Northport senior forward Ian Melamerson powers his way to the rim for the score against Hills East Jan 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior forward Ian Melamerson battles his way to the rim scoring 2 of his 13 points Jan. 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior forward Ian Melamerson battles his way to the rim scoring 2 of his 13 points Jan. 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior guard Larry Citrola with a jumper. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore guard Pat Healy scores from down low on the road against Hills East Jan 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore guard Pat Healy shoots from the top of the key Jan 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore guard Pat Healy drives the base line Jan. 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore guard Pat Healy scores from the paint. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore guard Pat Healy scores from the paint on the road Jan. 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport guard Sean Walsh scores while falling down Jan. 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore guard Pat Healy scores from the paint Jan. 25. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior Sean Walsh drains one of his three triples on the road against Hills East Jan. 25. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
The Northport Tigers stood alone atop the League II leaderboard at 9-2 when they hit the road against Half Hollow Hills East, 8-2, who looked to displace the Tigers for the top spot. Displace them they did when the Thunderbirds defeated Northport,64-50, Jan. 25 on their own home court.
Northport’s defense struggled to contain Hills East’s Shamar Moore-Hough who led the Thunderbirds in scoring with 19 points.
Northport sophomore guard Pat Healy led the Tigers in scoring with 15 points, senior forward Ian Melamerson followed adding 13 and junior guard Sean Walsh banked 11.
The loss bumps Northport from their perch to second place in league with four games remaining before the postseason begins. The Tigers will retake the court Jan. 31 hosting Lindenhurst at 6 p.m.
Senior Gabby Sartori fights her way to the rim against Shoreham’s Abby Korzekwinski scoring two of her team high 22 points Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman Guard Carlie Cutinella dumps a pass off to an open shooter for the Wildcats Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
GraceAnn Leonard, an 8th grader for Shoreham-Wading River, shoots from the paint Jan 22. Photo by Bill Landon
GraceAnn Leonard, an 8th grader for Shoreham-Wading River, gets a shot off against Mount Sinai senior forward Holly McNair Jan 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior forward Holly McNair drives to the rim for two of her six points Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Gabby Sartori fights her way to the rim scoring two of her team high 22 points Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Sohpomore forward Makayla Hartcorn battles for a rebound for the Mustangs Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham forward Abby Korzekwinski goes up for the score Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Brooke Cergol drives the baseline Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Gabby Sartori elbows her way to the rim scoring two of her team high 22 points Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Margaret Kopcienski shoots from the top of the key Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai senior Brooke Cergol fights her way to the basket for two of her 12 points Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai freshman guard Casey Campo shoots from down low Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Mount Sinai freshman guard Kylie Budke lays up for two points Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior forward Melissa Marchese scores on a put back for the Wildcats Jan 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Melissa Marchese battles Mount Sinai senior Gabby Sartori for a loose ball under the boards Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham senior Michelle Corona looks for an open shooter Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Co-Captain Michelle Corona battles down low against Gabby Sartori scoring two of her nine points for the Wildcats Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore guard Molly LaForge shoots from the corner Jan. 22. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
Despite a late game surge by the Wildcats, Mount Sinai’s girls basketball team was able to make a stand holding off visiting Shoreham-Wading River in a League V contest Jan. 22 for a 50-39 victory. Mount Sinai senior Gabby Sartori banked seven field goals and eight free throws to lead her team with 22 points. Senior Brooke Cergol followed up netting a 3-pointer, four field goals and one from the stripe putting up a total of 12. Atop the leaderboard for the Wildcats was senior Melissa Marchese who swished five and made three from the line for 13 points.
The win puts the Mustangs at 9-3 league 11-3 overall with six games remaining. This puts them solidly in the playoff mix. The loss drops the Wildcats to 6-6 league 6-8 overall and will need several wins in their remaining six games to secure postseason berth.
The Wildcats have three of those games in the next eight days as the regular season winds down. Mount Sinai retakes the court Jan. 26 hosting Bayport-Blue Point and again two days later Jan. 28 facing Westhampton at home. Game times are 10:00 a.m. and 6:15 p.m., respectively.
Northport junior forward Alexa Gentile shoots on her way to a 66-34 victory over Lindenhurst Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior guard Danielle Pavinelli lays up scoring two points Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior guard Danielle Pavinelli battles in the paint for the score. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior guard Danielle Pavinelli drives the lane scoring two of her team-high 16 points Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior guard and co-captain Hannah Stockman scores from the paint Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior guard and co-captain Hannah Stockman drains a three pointer in a Tiger victory over Lindenhurst in League II competition Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior guard Kelly Mclaughlin with a put back in a 66-34 victory over Lindenhurst Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior guard Kelly Mclaughlin looks for an open shooter in a Tiger victory over Lindenhurst. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior guard Kelly Mclaughlin drives the lane in a 66-34 Tiger victory over Lindenhurst Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior forward Kerry Dennin who scored 8 points in the contest draws a crowd. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior forward Kerry Dennin battles for one of her 11 rebounds Jan. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
The Lady Tigers made short work of visiting Lindenhurst in a League II matchup winning, 66-34, Jan. 7.
