Another fast start for North Shore

North Shore’s girls’ basketball team is going for a “three-peat’’ and it’s right on track. 
The Vikings have won the Conference A2 title two straight years and boast seven seniors on a squad that looks dangerous. North Shore lost its two best defenders in Kylee Colbert and Ava Bartoli to graduation and talented Seaford has joined the conference. But there may be no stopping the girls from Sea Cliff/Glen Head. 
Last season’s team rolled to 19-3 overall. Despite a recent blip of losing two straight rugged non-league games to Mineola and Carle Place in late December, the Vikings are off to an 8-3 start – unbeaten in conference action at 5-0.
On Jan. 4, North Shore broke the two-game skid and routed a club it considered a conference candidate to test them – Island Trees, 63-34. Defense is carrying North Shore, led by premier stopper, senior Kate Salerno.
“I’m so excited,’’ Salerno said of The Maroon’s start to the 2023-24 campaign. “With so many upperclassmen, everyone fills the leadership role so well. It’s such a tight-knit group we have. We play our hearts out. Our defense is so strong. Everyone just wants it. Everyone’s hustling, doing every little detail like boxing out. Everyone puts their all into it.’’

While Salerno and senior Hannah Gilliam represent the team’s top on-ball defenders, center Keira Pombar has been a menace in the paint. At 6-foot-1, the senior averages 5 blocks per game. 
Junior Sofia Della Ratta, the high-leaping small forward, is averaging 3.5 blocks per game. Surprisingly the defense is ahead of the offense. 
“I think our defense has been pretty strong,’’ head coach Keith Freund said. “Our offense still is looking to click. It’s been pretty strong defensively overall.  I do feel our offense is going to start clicking. Normally offense takes a little longer. Our goal is the time we get to the playoffs, we’re clicking.’’
It’s a balanced scoring attack led by the 13.7 points per game from senior Emma Priolo, a 3-point shooting sniper. Priolo led the way versus Island Trees, netting 18 points. She’s drained 37 treys to date to lead all of Long Island “and she can shoot it from 7-to-8 feet from behind the line,’’ Freund said. 
Della Rattam who runs the point, is averaging 10.8 points and Pombar 10 ppg. After that, the Vikings get contributions from Adriana Mavlios (7.2 ppg) and Hailey Ayres (7.0)
“We’re balanced scoring this year,’’ Freund said. “We have an inside-outside and two girls who can handle the rock and can shoot from the outside. We’re not depending on one person to do the scoring for us.’’
Salerno and Gilliam have been lockdown defenders. Salerno isn’t required to score much. Her sole focus is creating havoc on the other end. “I love the grind and hustle, love running and setting up my teammates,’’ Salerno said. “ I love getting after it and keeping the game moving. It’s always about what can I do to get us to the next step, get the ball and move on to our offense. Your defense works into your offense.’’
Last winter, North Shore’s grand season ended a trifle dismayingly with a second-round playoff exit to Floral Park. “I totally feel we have the potential to go further,’’ Salerno said. “Everyone works so well together. I see everyone in practice and you feel it.’’
The recent non-league holiday losing streak has done little to cause concern. Freund thought a late-December defeat to Carle Place was its worst performance. “We learned we have to bring our best effort every single time we play,’’ Freund said. 
“I have a lot of positivity,’ Salerno said. “We had some illnesses. We’re getting back to everyone getting healthy. I’m looking at it as we’re getting over a little tough hill. It’s just going to progress. The tough non-league games are great preparation.’’
North Shore travels to Seaford this Friday for an important conference game. Tipoff is 7 p.m.