Balanced scoring leading Seaford

With a multitude of scoring weapons, Seaford girls basketball is rolling heading into the home stretch of the season and is within reach of a conference title.

Seaford has won 12 in a row since a season-opening 56-46 non-league loss to Class AA opponent East Meadow and entered this week atop the Conference ABC standings. The Lady Vikings just missed out on a league crown last winter with a heartbreaking loss to Island Trees in the regular season finale and are motivated to finish on top this winter. A dominating 54-22 victory against Wheatley last Saturday moved Seaford to 9-0 in league play a game ahead of second place Carle Place.

“We’ve had great balance this season,” said Seaford head coach Bob Vachris, noting the team has produced multiple double-digit scorers in most games. “We’re getting lots of players in the teens.”

Vachris has been impressed with the senior leadership of captain Ally Palermo. The athletic guard, who will play lacrosse at Northwestern next year, has scored in double digits three times including 17 points in a Dec. 20 81-51 win against Oyster Bay.

“She is the energizer bunny,” said Vachris of his senior captain. “The team has great respect for her.”

Seaford’s offensive has received boosts near the basket from a trio of juniors in center Jaclyn Grzelasczyk along with forwards Jenna Siler and Maddie O’Hagan. Grzelasczyk led the Lady Vikings with 20 points in a 74-43 win against Oyster Bay on Jan. 18 two days after a 17-point, 13-rebound performance during a 52-48 victory against East Rockaway. Siler has averaged 10 points a game while O’Hagan has been a force on the glass with 11 rebounds to go along with 11 points in a 61-38 triumph versus Malverne on Jan. 11.

The Vikings’ inside presence is complemented by a solid backcourt led by junior point guard Julia Siler and Palermo. Vachris said senior guard Kaitlyn Meyer has been “a game changer” off the bench and has averaged 8 points a game to provide the Lady Vikings added scoring depth.

“There is a lot of experience with this team,” Vachris said. “They are very mature.”

Vachris expects North Shore and Elmont to be heavy favorites for the upcoming Class A playoffs, but said the rest of the 16-team bracket should be fairly wide open. He is hoping to win the league and receive a favorable seed that includes a first round home game.  The Lady Vikings were a seven seed in 2014 when they reached the county semifinals and just missed out on a finals berth after a close loss to North Shore.

“When you reach the playoffs you have to play everybody, but it would be nice to get a home game,” Vachris said.

After a non-league game Thursday at Lynbrook, Seaford will host Locust Valley Saturday for a noon tipoff. The Lady Vikings’ final home game is slated for Feb. 7 versus Cold Spring Harbor at 7 p.m. before closing the regular season on Feb. 9 at East Rockaway.