HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW / Going to `Power’ Game:

By Nick Lanteri. STAFF WRITER. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 15 Dec 1996:

First, the Suffolk Girls Basketball Coaches Association implemented a county-wide power-rating system for the first time this season, and teams were placed in one of four divisions.

“We’re doing this on a one-year trial basis,” president Rich Castellano said. “The system is supposed to give the weaker programs an opportunity to be more competitive. There should be more competitive games across the board.”

Second, is the return of two-time All-Long Island guard Nicole Kaczmarski to Sachem. Kaczmarski, now a sophomore, averaged 22 points at Longwood last season. “Without a doubt, Sachem now becomes the team to beat,” Brentwood coach Ernie Villatore said.

Brentwood (16-5 last season), the top seed in Division I, fell three points shy of winning the Suffolk Class A title last season. The Indians return a pair of All-County players in senior point guard Christina Pagan (15 points) and junior forward Ana Murillo (12), as well as senior All-Leaguer Iris Murillo. No. 2 Longwood(15-4) experienced a disappointing quarterfinal playoff exit with Kaczmarski last season. Longwood still is a contender because it has three returning All-League seniors in Asya Cotton, Sarah Hillen and Dawn Klein.

 Longwood 11 21 9 16 57 Commack 2 11 9 5 27 L: Klein 5-0-10, Cotton 6-0-12, Hillen 5-6-16, Bagley 0-1-1, Simonton 2-0-4, Bradley 2-2-6, Eyde 1-0-2, Danchalski 2-1-5, Wachter 0-1-1. Totals: 23-11-57. C: Patone 2-0-4, Meyer 1-0-2, Patterson 1-0-3, Pillisher 2-0-4, Crennan 1-0-3, Sysler 4-0-9, Marchs 1-0-2. Totals: 12-0-27. Three-point goals: C 3 (Patterson, Crennan, Sysler). Dec. 18

Longwood 59, Huntington 31: Sara Hillen (11) and Asya Cotton totaled 20 points in the first half as Longwood built a 33-18 lead at Northport. Hillen scored a game-high 18 points and Cotton added 15. Longwood 16 17 16 10 59 Huntington 9 9 6 7 31 L: Klein 3-0-6, Cotton 7-1-15, Hillen 7-4-18, Bagley 2-0-4, Bardley 1-2-4, Eleazer 2-2-6, Danchalski 1-0-2, Wachter 2-0-4. Totals: 25-9-59. H: Weickel 4-0-8, Anderson 2-1-5, Fiore 1-1-3, Coffas 3-0-6, Haagenson 0-1-1, Rosa 0-1-1, White 2-0-4, Pry 1-1-3. Totals: 13-5-31. Dec. 20

Longwood 14 4 8 11 37 Whitman 22 13 8 13 56 LW: Klein 3-0-6, Cotton 6-0-12, Hillen 2-4-8, Bradley 1-0-2, Eleazer 1-0-2, Wachter 2-2-6, Bagley 0-1-1. Totals: 15-7-37. W: Greenman 3-0-6, T.Jensen 3-2-8, Vandernoth 1-1-3, Vicari 5-3-13, Schaeffer 7-1-17, Jordan 3-3-9. Totals: 22-10-56. Three-point goals: W 2 (Schaeffer 2). Dec. 22

Connetquot Takes Third. Kelly Arthurs had 14 points and nine rebounds to lead Connetquot to a 56-46 win over Longwood in the third-place game. Janine Wilk added 12 points for Connetquot (3-2), which trailed 29-26 at the half. Asya Cotton led Longwood with 14 points. Third Place Connetquot 19 71 51 55 6 Longwood 18 11 10 10 49 C: Dunton 2-0-4, Reese 1-1-3, J.Wilk 3-6-12, McNamara 4-0-9, Weber 1-0-2, Arthurs 6-2-14, L.Wilk 3-4-10, Wakefield 1-0-2. Totals: 21-13-56. L: Klein 4-0-8, Cotton 5-4-14, Hillen 4-3-11, Bagley 0-1-1, Eleazer 4-2-13, Dancholski 1-0-2. Totals: 18-10-49. Three-point goals: C 1 (McNamara); L 3 (Eleazer 3). Dec. 29

