Lynbrook nipped by Glen Cove

Freshman Sophia LoCicero played a key role in Lynbrook's run to the Class A playoffs, where it suffered a tough 49-48 defeat at Glen Cove.

J.Heck/Herald

Trailing at seventh-seeded Glen Cove by as many as 13 points in the first half of last Saturday’s Nassau Class A girls’ basketball first-round playoff game, No. 10 Lynbrook fought back and was in position to complete its comeback in the waning moments.

The Lady Owls rebounded a missed Glen Cove free throw and worked the ball from end-to-end where their last-second shot from just inside the paint fell short, allowing the Big Red to hold on for an exciting 49-48 victory in front of a spirited crowd. The decisive point came on a free throw by Taylah Hudson with 26.7 seconds remaining.

“Our girls gave everything they had,” Lynbrook head coach Steve LoCicero said. “I’m so happy I was allowed to be on this journey with them. We had a couple of chances at the end but we couldn’t get the shots to fall.”

Hudson, who was held scoreless in the first quarter, poured in a game-high 25 points and went 12-for-18 from the foul line. She was the only player in double figures for Glen Cove, which advanced to face second-seeded Garden City in the semifinals. The Lady Owls (12-5 overall) got 17 points and 15 rebounds from senior Ciara Gordon, and 14 points and 14 rebounds from sophomore Kerrin Montgomery.

“Ciara’s an exceptional athlete and teammate,” LoCicero said of Gordon. “We’re going to have a difficult time replacing her leadership.”

Gordon, who began Lynbrook’s comeback late in the second quarter by scoring the final three points of the half to cut its deficit to 28-19 at intermission, was offered additional congratulations by Glen Cove head coach Greg Mayerhoffer following the post-game handshake line. Junior Amanda Digiorgio added eight points, and freshman Sophia LoCicero chipped in seven for the Lady Owls.

Gordon and Montgomery each scored six points in the third quarter as Lynbrook continued to chip away despite its inability to contain Hudson, who came in averaging 21.5 points. “Besides the 20 points Hudson gives them every game, she’s tremendous defensively,” coach LoCicero said. “She’s as good as any player in the county.”