Suffolk girls basketball preview

DeJohn, Kenny. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 18 Dec 2016. 

LONGWOOD LIONS

Coach: James Castiglione

Last season: 10-10

Key players

G Zorria West 5-10 Sr.

F Nyia Longford 5-8 Soph.

G Janelle Brown 5-3 Fr.

G TyLisa Martinez 5-7 Jr.

G Kaneasha Strider 5-1 Soph.

Outlook: Brown runs the offense, West is a big-time scorer.

PREVIEW

Picking a favorite to win the league might be a fool’s errand, but some coaches believe Sachem East’s balance and experience give the team an advantage. Nobody graduated from last year’s storybook season, and newcomers to varsity have shown promise early.

Ward Melville returns senior Taylor Tripptree and sophomore Lauren Hansen, a point guard who missed all of last year after ankle surgery. She’s being recruited by the likes of Florida and Ohio State, among others, according to coach Bruce Haller.

“The talent other teams have brings the level of competition up higher,” Hansen said of the individual playmakers of Suffolk I. “Everybody’s a challenge.”

It’s best not to overlook Commack, either, winners of the last two Suffolk AA titles. Senior Jillian Spagnuola and junior Casey Hearns bring speed and athleticism to the table for the Cougars.

Longwood‘s Zorria West, Sachem North’s Annie Keenan and Brentwood’s Ty’Zhea Hawkins and K’anndra Rhoden are also versatile playmakers capable of taking over games at Long Island’s highest level.

“Any given night, somebody can step up and have a huge game,” Cosgrove said. “League I never has a short roster. Teams always have something different to throw at you.”

And perhaps that’s what makes this league so difficult to predict. Good luck trying.

Longwood 56, Riverhead 44: Zorria West had 17 points and 11 rebounds in Longwood’s non-league opener. Nyia Longfordadded 14 points and nine rebounds. Janelle Brown (six points) went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final three minutes. Dec. 6

Longwood 50, Sachem East 42: Nyia Longford, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, hit a three-pointer with 1:48 left to give Longwood a nine-point lead in Suffolk I. Zorria West had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Lions (4-1). Jan. 7

Longwood 50, Sachem East 42: Nyia Longford, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, hit a three-pointer with 1:48 left to give Longwood a nine-point lead in Suffolk I. Zorria West had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Lions (4-1). – Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 11 Jan 2017.

Longwood 56, Sachem North 25: Zorria West recorded her first triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 10 steals to lead Longwood (5-1) in Suffolk I. Her six steals in the third quarter helped Longwood turn a two-point halftime deficit into a 21-point lead. Jan. 13

STRIDER, WEST LIFT LONGWOOD

Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 14 Feb 2017.  

Kanesha Strider hit a three-point shot with 44 seconds remaining to give Longwood (10-4) a four-point lead in its 52-48 victory over Commack in Suffolk I girls basketball yesterday. Zorria West (25 points, 12 rebounds) shot 3-for-4 from the foul line down the stretch to seal the win.

Portledge 57, Our Saviour New American 51: Emma Gugenheimer had 26 points to lead Portledge in the PSAA quarterfinals. Michelle Peloso led Our Saviour New American with 25 points.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Southold 50, Stony Brook 46: Pat McFarland had 18 points, including two free throws with one minute remaining, to lead Southold (3-7) in Suffolk VIII.

Smithtown West 59, Centereach 29: Justin Durcan had 14 points and Chris Crespo added 11 points and six assists for Smithtown West (14-0) in Suffolk III. It was the first undefeated league season in school history, coach Michael Agostino said.

Longwood 68, Commack 60: Jalen Ryan had 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Ryan Percer added 10 points and 10 rebounds to lead Longwood (7-7) in Suffolk I. The win clinched a playoff spot for Longwood.

Half Hollow Hills East 58, Longwood 30: Julien Crittendon had 22 points and Savion Lewis added 20 points to lead No. 3 Half Hollow Hills East (17-4) over No. 14 Longwood in the first-round of the Suffolk Class AA playoffs.  Feb. 19

c Chanel Taylor scored 13 points, including her 1,000th, as No. 3 Central Islip topped No. 6 Longwood, 43-37, in the Suffolk Class AA girls basketball quarterfinals yesterday. Feb. 23