By STEVE SINISKI
Despite becoming just the third team to hold the Lady Braves below 46 points, the absence of a consistent offense kept No. 4 Elmont (8-12) on the wrong side of a 40-25 decision.
A combination of missed jumpers and fastbreak layups, coupled with an equally strong defensive effort by Syosset prevented the Lady Spartans from scoring more than nine points in any quarter. Junior Jasmine Cobbs led Elmont with six points, while juniors Bianca Jean and Reauna Dorner each scored five.
“We couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean,” Lady Spartans coach Tom Magno said. “To keep them to 40 points is not a bad defensive effort. But it’s tough to win when you score 25.”
Senior Toni Ann Lawrence, one of Elmont’s primary offensive weapons, was saddled by foul trouble in the first half but after converting a steal and fastbreak layup for the Lady Spartans’ first points of the game, she didn’t score again until late in the third, finishing with four points.
For all of the struggles filling the nets—the Lady Spartans scored just four points in the opening eight minutes and had just 13 at intermission—Elmont still managed to grab a stranglehold of the momentum in the fourth quarter on the strength of its defense. Syosset’s Connie Simmons converted a pair of free throws 19 seconds into the final quarter for the only points her team would score over the next 5:31. A pair of free throws by Cobbs completed a six-point run that sliced the Lady Braves’ lead to 37-24. The run included a steal and transition layup by Dorner and started with an offensive putback by Dorner.
Cobbs appeared primed to continue the scoring run with another steal, but the switch to offense was cut short by a Syosset foul. Two possessions later, a blocked shot by senior Agbogo Kalu fueled another possession in transition, but Lawrence couldn’t convert a no-look pass by Cobbs.
Kim Ridini ended Syosset’s scoreless drought with a three-pointer, one of four by the Lady Braves in the game, and Elmont ultimately scored just one point—on a free throw by junior Theresa Jones—over the final 5:45. “I’m not disappointed in the effort,” Magno said of his team, which had dominating stretches on the glass and in the transition game thanks to the efforts of Cobbs and Kalu.
Kalu pulled down nine rebounds, blocked five shots and added four steals, while Cobbs added five boards. “We kind of depend on them for 90 percent of our rebounds,” Magno said.
Simmons scored a game-high 18 points, including all seven Syosset points in the second quarter.
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