Seniors spark Oceanside victory

After a demoralizing loss and a long layoff in its schedule, Oceanside’s girls’ basketball team defeated Hicksville last Friday night by a final of 48-31, to stay alive in the race for a Nassau Class AAA playoff spot.
With it being Senior Night, the gymnasium walls were lined with posters, and the air within it was filled with emotion. So much so that the Sailors struggled to settle themselves in the early going as they trailed 5-2 midway through the first quarter.
“It’s everything,” senior co-captain Brianna Amenta said. “I feel like I’ve been waiting for this since we’ve been playing up [with the varsity team]. You never think it’s going to come until it’s actually here.”
After head coach Jared Stoler called a timeout to calm the team’s nerves, Oceanside found its game when co-captain Samantha Farsky hit a three from the wing to spark an 18-0 run.
“It’s being able to know that when you have your shot, to take it,” Farsky. “Sometimes you’re hot, and sometimes you’re not, so you just got to keep shooting through that. Hitting that really changed the momentum for everyone.”

While Farsky (7 points) got Oceanside going with threes, Amenta, who averages 14.5 points per game, was the one who kept the wind in its sails by driving to the paint, just as she had done throughout her entire career. She finished with a game-high 24.
“She’s terrific,” Stoler said. “She’s been our engine that makes the team go for five years now. I’m happy she was able to put a little exclamation point in her career, which is still not over yet. She still has more milestones to achieve.”
All the seniors had a moment to shine as the team settled in from long range.
Maeve Barrins (6 points) and Grace DiDomonica knocked down a couple of shots from beyond the arc to contribute to the run in the first quarter. When the Sailors began to fade midway through the third, Jaclyn Rosenburg woke them up again with a step-back jumper.
Each senior received a rousing ovation from the crowd whenever their name was announced over the PA. However, two names drew a bigger reaction than all the others.
Madison Johnson and Brigid Mahoney may not have contributed much in terms of numbers, but the impact of their presence cannot be understated. “They might not get the most minutes on the team, but they definitely will bring you up,” Farsky said. “If anyone’s going to give you a high-five, it’s them. Seeing them have their moment, I think everyone knows the brightness they bring to the team.”
The Conference AAA-1 win improved Oceanside’s record to 9-7 overall and 3-4 in conference play. With four games remaining, the Sailors likely need one more victory — depending on other results — to qualify for the playoffs.
“This was a big one,” Farsky said. “Emotions running high, but we brought home the win. It’s just a great morale booster. We only need one more. We still have four games left, and with the team we have, we could win all of them.”
Oceanside faces Plainview at home this Saturday at noon and hosts Syosset Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. The Sailors have remaining trips to Massapequa and Port Washigton.