Thursday, October 1, 2026
All season long, Lynbrook has relied on its fast-paced, high-scoring offense to help it win games. But, during the eighth-seeded Lady Owls’ Nassau Class A first-round girls’ basketball playoff matchup against No. 9 Wantagh last Friday, it was the defense that carried them to victory.
The Lady Warriors held an eight-point lead halfway through the third quarter, but only managed two field goals over the game’s final 12 minutes. This allowed Lynbrook to rally quickly, and eventually come away with a 41-33 win.
“I think we played great defensively in the second half, and that’s why we turned things around,” Lynbrook head coach Stephen LoCicero said. “Sophia LoCicero did a great job up top, and Emily Kluth and Amanda Digiorgio also did a wonderful job on defense. It was awesome to see.”
The play of forward Kerrin Montgomery is perhaps the biggest reason why Lynbrook is advancing to take on No. 1 Elmont in the quarterfinals. The junior center had 17 points and 17 rebounds, and came up with several timely baskets.
“She’s a walking double-double,” LoCicero said of Montgomery. “The inside play and defensive play that she gives is what makes us who we are. She’s really an exceptional person and player.”
Wantagh’s offensive struggles down the stretch resulted in an abrupt end to what was an otherwise impressive season for the club. Lady Warriors head coach Stan Bujacich says the disappointing finish does not take away from what his squad achieved this winter. “Without a doubt this is still a season to be proud of,” he said. “We were still a very good team, with an 11-3 league record.”
Bujacich saw his team struggle out of the gate last Friday, as the Lady Owls jumped out to an 8-0 advantage. But after taking a timeout less than four minutes into the first quarter, Wantagh was able to turn things around in a hurry. A 9-0 run put the Lady Warriors ahead before the conclusion of the opening quarter.
In the second, freshman guard Caitlin Albanese got hot for Wantagh. She scored nine of her team-high 15 points in the quarter, and helped carry the visitors to a 22-15 lead at the break.
The Lady Warriors continued their strong play into the beginning of the second half, holding a 29-21 lead, with 4:09 to play in the third. But as the quarter continued, Lynbrook began to pick up its aggressiveness on defense, and forced Wantagh into several turnovers.
“We just turned up our defensive intensity, worked together and kept on looking for fast-break opportunities,” Montgomery said.
The Lady Owls’ run-and-gun style, which had failed them earlier in the game, proved to be successful late. Montgomery and Sophia LoCicero both caught fire offensively, combining for 20 second-half points.
Lynbrook now moves on to a matchup against the Lady Spartans. Coach LoCicero believes his group has a shot at knocking off the top-seeded club.
“We’re playing with house money now,” he said. “All the pressure is on them.”
