After six long years of defeat, the Pascack Valley girls basketball team defied the odds. Ranked No. 8 in The Record Top 25, the team executed what could be the greatest upset in the county this year. The girls took down No. 1 Teaneck in a very controlled victory on Tuesday with a score of 60-41.

“You don’t have to be the best team. You have to be the better team today,” said coach Jeff Jasper, who has won 944 total games during his 43 year tenure as head coach.

The Indians (6-3) led early on, at the end of the first quarter the score was 15-8. After holding a halftime lead of 28-18, the Indians, who snapped a six-year losing streak against Teaneck, truly lit it up during the third quarter outscoring the Highwaymen 20-7 to bring the score to 48-25.

Senior Gina Criscuolo dominated on both sides of the ball, scoring a game high 17 points, forcing Teaneck to shift to a box-and-one in an attempt to stop Criscuolo. She also added eight rebounds, two blocks and two steals to her impressive statline. Jasper also added that Criscuolo, “found her place as a leader on the court, which is something that [the team] really needed.”

Sophomores Brianna Wong and Kelly Petro followed Criscuolo’s suit, scoring 14 and 12 points respectively. Wong had four assists and two steals while Petro added eight rebounds and three blocks.

What is in store for the future for the girls? That doesn’t concern Jasper, he is living in the present.

I am excited about today,” he said. “I am excited to go to practice everyday with this group.”

When Criscuolo was taken out of the game, Jasper embraced her, the first that came to his mind when he was asked about her, “Awesome.”

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Kyle Comito