inside," said Malmut. "But the defense took away the inside and my shot was on tonight."

The D-E defense momentarily broke down, which allowed Cresskill to open the second quarter with a pair of layups by Cerone and Stephanie Durakis.

The Cougars also completely shut down the Bulldog offense by holding them scoreless for five and a half minutes, but the home team was unable to build a sizeable lead.

"They played their hearts out for the most part, but there were a few lapses which allowed them to sneak back into it," said Cresskill coach Jennifer Rilli.

After D-E was able to get its first points in the quarter the momentum began to shift. Schneider was able to provide a late surge with four consecutive points and the Bulldogs went into the half only down 20-17 aided by an 8-0 run.

At the half, a composed Rilli tried to rally the team and instill the needed confidence to push forward in the second half.

"I tried to make it clear that we had to jump out to a huge lead and we couldn’t allow them to build on anything," said Rilli. "I told them to play twice as hard and that I truly believed we were the better team out there."

The second half was evenly matched, as each team seemed to step up their physical play.

D-E tried to break down Cresskill’s defense, but Cerone and Colleen Ahearn held their ground firmly, giving up nothing. The Bulldog defense didn’t roll over either, and each team again hit a scoring drought.

Cresskill couldn’t put up points to build on their lead and the frustration showed. The home team wasn’t getting favorable bounces, as Borova’s two consecutive attempts rimmed out. The aggravation was contagious and turned into more missed shots and inaccurate passes.

The Bulldogs kept plugging away trying to set up open shots and there was a sense that it was just a matter of time before baskets would start to fall. Anna Kaminsky, who is D-E’s top outside shooter, drained a three-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 27-26 lead with 50 seconds left on the clock.

The lost lead seemed to provide a wake up call for the Cougars, sparking Ahearn to hit an inside bucket.

Cresskill headed into the fourth with a 28-27 lead and momentum back on their side.

Borova was clutch, opening the final eight minutes by knocking down an open look. It appeared something was different about the Cougar’s fourth quarter approach.

"We finally saw openings in the inside game and we spread the court," said Cerone. "We did awesome and it was a good team effort throughout."

In the final quarter the Cougar defense really clamped down and kept Kaminsky and center Amina Lawrence off the scoreboard.

D-E’s Sara Brescia broke through to score her first points of the game with an inside layup, but Borova instantly answered back to put the Cougars up for good, 32-29, with 5:15 to go.

"We started playing tighter defense and we didn’t take any stupid shots," said Borova.

In the last minutes Cresskill sat on their lead and D-E had to foul. This was another difference in each of the team’s play. The Bulldogs had a poor showing at the line, shooting 9 for 18, while Cresskill hit its free throws.

"Cresskill played really well in the fourth and they played great defense," said D-E coach Rich Muller. "We gave up some easy shots and weren’t able to capitalize on their missed opportunities. On top of that we just missed our free throws, but the girls played well."

The Bulldogs were disappointed with the loss, but knew there was no shame in losing to a top team.

"We fought hard and it’s a game we really wanted," said Lawrence. "It came down to focus and keeping our heads in the game, but we’ll be ready to get them next time."

The Cresskill girls were overjoyed as a couple players hugged in the final seconds after sealing the victory.

"It’s a huge confidence builder being the only team undefeated in the league at 7-0," said Rilli. "Moving forward it’s a big team builder and it shows that every girl that played really contributed."