By TONY BELLISSIMO
Down by as many as 10 points in the second half, the Valley Stream Central girls basketball team staged a furious rally at Calhoun last Friday, but came up short as the Lady Colts won it, 54-52, on a Nadine Vasquez layup with 28 seconds remaining.
Central forward Stacey Schultz, who scored a game-high 22 points, hit a 10-foot jumper with 38 seconds left to tie the contest at 52. That set the stage for Vasquez's heroics. Vasquez, a freshman, had 16 points and junior guard Chrissy Arnone added 15 points and four assists for Calhoun, which improved to 2-2 in Conference II and 5-3 overall.
"There were some positives to take from the game even though we lost," Central Coach Denise Schatz said. "It came down to rebounding and second and third chances and that was the difference."
Calhoun led 14-12 after the first quarter and 38-29 at half time. The teams combined for 41 points in the second quarter with the Lady Colts accounting for 24 of them.
"They hit some big shots in the second quarter and it put them on pace to score about 80 points," Schatz said. "But we tightened up the defense and chipped away in the second half."
Arnone hit four three-pointers, and senior Lindsay Levinthal converted some key field goals as well. Junior Roseanne Renshak (six), senior Colleen Loftus (four) and sophomore Michelle Silino combined for 11 points.
The Lady Colts have played their share of close games under first-year coach Debbie Cipolla, who took over the helm from Joe Corea. Calhoun won the Bellmore-Merrick Tournament to open the campaign, but then lost its conference opener to Elmont. After splitting tight games in the Seaford Tournament, the Lady Colts beat Hicksville and lost to Port Washington.
Calhoun led at Hicksville all the way and withstood a 20-point fourth quarter by the Lady Comets in a 47-42 victory. Vasquez had 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Leventhal chipped in with 12 points and seven steals. The teams meet again on Feb. 13
At Port Washington last week, Calhoun trailed 21-18 at intermission, but never got closer in a 55-46 defeat. Vasquez poured in 22 points, and Arnone added eight.
The Lady Colts get a bye next week and will have 11 days to prepare for their next game, Jan. 27 at home against Long Beach at 1 p.m.
