By Andrew McClure
Both teams started strong and the score was tied at 12 at the end of the first quarter. The Rocks were paced by Donlon and sophomore Matt Marra, who had eight points and eight rebounds for the game, while the Owls received strong contributions from seniors Nick Scaduto and Nick Lein in the opening 12 minutes. However, the second quarter was all Lynbrook. Pollard scored six consecutive points as the Owls went on a 10-0 run to take a 12-point lead at the intermission.
The beginning of the third quarter saw East Rockaway creep closer as Donlon hit two three-point goals, but the Owls, led by Hantverk, closed the quarter strong and held an insurmountable 46-30 lead after three quarters. With the game seemingly out of reach, both coaches emptied their benches in the fourth quarter. Lein scored nine for the Owls. John Cardus added nine for East Rockaway.
Levison sets mark as Lady Rocks roll
E.R. rules the court 64-41
In the afternoon match up, the East Rockaway Lady Rocks came out flying and took a big lead which they would never relinquish. Senior guard Meri Levison scored 22 points, becoming East Rockaway's all-time leading scorer, and forward Brittany Fuller added 21 to lead the Lady Rocks to a convincing 64-41 win.
Prior to the game, East Rockaway's head coach Karin Leary, along with Fuller and fellow senior forward Sarah D'Archangelis, paid tribute to Levison, who recently became the first girl in school history to reach the 1000-point plateau. Levison entered the game needing just seven points to surpass Mike West's school record of 1032.
Paced by Levison and Fuller, East Rockaway built a 20-6 first quarter lead over the Lady Owls, who were playing without senior guard Ashley Sherman, an all-conference selection in 2004-05. The second quarter was wide open with both teams running and gunning. Lynbrook, which received eight points each from Dana Rosen and Nicole Amaya, fought hard, but still trailed by 15 at the half.
The Lady Owls got back into the game early in the second half as they went on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to nine points, but after a timeout, East Rockaway got back on track and went on a run of its own and Lynbrook never challenged again. Courtney Harris scored seven for the Lady Rocks.
Both junior varsity games were won by Lynbrook.
