Double-digit wins for Sewanhaka

Chalk up another double-digit win campaign for the Lady Tribe.

Senior Shantell McCall poured in 18 points, while senior Rachel Wisniewski and junior Jenny Pechacek added 12 apiece as Sewanhaka reached 10 victories for a third straight season after knocking off Conference A-II girls’ basketball rival Glen Cove at home last Friday, 58-36.

“We’ve started to build a winning tradition here that we’re all very proud of,” Lady Indians coach Alex Soupios said. “The kids deserve credit for how hard they work. What’s happening is the younger players in the program see how hard the older kids work and want to emulate them. The work ethic and confidence rubs off in such a positive way.”

Although Sewanhaka (10-5 overall, 8-2 in conference games) won’t repeat as conference champion after finishing on top for the first time in 18 years last winter, a second-place finish behind Division and likely first-round Nassau Class A playoff home game were secured with the victory over Glen Cove. 

Wisniewski, a strong outside shooter, got things rolling against the Big Red from long distance by hitting a trio of three-pointers in the opening quarter to help the Lady Indians race to an 18-4 lead. Pechacek also drained a shot from behind the arc, while McCall added a field goal and two free throws.

Glen Cove chipped away at the large deficit in the second quarter to keep the outcome in question. The Big Red scored the first eight points of the quarter, with Taylah Hudson (team-high 14 points), Grace Brady, Brittany Brown and Tristyn Hudson all contributing a pair, to get within six. But Sewanhaka scored 10 of the last 15 points of the half to lead 28-17 at intermission. 

Wisniewski opened the second half with her fourth trey of the afternoon, and the margin remained at double digits — 36-25 — entering the fourth quarter. Soupios’ team then put the game out of reach. Pechacek scored seven points and freshman Casey Hayes added four as the lead swelled to 49-27 with five minutes to go. Sophomore point guard Daniella Ford was instrumental in the outburst with two steals and three assists.

“We have good senior leadership,” said Soupios, referring to McCall, Wisniewski, Katlyn Dempsey and Danielle Georges, “and the beauty of this team is sometimes we’ll start four underclassmen. We’ve got a nice mix.”

In the previous game, a slow start proved costly in a 53-42 defeat at Division. The Lady Dragons led by 11 after the first quarter and stretched it to 18 by halftime. Led by McCall (13 points), Wisniewski (11), sophomore Michelle Niles and freshman Daniella Weinschreider, Sewanhaka chipped away in the second half but ran out of time. “Their defense took control early,” Soupios said. “They did a nice job denying our passing lanes. Our youth showed, but it’s a game we’ll learn from.”

Regular-season matchups with Hewlett and Bethpage remain before the playoffs begin Feb. 15. Soupios is looking for the same formula to make the Lady Indians a difficult team to oust. “We work hard and have a lot of capable scorers,” he said.