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Mostly Cloudy Lady Owls meeting expectations
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Lynbrook's Jessica Valentino rips down a rebound during last Friday's 43-39 Conference ABC-I defeat to visiting Garden City.
Kathy Leistner/Herald
Lynbrook entered the 2009-10 basketball season with great expectations. A season removed from a conference championship and a first-round playoff victory, the Lady Owls moved up to the county’s top conference.
They’ve been as good as advertised. Despite a recent 43-39 loss to Garden City, Lynbrook is 6-3 in Conference ABC-I and 9-5 overall. Brooke Gerstman, the team’s top scorer at 16 points per game, had 16 in the loss to Garden City, which is tied with Division at 7-1. Senior Shannon Doody added 12 points.
Coach Heather Savignano is happy with her team’s progress as the regular season winds down. “Playing in the top conference, in a league where any team can knock off the other on a given night, has been good for us,” Savignano said. “I feel like we’re extremely prepared and tested going into the playoffs. We have three tough games coming up before the playoffs, and I think we can win them all if we play Lynbrook basketball.”
As expected, the Lady Owls have been led by their big three of Gerstman, Doody and Jessy Rosen. Sophomore Danielle Amaya has also had a breakout season. Gerstman, who was sidelined early in the season with an injury, has been outstanding. In a 55-48 victory over Elmont, the sophomore guard scored 22 points. It was the fourth time she scored 20 or more in a game this season. Gerstman scored a career-high 26 points as Lynbrook handed Division its only conference loss.
Rosen, who recently signed on to play college ball for Division III power Washington University in St. Louis, has enjoyed a strong season on both ends of the floor. With little size on the Lynbrook roster, Rosen is often asked to guard girls who are considerably taller than her. The senior guard/forward was outstanding in the win over Elmont, scoring 14 of her 16 points in the final quarter, to lead the Lady Owls.
Doody, a three-sport star athlete who also stars on the soccer and lacrosse fields, is Lynbrook’s backbone. The girl that Savignano says has the most heart of any player she has ever coached does a little bit of everything for the Lady Owls. Doody pulled down 16 rebounds from the point guard position in a recent game, typically dishes out five assists per game, and can score when needed. She’s averaging 9.6 points per game.
Savignano likes the team’s chances in the postseason. “I feel like we have three All-County caliber players, and a nice group around them,” Savignano said. “We need to do a better job rebounding, and get a little stronger with the ball, but I like they way we’re playing. We’d love to get another shot at Garden City in the playoffs.”
The Lady Owls close out their home schedule when they take on Wantagh on Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.
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