Sewanhaka wins seven straight

Every basketball coach, at any level, knows the importance of getting hot when it matters most. When the 2013-14 season began, Sewanhaka head coach Alex Soupios figured his young team would have some growing pains, but he was excited about the group’s potential.

After a 2-3 start, the Lady Indians have run off seven straight wins including last Friday’s 65-26 rout of Great Neck South. Casey Hayes scored 16 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, despite playing less than a half, as Sewanhaka improved to 9-3 overall, 8-2 in Conference A-II. Junior point guard Daniella Ford added five points, eight assists, seven rebounds and seven steals.

Soupios is impressed with the growth of his team. “I’m incredibly proud of the way this team is developing,” Soupios said. “It’s the culmination of months of hard work. The girls have embraced everything that we’ve asked them to try. It’s very rewarding to see how they’ve come together. I like the way we’re playing as we get ready for the playoffs.”

Sewanhaka made life tough for Great Neck South right from the get-go. With a stifling press, the Lady Tribe forced numerous turnovers and ran out to a 23-6 lead after one quarter and never looked back. Junior Michelle Niles, a player who typically does all of the little things that don’t show up on the scoresheet, scored five points, pulled down nine boards, and added four assists.

As expected, Ford has been outstanding. The junior point guard nearly recorded a quadruple-double, registering 13 points, 11 assists, 10 steals and seven rebounds in a 72-53 win over a Manhasset team that handed Sewanhaka one of its two league losses early on in the season. 

Senior captain Jenny Pechacek scored a career-high 20 points in the win over Manhasset. Pechacek, who has been the team’s most consistent scorer from the perimeter, has proven to be a fearless player who relishes the big moment, and doesn’t shy away from taking big shots. She’s knocked down 19 threes on the season.

Hayes has been a double-double machine for the Lady Indians. With two more seasons to go at the varsity level, the sophomore forward may be just scratching the surface in terms of her potential. Hayes scored a career-high 22 points in a loss to Division early in the season.

Senior Myeishay Brooks has been a nice surprise for the Lady Indians. Brooks scored 15 points in a season-opening win over Oyster Bay. Niles is one of Sewanhaka’s more versatile performers. She plays both guard and forward, and has been excellent on the boards. Soupios is also pleased with the play of junior China Lee and eighth-grader Ashley Dann.

“The younger girls have gotten minutes, and they’ve made the best of the time on the court,” Soupios said. “They’ve gained confidence as the year has gone along, and have been sponges when it comes to taking instruction.”

The Lady Indians host Roslyn next Monday, Feb. 10 at 4:30 p.m.