59.0°,
Overcast Sewanhaka tops Valley Stream North
Two programs on the rise hooked up in a fast-paced Nassau Class A girls’ basketball playoff opener that saw fourth-seeded Sewanhaka slowly pull away for a 63-46 victory over No. 13 Valley Stream North Feb. 16.
The Lady Indians, off their first conference title in 18 years and hosting their first playoff game in 18 years, got 21 points from senior Celine Jolicoeur and 11 points and six rebounds from freshman Michelle Niles to advance to the quarterfinals for a second straight season. The Lady Spartans, who led by a point late in the first half, were led by seniors Madeline Nelson (21 points) and Elyse Zappia (12.)
“It’s a special win for us and hopefully we’ll keep going,” Sewanhaka coach Alex Soupios said. “We have a great deal of respect for Valley Stream North. They’ve got a tremendous coaching staff and an incredible backcourt with Nelson and Zappia.”
A visit from fifth-seeded Floral Park is next for the Lady Indians (15-3 overall), who used a 10-point spurt to close the first half with a 34-25 lead after Valley Stream North went ahead by one late in the second quarter on a basket by sophomore Danielle Evangelista. Three-pointers by Niles and classmate Daniella Ford sparked Sewanhaka’s biggest surge in a game that was closer than the final score indicated.
“I’m proud of the way we competed,” VSN coach Geoff O’Connell said. “It’s a difference experience to come into this gym, with the fans behind the baskets, and our girls reacted to it well.
“Sewanhaka is a talented and physical team,” he added. “We obviously wanted to come in here and win, but even though we didn’t I thought we gave a pretty good account of ourselves. I don’t know if they thought it would be so close for so long.”
