CLARK, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders girls varsity basketball team faced off on their home court against the Rahway High School Indians, continuing their Christmas Tournament play, their second game in two days.
Less than 24 hours after coming up short against North Hunterdon HS, the Crusaders were looking for a good response. They wasted no time getting right to work, sprinting out to a strong lead early, defeating the Indians 53-24 in the Fifth Annual Crusader Christmas Tournament Consolation Match Friday afternoon in Clark.
Johnson sprinted out to a 10-0 lead, with freshman Domenika Kosiek and senior Bailey Rosenmeier leading the early charge on offense. Kosiek scored the game’s first two baskets, while Rosenmeier scored six straight points.
Senior Cecilia Puentes added six points in the opening eight minutes for the Crusaders.
“We just had to get back into the rhythm again,” Johnson head coach Joe Marino said. “The girls knew we wanted to go out and run our sets, do better and get back in the groove after what we did Thursday [a 60-55 loss to North Hunterdon]. They did that and did a nice job.”
The Crusaders held the Indians to no points through the first four and a half minutes of the game, leading 18-4 after the first quarter.
Johnson led Rahway 34-12 at halftime, with the second unit of players being inserted a little over three minutes into the second quarter. Freshman Angela Aromondo scored four points in the quarter and sophomore Chelsea Kessock added five points in the quarter for the Crusaders.
“The nice thing about it is [that all the girls] had an opportunity to play today,” Marino said.
“I think today, we had to come out and play our game,” Johnson senior Bailey Rosenmeier said. “We all played hard and we needed a win, given yesterday’s [60-55 loss to North Hunterdon].”
This is the second time meeting between the two teams this season, with Johnson winning 41-10 on the road on December 20.
