Hewlett still in playoff hunt

A 13-point deficit after one quarter and playing without its leading scorer proved too much for Hewlett to overcome last Friday night against Conference A-II girls’ basketball frontrunner Division, which held on for a 37-29 victory behind 15 points and nine rebounds from Laura Stuart.

But Lady Bulldogs coach Frank Viggiano said he was encouraged by the fight his team showed after digging an early hole that shrunk to six by halftime after the hosts outscored the Lady Dragons by a 10-3 margin in the second quarter. Hewlett, which lost All-County guard Samantha DiSalvo for the season due to a knee injury, got eight points apiece from senior Gabby Casanova and junior Emily Rodriguez, and seven from junior Emily Cohen.

“We’ve been getting better and better,” Viggiano said. “We’re going to miss Sam, but we have to figure out a way to beat teams. She’s such a great kid and works so hard”

The loss snapped a modest two-game winning streak for the Lady Bulldogs, who remain in contention for a Nassau Class A playoff berth with four games to go. They’re 3-5 in conference games and 5-7 overall. Of their remaining opponents — Glen Cove, Sewanhaka, Bethpage and Great Neck North — they beat two (Glen Cove by 15; Great Neck North by 19) and lost to two (Bethpage by three; Sewanhaka by five.)

“We’re capable of winning the last four, but it’s all going to come down to how we pick up the slack on offense,” Viggiano said. “Teams doubled Sam, and I’m not sure how everyone is going to defend us now. Emily [Cohen] has really stepped up with some big shooting games. I knew it was coming.”

In all 12 of Hewlett’s games, the team leading after eight minutes won. Division upped its record to 8-0 in the conference and maintained its one-game lead over Sewanhaka. Bethpage sits comfortably in third, leaving the fourth and final playoff spot up for grabs between the Lady Bulldogs and Plainedge.