TCA reaches sectional semifinals

HAMILTON » Sherika Salmon knew she couldn’t lose this game or she would never hear the end of it.

Salmon stepped in for head coach Bob Fusik, who was out of state, and coached the Trenton Catholic Academy girls basketball team into the semifinals of the Non-Public B South tournament with a 52-34 victory over Moorestown Friends on Thursday night.

“We weren’t nervous or anything,” Salmon said. “We had a couple days off after the (Mercer County Tournament), so we came out a little slow, but once we got back in the drift and picked it up on defense, we turned it around.”

Giana Boulden had 12 points and Jada Queen and Habiba Elgizawy scored 10 apiece for the top-seeded Lady Mikes (25-2), who host 12th-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s in the semifinals.

The Knights (13-8) upset fourth-seeded Roselle Catholic in their quarterfinal game.

TCA’s full-court pressure was the difference in the game as it turned up the defense when it needed to in order to put away the Foxes (18-6).

Moorestown Friends got within 12 on Alyssa Runyan’s layup to open the fourth quarter, but the Mikes rolled off the next nine points to thwart any attempt at a comeback.

“We always make sure to try and apply our defense,” Boulden said. “I think it was our intensity, our energy level and we were hyped that it was states.” Bella Runyan scored a gamehigh 22 points for the Foxes.

KYLE FRANKO — TRENTONIAN FILE PHOTO Trenton Catholic assistant coach Sherika Salmon, center, took over while head coach Bob Fusik, left, was away on Thursday night. The Iron Mikes won their Non-Public B South game over Moorestown Friends.