Sara Hillen made 1 of 2 free throws with eight seconds left and then added two more with one second remaining to lift Longwood to a 62-59 win over Shoreham-Wading River. Katie Kearon, who scored 15 of her game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter to help rally Shoreham from a 45-37 third-quarter deficit, made a pair of free throws with 50 seconds left to tie the score at 59. Hillen scored a team-high 16 points and added nine rebounds .Longwood 15 19 11 17 62 Shoreham-Wading River 9 14 14 22 59 L: Klein 3-0-6, Cotton 3-2-8, Hillen 4-8-16, Bagley 2-0-4, Simonton 0-2-2, Bradley 1-4-6, Eleazer 3-5-12, Danchalski 3-0-6, Wachter 1-0-2. Totals: 20-21-62. SWR: Keiller 4-0-8, Coster 5-2-12, Campisi 3-0-6, Kearon 6-15-28, Piedgon 1-1-3. Totals: 20-18-59. Three-point goals: L 1 (Eleazer); SWR 1 (Kearon). Jan. 5

Smithtown 9 6 12 16 43 Longwood 8 20 6 18 52 S: Sussillo 4-2-10, Petrocelli 1-4-6, Disqualtro 0-2-2, Ware 2-3-7, Sweeney 2-0-4, Corey 2-1-5, Larson 1-2-5, Mullaney 1-0-2, Terebetski 1-0-2. Totals: 14-13-43. L: Klein 4-0-8, Cotton 1-2-4, Hillen 5-0-10, Bagley 3-0-6, Simonton 1-0-2, Bradley 1-0-2, Eleazer 3-5-12, Wachter 1-0-2, Quinn 2-0-6. Totals: 21-7-52. Three-point goals: S 1 (Larson); L 3 (Quinn 2, Eleazer). Jan. 8

Nicole Kaczmarski scored a game-high 18 points, 14 in the first half, and Jenny Lowenstein added 11 points for Sachem (2-0) in a 65-36 win over Longwood. Sara Hillen paced Longwood (1-1) with 14 points . . . Kristy Yokemick had 18 points and 15 rebounds for Patchogue-Medford in a 51-46 win over Lindenhurst (0-2). Jan. 11

Dawn Klein, Sara Hillen and Sheri Eleazer totaled all 13 points for Longwood (2-2) in the second quarter in its 43-37 win over Northport (1-3).Longwood 11 13 10 9 43 Northport 2 8 15 12 37 L: Klein 4-1-9, Cotton 3-1-7, Hillen 2-9-13, Simonton 1-1-3, Eleazer 3-3-11. Totals: 13-15-43. N: Amen 4-2-11, Angst 2-0-4, Lucas 1-0-2, Beach 5-3-13, Frost 1-0-2, Dougherty 1-1-3, Carbajal 1-0-2, Ommundesen 0-1-1. Totals: 14-8-37. Three-point goals: N 1 (Amen). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 17 Jan 1997:

Shantelle Houpe scored eight of her 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead Bellport to a 61-51 win over Longwood. Molly Brothers added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Bellport (4-1), which led 27-21 at the half. Sara Hiller led Longwood (2-3) with 20 points. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Jan 1997: 

Chrissy Pagan and Anna Murillo totaled 14 third-quarter points as Brentwood outscored Longwood 18-7 and broke away from a 24-24 halftime tie to win, 57-48. Sara Hillen added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Brentwood (5-1). Longwood is 2-4. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 25 Jan 1997: 

Dawn Klein went 4-for4 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to help Longwood to a 42-35 win over Smithtown. Sara Hillen scored 13 points and Cheri Eleazer added 12 for the Lions (3-4). Catherine Larson paced Smithtown (3-4) with 12 points. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 30 Jan 1997

Kaczmarski set a Sachem school mark with 39 points, CORRECTION: Nicole Kaczmarski’s 39 points against Longwood High School on Jan. 31 tied the school’s one-game record set by Barbara Durham in 1977. A story Saturday included incorrect information that was provided to Newsday. (2/6/97; A02 S) leading Sachem to a 59-52 win over Longwood in a Division I game as the sophomore phenom returned to the school she called home last season.

