Sewanhaka .500 in conference play

Senior guard Hamed Shamseldin scored 16 points and dished out six assists and sophomore Marcus Saint-Furcy added 14 points and seven assists to lead Lawrence to an 89-54 victory over visiting Sewanhaka on Jan. 9.

With the win, the Golden Tornadoes improved to 6-0 in Conference A-II. Sophomore forward Sammy Robinson scored a game-high 17 points for Lawrence. The Indians, who fell to 3-3 in conference play, were led by Carlos Bodden’s 22 points. 

The game was billed as a meeting between a pair of teams that like to get up and down the floor. With a decided size advantage, the Indians figured to cause matchup problems for Lawrence. 

Lawrence found it tough to find its groove in the early going, and the Indians ran out to a quick 14-11 lead. But, it would be short-lived. The Golden Tornadoes forced a few turnovers and started to roll in transition. Lawrence closed out the opening quarter on an 18-0 run to take a 29-14 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back. 

Sewanhaka head coach Jay Allen knows it will take a terrific effort to beat a team like Lawrence. “We feel like we came in with a good game plan and were well-prepared, but you have to make shots against a great team like Lawrence,” Allen said. “We were missing our shots, and they were getting out on the break and finishing. Once we got behind, we got out of our game plan.”

The Golden Tornadoes took a commanding 46-27 lead in the locker room at the break, and any chance of a Sewanhaka comeback was put to rest early in the second half. With senior Dwayne Daniel setting up teammates, Lawrence, which had five players score in double figures, extended its lead to 73-36 after three quarters.

The Indians bounced back from the loss and got back in the win column two days later with a 77-62 win over Plainedge. Bodden scored 23 points and Phil Repalone added 20 to lead Sewanhaka. Bodden, who is averaging 17 points per game, has taken his game to another level. 

“Carlos has been outstanding for us,” Allen said. “Some nights he puts the team on his back. He’s emerged as a leader as a junior. The team goes as he goes.”

With a conference composed of experienced coaches who bring unique styles of play, Allen and Sewanhaka know that every game poses a different challenge.”

“We do a lot of scouting and look at a lot of film to prepare for games,” Allen said. “Every game in this conference is a battle of styles. You have to adjust your philosophy each night. We have a big stretch coming up. We look at every game as a playoff game. We need to get on a little roll here to get where we want to be.”

Sewanhaka will travel to Hewlett this Friday evening for an 8 p.m. start. The Indians beat the Bulldogs, 61-59, when the teams met in the conference opener Dec. 13.