Monday, February 10, 2025
The road has been a bumpy one for the West Hempstead and East Rockaway girls’ basketball programs this season with a combined record of 4-25 heading into their Jan. 28 matchup.
It was a nailbiter midway through the third quarter before West Hempstead stretched a four-point lead to double digits entering the fourth, then pulled away for a 52-36 road victory to complete a season sweep of the Rocks.
Senior Constance Berry-Rowley and junior Daniela Healy both had a game-high 17 points and eighth grader Heather Chrobet added 9 to lead West Hempstead to its fourth win in 15 tries.
“We work a lot on shooting threes and we did a nice job tonight from there and the foul line,” Rams head coach Chris Van Kovics said. “We’ve been getting better and better. Tonight was probably our best game from start to finish. We have three quality guards. Heather has great basketball knowledge and skills. Constance is one of our best shooters and Daniela is athletic and does a lot out there.”
Senior Sophia Pappas and sophomore Colleen Lynch led East Rockaway (1-15) with 10 points apiece. Senior Norah Rose added 9.
“It’s been a tough season, but every game the girls work hard and fight until the end,” Rocks head coach Cheri Poland said. “We’ve been struggling on the offensive end, but we’re proud of our defense. Tonight we were in it pretty much the whole way, we just couldn’t get over the top.”
Healy had two field goals and went 4-for-4 on free throws in the opening quarter to help West Hempstead build a 17-10 lead. An evenly played second quarter saw both teams get plenty of contributions. Chrobet, Berry-Rowley, Healy, and sophomore Isabella Salimbene all hit shots for the Rams, while Rose, Lynch, Pappas and freshman Leila Perez did the same for the Rocks.
The Rams led by nine at the half but had a cold spell early in the second half and saw their lead dwindle to 31-26 as Lynch and Pappas accounted for the only points through four minutes of the third quarter.
That’s when West Hempstead’s role players made some noise. Junior Jazmyn Russell, senior Madison Cates and sophomore Ana Rizzuto all provided key baskets to stretch the advantage to 40-30 entering the fourth.
Berry-Rowley and Chrobet opened the final quarter with back-to-back 3s, and Chrobet added a fast-break layup for a 48-30 cushion.
“Basketball is her sport and she plays AAU,” Van Kovics said of Chrobet, who scored 24 in the team’s 55-43 win over East Rockaway in the first meeting Dec. 17. “She has good size and can play down low if we need her to.”
Both teams have three games remaining and two common opponents — Carle Place and Oyster Bay. West Hempstead also has Cold Spring Harbor, while East Rockaway has Locust Valley.
The Rocks are without a JV, but Poland said she’s hopeful for the future. “We have two junior high teams coming up,” she said.