Kaczmarski scored 17 points in the second quarter as Sachem took a 25-24 halftime lead. Longwood (3-5) stayed with Sachem into the third quarter, led by Asya Cotton, who scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds, but Kaczmarski was just as hot in the second half, scoring 13 more in the third quarter as the Flaming Arrows (8-0) took a 43-35 lead.

All told, Kaczmarski scored 30 of the team’s 39 points in the middle two quarters. “We played well,” Longwood coach Pierce Hayes said. “What can you do?” Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 01 Feb 1997:

Dawn Klein (5-for-5), Aysa Cotton (2-for-2) and Sarah Hillen went 9-for-9 from the foul line for Longwood to preserve the lead in its 65-60 win over Connetquot. Cotton had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Klein 17 points and eight rebounds and Hillen had 10 points for Longwood (4-5). Laura Wilk paced Connetquot (4-4) with 19 points. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 06 Feb 1997

SUFFOLK DIVISION I: Sarah Hillen had 17 points and Asa Cotton added 16 to lead Longwood to a 56-39 win over Northport. Kerry Beach led Northport (3-7) with 17 points. Longwood is 5-5. Longwood20 10 14 12 56 Northport 7 13 9 10 39 L: Klein 3-2-10, Cotton 6-4-16, Hillen 4-9-17, Bagley 1-0-2, Simonton 1-0-2, Elazer 2-0-5, Quinn 1-1-4. Totals: 18-16-56. N: Amen 3-0-6, Lukas 3-0-6, Watkins 1-0-2, Beach 7-3-17, Frost 1-0-2, Dougherty 1-0-2, Carbajal 1-0-2, Ommunsen 1-0-2. Totals: 18-3-39. Three-point goals: L 4 (Klein 2, Elazer, Quinn). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 09 Feb 1997

Longwood Girls Top Bellport:

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 12 Feb 1997

Audra Bagley hit the front end of a one-and-one with five seconds left to close the scoring as Longwood held on to defeat Bellport, 68-65, yesterday in a Division I girls basketball game. Bellport (8-3) entered the game in third place with 137 power-rating points, while Longwood (6-5) was fifth with 119 points.

Asya Cotton scored a team-high 18 points and had 11 rebounds and Dawn Klein added 16 points and five assists for Longwood, which avenged a 61-51 defeat on Jan. 21.

Bellport outscored Longwood 26-11 in the second quarter to take a 36-25 halftime lead, but Longwood responded with a 21-7 third quarter to take a three-point lead. Longwood extended its advantage to a 12 points in the fourth quarter before Bellport rallied to within two. Sheri Eleazershot 6-for-7 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to help hold off the Clippers’ surge. Shantelle Houpe scored a game-high 30 points and Danielle Houpe added 22 to lead Bellport.

Alma Miller scored 14 of her 23 points in the second half as Brentwood expanded a five-point halftime lead in its 59-48 win over Longwood (6-6). Christina Pagan added 16 points for Brentwood (9-3) . Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Feb 1997:

Klein, Hillen Key Longwood Win:

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 20 Feb 1997

Dawn Klein (eight) and Sarah Hillen totaled 15 of Longwood‘s 19 third-quarter points to help the seventh-seeded Lions erase a one-point halftime deficit in its 61-49 win over No. 10 Northport last night in a first-round game of the county Class A girls basketball tournament.

Longwood (11-8) opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 29-22 lead.

Klein had a career-high 26 points (5-for-7 three-pointers), 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Hillen had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

“Klein is a clutch player,” Longwood coach Pierce Hayes said. “She saves her best performances for the biggest games.”