Northport girls varsity basketball team broke out to a double-digit lead early in the opening quarter and never looked back. Junior guard Danielle Pavinelli led the way for Northport banking seven field goals and two free throws for a total of 16 points. Co-captain senior Hannah Stockman nailed three triples and a pair of field goals netting 13 points, followed by junior guard Kelly McLaughlin who hit four field goals along with one from the charity strip for nine points.
With the win Northport improves to 4-1 in league (7-2 overall). The Lady Tigers will compete next at home against Smithtown West Bulls Jan. 11 at 6 p.m.
Gabby Sartori drives the lane in a Feb. 6, 2018 game against Miller Place. Photo by Desirée Keegan
The players on Mount Sinai’s girls basketball team like to rib senior Gabby Sartori about her scoring record. Of course, it’s all in good humor, and if she’s anxious about her record, she doesn’t show it. After all, having sunk over 1,500 points in her 6-year varsity basketball career, and with college looming on the horizon, the final score isn’t something she wants to stress about.
“I’m not a braggart, but they definitely mention it a lot — they kind of say it to get me uncomfortable about it,” Sartori said. “That’s the kind of thing you expect from your friends.”
Gabby Sartori maintains possession along the sideline in a 2018 lacrosse game. Photo by Desirée Keegan
The Mount Sinai senior scored her 1,000th point Dec. 27, 2017, but it only took her a short time to reach that next milestone in a Dec. 28 game against Smithtown West, with Mount Sinai finishing, 56-44. It’s an achievement that has her coach, Jeff Koutsantanou, close to reeling.
“I’ve been coaching for about 20 years, both boys and girls, and I’ve never had a player who has an ability to score like her,” Koutsantanou said. “One thousand is great, but for her to get 1,500 is tremendous.”
It’s a constant edge of improvement, and while 1,500 is a nice round number, Sartori already scored 35 points in a Jan. 2 game against Bayport-Blue Point in which the Mustangs won, 57-47.
Yet Sartori, who plays guard in most games, said she is not letting the numbers go to her head. She’s cool under pressure, and she becomes laser focused on achieving what she wants, whether it’s sinking a basket or in her academics with a 94 unweighted GPA.
Sartori will be attending Brown University after she graduates Mount Sinai, but she won’t be playing basketball once she gets to the Ivy League school. Instead, she’ll be there for lacrosse, which along with soccer, is another sport she has excelled in.
“I’ve gotten so used to balancing them, but there was one point where I had to balance all three sports at the same time with travel, but it helps with college next year because I’ll have that all year round,” she said.
While Ivy League schools don’t give out much in the way of scholarships, the young basketball player said it’s all about what she can use, either in sports or in the name of a school, to help her realize her professional dreams.
“If you can use a sport to that high ground, I would do it 100 percent,” Sartori said. “I don’t care if they haven’t won any tournaments.”
When it comes to her college expectations, the young basketball player said she expects to enroll in the college’s communications programs, eventually hoping to work in sports broadcasting as either a commentator or analyst.
‘If you can use a sport to that high ground, I would do it 100 percent.’
— Gabby Sartori
In her visits to Brown, Sartori said the Ivy League’s lacrosse team has already been friendly, but are amazed at her skill having come from a little known public school on Long Island.
“They’re all shocked that I go to a public school, because they all come from private schools,” she said. “Their shocked and say, ‘you go to school with boys?’ and I say, ‘yeah, I do.’”
Even with college lacrosse on the horizon, basketball has been one of those lifetime sports for Sartori, as she’s been playing the sport since she was 4 years old, egged on by her father Jim Sartori.
Despite her impressive record, Sartori is just one exceptional player amongst a standout team. Last season the girls went 20-0 in a near perfect run before finally being defeated Feb. 26 in a county finals loss to Hauppauge.
The Mustangs are currently sitting at a solid 6-2, but there is still much of the season left. Of course, Sartori said the team’s goal is to make it to county champions, but the young basketball player said she wants to see the team go as far as they can in the playoffs.
“I want us to try to get as far as we can in the postseason — I’d take a loss now over that,” she said.
Newfield sophomore guard Savanah Bond scores from the paint against West Islip in league play Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore guard Savanah Bond pushes up court in a League III matchup against West Islip Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore guard Savanah Bond drives scores in a League III matchup against West Islip Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore guard Savanah Bond drives an open lane against West Islip Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior forward Olivia Bond passes to an open shooter against West Islip in league play Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman guard Megan Spina drives to the basket in a League III matchup at home against West Islip Dec. 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Freshman guard Megan Spina drains a three-pointer for Newfield against visiting West Islip Dec. 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore guard Chinelle Nelson lets a three-pointer fly in League III action against visiting West Islip Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore guard Chinelle Nelson shoots scoring two of her seven points against visiting West Islip Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield sophomore guard Chinelle Nelson, who led her team in scoring, drives to the basket against West Islip Dec 18. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
Newfield went toe to toe with West Islip Dec. 18 in a home game that wouldn’t be decided until the final seconds. The Wolverines fell just short losing a League III matchup 27-26 at home.
