CHATHAM, NJ -- The timing couldn't have been better. The Chatham girls basketball team needed a mood change after its lackluster performance in the first half of its Morris County Tournament game vs. Morris Hills on Thursday evening. And Cougar coach Joe Gaba gave his team just what they needed.

Just before the start of the second half, Gaba grabbed the microphone and made a surprise presentation to senior Riley Allen, who became just the second girls basketball player in school history to gain McDonald's All-American status. Allen received an ovation from the crowd for her accomplishment.

As if on cue, Allen drained a 3-pointer five seconds into the second half and No. 3 seeded Chatham was on its way to a 56-33 MCT win that advances it to the quarterfinal round at 12 noon Saturday vs. No. 11 seed Hanover Park at Morris Knolls High.

SIGNUPSCRIPT

Allen finished with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Chatham (11-11) received 12 points from Ella Kreuzer and 11 from Mia Semioli in the balanced attack.

Riley Allen, Ella Kreuzer and Mia Semioli talk about the win

Chatham held a 23-13 halftime lead vs. Morris Hills (5-13) before Allen jump-started the third quarter for the Cougars with her 3-pointer. A minute later, Chatham went on a 15-0 streak to open a 41-17 advantage. Cami McKenzie got the Cougars started with a free throw and McKenna Hogan followed with a layup in transition off a bounce pass from Semioli (see below).

Semioli, who scored eight points in the run, then drained a 3-pointer and Allen grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with the put-back. Semioli then hit another 3-pointer (see below) before Hogan scored off a pass from Kreuzer. Semioli culminated the spree with an offensive board that she turned into two points.

"Mia was in a little bit of foul trouble in the first half and we need her on the floor because she's a real good shooter," Gaba said. "Part of our struggles in the first half were because she wasn't on the floor. She came in during the second half and hit some really big shots."

Chatham had scored the first nine points of the first quarter when Kreuzer hit two free throws and then scored on a put-back (see below).

Allen then nailed a 3-pointer (see below) and McKenzie capped the 9-0 burst when she pulled down an offensive board and converted for two points.

Sophomore guard Kreuzer scored all 12 of her team-high points in the first half, including two 3-pointers during a 10-0 run that handed Chatham a 23-9 lead in the second quarter.

COUGAR NOTES: The Cougars were expecting a third meeting with No. 6 seed Morristown in the quarterfinal round of the Morris County Tournament, but that matchup was erased from the bracket when No. 11 seed Hanover Park (13-5) pulled off the upset over the Colonials, 40-38, in overtime on Thursday behind 10 points and 10 rebounds from Samantha Cicerone ... the Cougars were without starter Addison Barrett for the Morris Hills game after she tweaked her ankle in Tuesday's overtime loss at Westfield. Chatham coach Joe Gaba projects the junior forward as "probable" for the MCT game Saturday ... Riley Allen joins Amanda Berntsen as the only two Chatham girls basketball players to earn McDonald's All-American status ... Riley Allen's three 3-pointers vs. Morris Hills boosted her career 3-pointers made to 166.