VSN keeps playoffs in sight

The two youngest teams in Nassau Conference A1 girls’ basketball met Saturday afternoon with one inching closer to a long-awaited playoff berth and the other chalking up another learning experience.

Seeking its first postseason appearance since the 2012-13 campaign, Valley Stream North moved within a game of punching its ticket to the Class A tournament with a 59-37 victory over visiting Clarke. Junior Alessia Nunnari led a balanced effort for the Spartans with a season-high 19 points, with a dozen of those from behind the arc, and came one rebound shy of a double-double.

“We’re a young team that has great chemistry on and off the court,” said Nunnari, who scored 10 second-quarter points to help VSN overcome an early 19-12 deficit. “I’m so happy to be a part of such an exciting team. We’re having a lot of fun but at the same time we know we still need one more win to make playoffs,” she added.

North’s two starting eighth-grade guards, Kellenberg transfers Celeste Lyle (12) and Emily Weir, combined for 20 points, sophomore Paige Fessler added 9 and junior Jasmie Harrison had 8 as head coach Dan Lodato’s team improved to 9-5 overall and 5-3 in A1.

“We’re really aiming for that playoff spot and as we get closer the message is to not take anything for granted,” Lodato said. “Beating Mineola last Friday was big. It not only put us in fourth place but we swept the season series and have the tiebreaker against Mineola should we need it.”

The Rams (5-9 overall; 1-7 in A1), also loaded with youth, got 15 points from junior Christina Boyle and 10 from freshman Khloe Louis-Jean. All of Boyle’s offense came from three-point land including a pair as Clarke scored the first seven points of the game. Senior Lia Addeo added 5 points and junior Althea Borleo had 4.

“The conference is super tough and we’re starting only one senior,” Clarke head coach Shaun Fein said. “We’ve done some good things. We have some exciting young talent and we’ll see what we can do over the last few weeks.”

Louis-Jean didn’t begin the season among the Rams’ starting five, but Fein said she’s emerged as a steady presence in the paint providing points and rebounds. “To be as big a contributor as she has been, I’m happy with that,” the coach noted.

North’s youngest pair, Lyle and Weir, hardly come off the floor, Lodato said, and are its No. 1 and 2 scorers. Weir had three straight 20-point games earlier this month. “Celeste is a sharp shooter and has an excellent basketball IQ, and Emily just makes things happen at both ends.”

The Spartans, who were without sophomore starting center Jada Jones, a defensive star, outscored Clarke 18-5 in the second quarter and 19-10 in the third to take command.  

“We’re in the driver’s seat now,” Lodato said. “Making playoffs would be a huge accomplishment and hosting a first-round game isn’t out of the question.”