Montclair Immaculate girls defeat Gill St. Bernard’s with late fourth-quarter push to win Non-Public North B title

After the first three quarters, the Non-Public North B girls championship game was separated by just two points.

As was the first half, and the first quarter was separated by three points.

And much like the first three quarters, Montclair Immaculate ended the fourth – the most important one – with the lead, and the sectional title.

The Lady Lions won 61-53 after winning the fourth quarter 12-6, aided by tough shot-making and converting on late free throws.

Leading scorer Nila Giraud came alive in the second half, hitting four three-pointers and finishing with a team-high 20 points.

For the Knights, star center Gandy Malou-Mamel led the way with 20 points of her own, with multiple blocks and several rebounds on both ends of the floor. She shot 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the third quarter alone, helping Gill St. Bernard’s rally to keep the game close.

Sidney Quinn and Addy Platt were the lone other two Knights in double figures with 15 and 13 points, respectively.

Montclair Immaculate got off to a strong start in the first quarter, attacking the offensive glass and moving the ball for three-point attempts, hitting three of them in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw much of the same, and both of the opening two frames ended with last-second scores for Gill St. Bernard’s, a layup from Malou-Mamel in the first and a three from Platt in the second.

The Knights rallied to take their first lead of the game in the third quarter, but the Lady Lions eventually took it back late and used the momentum to pull ahead in the fourth quarter.

Click below for postgame reaction from Gill St. Bernard’s head coach Mark Gnapp: