Clarke eyes playoff appearance

Clarke used a 15-point run in the opening quarter to set the tone for last Saturday’s 41-25 home victory over West Hempstead in a Nassau Conference A-IV girls’ basketball matchup between teams with the same nickname — Rams — but on different paths.

Senior Hannah Zirkel scored 13 of her game-high 15 points in the first half, including a trio of three-pointers, and sophomores Kayla Famillette and Sonia Iacoboni added eight points apiece as Clarke improved to 5-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play. West Hempstead (0-8, 0-6) was led by freshman Janya Flash’s 14 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocks.

“We’ve been talking about getting to the playoffs since I took this job three years ago,” Clarke head coach Shaun Fean said. “Last year’s team came close and set the foundation. I think we’ve got a little more firepower now, and if we can get a little better on the defensive side we’ll have a better chance to reach our goal.”

Putting the ball in the basket has been a sore spot for West Hempstead, which got the offense going a little too late last Saturday. The visitors enjoyed a 10-0 run in the fourth after managing just 13 points through the first three quarters. 

“We’ve had a tough time scoring,” West Hempstead head coach Chris Van Kovics said. “Janya was a real bright spot today. She was in middle school last season. She needs experience, and she’s going to play a lot. She’s showing the ability to create shots for herself and score. But it’s a process.”

After Flash opened the scoring in the second quarter with a bank shot in the paint, Iacoboni drained a trey and a field goal to help Clarke stretch its lead to 20-4. “Sonia’s been a nice surprise,” Fean said. “I wasn’t anticipating her being a starter, but she’s been solid all-around. She scoring about eight points per game and is one of our better defenders.”

Clarke led 26-11 at halftime and took a 33-13 advantage into the final quarter after the teams combined for just nine points in the third. Six of Famillette’s points came in the second half. “Kayla works hard and battles down low,” Fean said. “She’s usually up against someone who’s older and bigger than she is, but she’s really developed and holding her own.” 

Junior Lisette Palomo scored all six of her points in the fourth, and senior Kelly Valerio had a three-pointer for West Hempstead, which hosts the rematch on Feb. 5. Fean is hopeful his team, led by Zirkel’s 15.8 points per contest, will still be in the playoff conversation come then. To compete in the postseason, Clarke must finish .500 or better against conference foes.  

“Hannah’s been our best player for three years and everything runs through her,” Fean said. “It’s a tough role because we ask her to put the ball in the basket and be a playmaker, but we win when she scores.

“She deserves to play in a playoff game,” he added. “To send her off on that kind of note is something that would mean a lot.”