Lynbrook starting to hit stride

Though still searching for its signature win of the 2016-17 campaign, Lynbrook’s girls’ basketball team moved back over the .500 mark and improved to 5-2 in Conference A-III with a 61-23 victory at Valley Stream North last Saturday afternoon.

The high-scoring duo of junior guard Sophia LoCicero and senior center Kerrin Montgomery continued to fill the boxscore as they hit midseason form following December injuries. LoCicero had a game-high 20 points, matching her average, and Montgomery added 18 points, 19 rebounds and 5 steals to lead nine scorers for the Lady Owls (7-6 overall.) Senior Kelly Kroez led Valley Stream North (2-12) with seven points.

“We got off to a slow start with Sophia and Kerrin both missing some games with injuries,” Lynbrook head coach Steve LoCicero said. “We’re starting to build some momentum now and I feel positive with where we stand. I’d like to believe our best basketball is still ahead of us, but it’s important we stay healthy.”

The offense looked healthy for a third straight game after registering only 36 points in a 10-point defeat to defending Nassau Class A champion Floral Park on Jan. 13. Montgomery scored eight points and LoCicero six as the Lady Owls soared to a 16-2 lead after eight minutes. The margin swelled to 32-10 at halftime thanks in large part to LoCicero’s 11 second-quarter points.

Montgomery scored eight of Lynbrook’s 14 points in the third, and there were plenty of contributors in the fourth. Junior Erin Pender, sophomore Kerin Bartels and senior Amanda Walsh finished with five points apiece. The coach praised the efforts of Pender, seniors Rachel Foley and Emily Kluth, and freshman Sarah Bahri. “We’re 8-9 deep,” he said. “

Lynbrook was coming off a 61-53 setback to Glen Cove on Jan. 17. The Big Red’s backcourt tandem of Destiny Howell and Trinity Hudson proved too much to handle. They both had 22 points and combined to sink 18 free throws. Montgomery (19), LoCicero (18) and Pender (11) scored in double figures in the loss. “We played really well against Glen Cove,” the coach said. “Them going 21-for-27 from the foul line ended up being the difference.”

After starting 1-4 while Montgomery (hand and ankle) and LoCicero (ankle) nursed injuries, the Lady Owls ripped off four consecutive victories between Dec. 22 and Jan. 5, including three by double digits against conference rivals. Part of the stretch was the annual Friendship Games clash with neighboring East Rockaway on Dec. 28. Lynbrook took an exciting game, 56-51, at home behind LoCicero’s 23 points. Montgomery (18 points) hit three pressure free throws down the stretch, and Pender added 11 points.

Montgomery is approaching 1,000 rebounds for her career and has a chance to reach 1,000 points as well. Next up for the Lady Owls is a non-conference game against Seaford on Thursday at home at 6:45 p.m. 

“We’ve got a tough stretch ahead,” the coach said, referring to upcoming conference rematches with Bethpage, Plainedge and Floral Park.