Cheri Eleaser shot 7-for-8 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and 9-for-11 for the game for Longwood, which shot 18-for-24 (75 percent) from the foul line.

“We hit the shots tonight. I’d hate to think what would have happened if we didn’t,” Hayes said. “They played good basketball. They came to win.”

Jackie Lukas led Northport (8-10) with 18 points and Brianne Watkins and Kerry Beach added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

“They played us tough,” Hayes said. “They were coming off a big win over Sachem in their last regular-season game. They were much improved since early in the season.”

It was the fourth meeting of the season between the two teams. Northport won the first game in a semifinal of the Suffolk Shootout in December. Longwood responded with two wins during the regular season. Longwood will visit No. 2 Brentwood tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Shantelle Houpe scored eight of her 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead Bellport to a 61-51 win over Longwood. Molly Brothers added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Bellport (4-1), which led 27-21 at the half. Sara Hiller led Longwood (2-3) with 20 points. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Jan 1997:

Brentwood, Whitman Ousted:

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 22 Feb 1997:

Asya Cotton scored eight of her 25 points in the first quarter as No. 7 Longwood took a 15-6 lead en route to a 64-46 win over Brentwood. Longwood (12-8) limited the Indians (14-5) to just 13 points in the first half, opening up a 15-point lead. “Terrific team defense set the tempo for the game,” said Longwood coach Pierce Hayes, whose team also received 14 points from Sarah Hillen and 12 from Cheri Eleazer, who made eight of nine free throws.

Longwood led by 16 after three quarters and Brentwood never made a serious threat in the fourth quarter. Anna Murillo had 26 points and 10 rebounds for Brentwood.

Christine Wakefield hit a four-foot jumper off a pass from Kelly Arthurs with 23 seconds left to break a tie at 46 and give No. 6 Connetquot (13-6) a 48-46 victory over Whitman (17-2). Arthurs, a 6-2 center, had seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter and had seven rebounds for Connetquot. Whitman had tied the score at 46 with 45 seconds left on a pair of foul shots by Kelly Schaeffer.

“I think the key was that we played pretty solid defense,” said Connetquot coach Ken Schultz, who added that on offense, “we were able to get the ball inside to Kelly Arthurs.” Connetquot led by as many as five early in the fourth quarter before Whitman rallied to take a 42-39 lead. Monique Jordan led Whitman with 10 points.

Connetquot will face Longwood in a semifinal Monday at 6 p.m. at Mt. Sinai.

Top-seeded Sachem (17-2) opened the game on a 19-0 run, with 14 points from Nicole Kaczmarski, in its win over Floyd (11-9). Sachem took a 24-10 lead after one quarter.

Kaczmarski finished with a game-high 32 points and had five assists. Vicky Valentin had 15 points and Kristin Kanakos had eight rebounds for Sachem.

Sachem shot 10-for-23 (.435) from three-point range. Kaczmarski had five three-pointers, Valentin three and Jackie Urso two.

Jessica Santiago paced Floyd with 15 points.

Sachem will play Bay Shore in a semifinal at 8 p.m. Monday at Mt. Sinai.

SUFFOLK CLASS A TOURNAMENT: Lauren Weber hit two free throws with 2:30 left to give No. 6 Connetquot a 51-48 lead in its 55-50 win over No. 7 Longwood in a semifinal at Mt. Sinai. Cheri Eleazer (17 points) hit a trey at the end of the half to give Longwood (12-9) a 27-24 lead. Laura Wilk scored 15 points and added 11 rebounds for Connetquot (14-6), which will face top-seeded Sachem in the final tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Ward Melville . . . Nicole Kaczmarski scored 15 of her game-high 23 points in the first quarter to give Sachem a 22-12 lead in its 64-40 win over No. 4 Bay Shore. Katie Miller had 12 points and 15 rebounds for Sachem (18-2). Schawniekaw Burton had 18 points for Bay Shore (14-6). Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 25 Feb 1997: