South Side cruises to victory

Senior Jourdin Thomas hit six three-pointers and six other field goals to account for more than half of South Side’s points in its 58-29 home victory over Roosevelt in a Conference A-II girls’ basketball matchup on Jan. 3.

Thomas, an All-County point guard, poured in a season-high 31 points, raising her average to 24.3 through nine games, on 12 of 15 shooting. Junior Gianna Mauro added seven points and seven rebounds, and junior Kendall Kelly chipped in seven points as the Lady Cyclones improved to 3-0 against conference rivals and 7-2 overall.

“We’re having fun so far,” South Side head coach Dan Ferrick said. “All the girls know their roles. It’s nice having five girls on the court at all times who can score. If teams want to take Jourdin out of the equation, which isn’t easy to do, we have other options. Our goal every game is to score 70.”

The Lady Cyclones had 36 at halftime against Roosevelt and turned down the pressure with a 20-point lead at intermission. Thomas played only a few minutes in the third quarter before turning into a spectator for the last 14 minutes. “Shooting-wise, it’s as hot as she’s been in a game for us going back to last season,” Ferrick said of Thomas, who’s had five other performances of at least 24 points. “Teams know where she is at all times and do what they can to hold her down.”

Over a two-week span in December, Thomas had 25 points in a loss at Wheatley, 28 in a win over Hicksville, 26 in a setback to Island Trees in the championship game of the South Side Tournament, 24 in a win at Herricks, and 26 in a victory over Hewlett. 

Mauro, a 5-foot-8 forward, enjoyed five straight games of double figures in points including a career-high 16 against Hicksville. She had 12 against Island Trees, 11 versus Herricks and Hewlett, and 10 in a runaway victory over New Hyde Park.

Kelly is also having a nice season so far, Ferrick said, and is developing a reliable outside shot. She sank three shots from behind the arc against New Hyde Park on Dec. 23 as part of a season-high 13-point effort. 

Thomas, Kelly and junior Jenna Lopez, an All-Conference selection last winter, comprise the starting backcourt. Lopez is averaging around seven points and plays a key role at both ends of the floor, Ferrick said. Freshman Katie McMahon is making her presence felt as well, the coach noted, and scored 14 off the bench against New Hyde Park after a solid seven-point game against Island Trees.

The Lady Cyclones spotted Island Trees the first 10 points of the game and trailed by 12 at halftime in their 60-55 loss on Dec. 14. “They’re a very good team I expect to go far in the playoffs,” Ferrick said.

Upcoming meetings with Division and Wantagh, considered the top two challengers in A-II, will give South Side a better indication of where it stands.