Allowing 10 of the first 11 points on the road against a Plainview team looking for a fifth straight Conference AAA-1 girls’ basketball victory without a defeat forced Freeport head coach Meredith Jones to burn an early timeout.
“We just needed to settle down,” Jones said. “We’re a young team with three juniors and two sophomores starting, and a freshman first off the bench. Once we started to get a few baskets and press, we got into a nice flow.”
Junior Shaniya Bonny sank a three-pointer off the timeout and the Red Devils never yielded momentum on the way to a 53-45 signature win Saturday. Sophomores Madison Harris (17) and Sabrina Ligonde (15), and Bonny (12) all scored in double figures and Freeport outscored the hosts in all four quarters.
“Big win against a tough team,” Jones said. “This will boost our confidence and we’re looking to go into the playoffs on a winning streak. We just came off a loss to Lynbrook in non-league and I feel that game will help both of us moving forward because we challenged each other.”
Plainview’s Emma Heaney led all scorers with 26 points but the Hawks (10-4 overall, 4-1 in AAA-1), who struggled mightily from the foul line in the second half missing 12 of 13 before sinking their final four attempts, had no others reach double digits. Emily Brake chipped in 9.
“Defense is our best offense,” Jones said. “Offensively, we never know who’s going to lead us in scoring. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Bonny gave the Red Devils (12-4 overall, 5-2 in AAA-1) a 13-12 lead just before the first quarter buzzer when she took a feed from junior Madison Starks, a steady influence at both ends of the floor according to Jones.
The 5-foot-10 Harris, who also pulled down 21 rebounds as part of a dominant performance in the paint, opened the second quarter with a layup to cap a 14-2 run. Freeport trailed again at 19-16 before Bonny’s third trey of the opening half tied it. Harris then put the visitors ahead to stay.
“She’s a force and keeps getting better and better,” Jones said of Harris, who averages 10 points and 10 rebounds. “I love her game. She’s a non-stop worker.”
Freeport led 25-23 at halftime and benefitted from seven missed Plainview free throws in the third quarter. Ligonde had six points in the third, including a trey for a 37-28 cushion.
“Sabrina makes us go running the point for a second season,” Jones said. “She plays with poise and does it all.”
After Plainview made one last push behind Heaney, closing the gap to 39-35 with 2:31 remaining, freshman lefty shooting guard Ja’Niyah Eady followed a basket by Ligonde by swishing a 3 off a pass from Harris to stretch the advantage back to nine.
“That was clutch,” Jones said of Eady’s shot. “She’s been so good all season. That gave us the breathing room we needed.”
The Red Devils travel to Oceanside, Hicksville and Academy Charter before hosting Herricks in the regular-season finale Feb. 10.