Stokes, Ewing run past Allentown

When all was said and done, the Ewing and Allentown High varsity girls’ basketball players were thrilled to be back out on the court playing their sport in front of people in the stands Friday when the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletics Association winter season started for 2021-22.

That was simplifying an intense contest which saw the Blue Devils break open a five-point affair in the final 1:30 to pull away for a 5543 win over the Redbirds at the newly refurbished Emil Wandishin Gymnasium.

From Ewing’s loud and proud cheerleaders to their impressive Blue Flame dance squad to questioned non-calls to leg cramps and bruises on both sides, this game opened the Colonial Valley Conference season with a bang, as well as with the Blue Devils’ 14th consecutive victory.

“It was an exciting game,” said Ewing 5-foot-8 sophomore guard Rhian Stokes, who had quite the night when not battling dehydration. “I think our press was really aggressive and helped us set the tone we wanted.”

The game was tied four times in the first three quarters with two lead changes until the Blue Devils’ press helped the home team extend a 12-10 lead after one stanza to 36-26 when Stokes came up with a steal and score to begin the fourth quarter.

Utilizing its own pressure, A’town remained relentless and got the lead back down to four points on Kayla McCrea’s steal and foul-line jump shot with 5:45 to go. After that, the visitors stayed as close as five points through the moment when McCrea hit another foul-line jumper with 1:50 left to trim Ewing’s lead to 45-40.

“I was so excited to play them again,” Kayla McCrea said, mentioning how the two Valley Division foes were unable to meet in the CVC Championship Pod A final last season because of coronavirus issues. “We ended last season by playing with a lot of fluidity. Not all of us play year-round, so it was hard to get that back. I knew this would be a good challenge for us because we’re only going to get better as the season goes on.”

With Stokes hitting 6-of-6 free throws down the stretch, the Blue Devils were able to close the game on a 10-3 burst which included a pair of buckets by 5-11 sophomore guard/ forward Te’Yala Delfosse.

“Heading into that final two minutes, our coaches told us to just play our game and take our time,” Stokes said. “The clock was in our favor, so we needed to take advantage.”

While Stokes led the way with 18 points and nine steals, she had plenty of help as seven of the eight Ewing players who took the floor scored. Fivefoot-11 sophomore forward Joi Johnson backed Stokes with 14 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots, while Delfosse added 11 points, eight in the second half.

“That’s a good thing for us,” Stokes said of the help from her teammates. “A lot of people contributed to this. I’m not the only one who can score, and I’m not the only one who plays defense.”

Kayla McCrea led the Redbirds with 17 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, while her younger sister, Molly (a 5-11 freshman forward), added 11 points with five in the final stanza before she fouled out. Brianna Schweitzer, a 5-8 senior guard, chipped in eight points, all in the second half because of early foul trouble.

ALLENTOWN (43)

Schweitzer 3-0-8, KMcCrea 4-8-17, Landgraf 0-0-0, AConti 2-0-4, CConti 1-1-3, Townsend 0-0-0, MMcCrea 5-1-11. Totals — 15-10-43.

EWING (55)

Allen 0-2-2, Menges 1-0-3, Ilesanmi 0-0-0, JJohnson 7-0-14, Stokes 4-7-18, Delfosse 5-0-11, Biggs 3-0-6, Durham 0-1-1. Totals — 20-12-55.

Allentown (0-1) 10 7 9 17 — 43 Ewing (1-0) 12 10 12 21 — 55 3-point goals — Schweitzer 2, KMcCrea (A), Menges, Stokes, Delfosse (E).