Sophomore guard Chinelle Nelson led her team in scoring, netting five points from the charity stripe along with a field goal for seven points. Freshman guard Megan Spina along with senior forward Oliva Bond, both banked triples and a field goal for five points apiece.
The Wolverines are back in action when they hit the road against Huntington Dec. 20. Tip-off is at 4 p.m.
Harborfields senior guard Casey Nickerson scores 2 of her team high 17 points Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Celia Argiriou sets up the play Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Celia Argiriou drives the lane Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Celia Argiriou finishes with a layup Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Colleen Dwyer passes the ball in a non-league Tornado 45-41 victory on the road against Bay Shore Dec. 7th. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Colleen Dwyer with a jumper Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior forward Hallie Simkins fights her way to the rim Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior forward Hallie Simkins battles in the paint in a non-league Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Lizzy Cuthbertson drives the lane in a non-league victory Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior guard Lizzy Cuthbertson scores in a non-league victory Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
Harborfields senior forward Olivia Seligmann shoots from the baseline Dec. 7. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
The Harborfields girls varsity basketball team traveled to Bay Shore for a nonleague match where the Tornadoes squeezed out a 45-41 victory Dec. 7.
Senior Casey Nickerson led her team in scoring with 17 points that included three treys, while senior Celia
Argiriou tacked on 12, and senior guard Colleen Dwyer banked 9 points for her team.
The Lady Tornadoes will be back in action Dec. 13 as they host Eastport/South Manorville at 6 p.m.
Cougars score nine 3-pointers to nab third county crown in four years
Commack's girls basketball team celebrates in county title win over Half Hollow Hills East. Photo by Jim Ferchland
By Jim Ferchland
Commack’s girls basketball team proved once again why it’s the No. 1 seed and team to beat by securing the program’s third Suffolk County championship title in four years.
Kim Shaloub shoots from outside. Photo by Jim Ferchland
The Cougars controlled the tempo with their ability to spread the floor and shoot from the perimeter, making nine 3-pointers in a 52-25 topple over No. 2 Half Hollow Hills East Feb. 27 at Farmingdale State College.
Senior captain and Commack sharpshooter Kim Shalhoub drained a team-high four threes to lead the Cougars with 14 points. She had 13 points in a Feb. 24 semifinal win over Ward Melville. She felt more comfortable taking shots from beyond the arc this time around.
“It was really good to finally hit some shots after last game,” Shalhoub said. “Nothing was really going in for me on Saturday.”
She said she was able to get open shot opportunities coming off screens, which is a vital part of the Cougars’ offense.
“A lot of our plays have to do with setting screens for each other, cutting, and a lot of fast movement,” Shalhoub said. “I think that’s really important when it comes to getting open for shots.”
Junior guard Katie Kelly contributed 13 points and knocked down two 3-pointers for Commack. It’s her third straight time making it to the county finals game. In the second half, Commack ran away with the game by outscoring the Thunderbirds 24-9 while playing smothering defense. Going into the game, Kelly was not anticipating a one-sided affair.
Amanda McMahon shoots ahead of the block. Photo by Jim Ferchland
“I expected them to come out a lot harder,” Kelly said. “I think that we just played our game. We stayed together, ultimately. We said that no matter what happens in this game, we have to stay together.”
Commack senior captain Casey Hearns orchestrated the offense. She called plays and made extra passes until her Cougars were open for shots. She added eight points, also making two 3-pointers. Her first shot from outside was a running bank shot off the glass at the end of the first quarter, which gave Commack a comfortable 21-8 advantage. To finalize a 13-0 run in the third quarter in the final minute, she tossed a shot that put Commack up by 23 points, 44-21.
“We usually depend on Katie [Kelly], but she was being covered,” Hearns said. “When she’s being covered or when the offense is a little slow, I’m obviously going to step in and help her. I think that’s what we do really well on offense. I’m always happy to assist my teammates by sharing the ball.”
Hearns said she was astonished to know her team allowed just nine points in the second half.
Katie Kelly drives to the basket. Photo by Jim Ferchland
“I had no idea. That’s awesome,” Hearns said. “We played defense really well in the second half. I’m so proud with how we played.”
Denis Conroy, Commack’s 12-year head coach, missed a large portion of the season due to medical reasons. Assistant coach Russ Tietjen, Harborfields’ former head coach, has led the team most of the year, but Conroy said he could not be happier to add another county title notch to his belt.
“It’s the pride of my life to be their coach,” Conroy said. “They are just tremendous kids. You can’t say enough about what they did. It means a lot to play as well as we did against a team that good. We have managed to develop a strong continuity in our program and I’m very proud of that.”
The Cougars await the winner of the Nassau Class AA final between Massapequa and Baldwin. Commack will play the winner in the Long Island championship/ Southeast Regional semifinal March 8. The game is currently slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood.
Kings Park's Sam Schultz led all scorers with 33 points and nine rebounds in a win over Rocky Point Feb. 1. Photo by Jim Ferchland
By Jim Ferchland
Sam Schultz continues to be an unstoppable force.
The sensational senior scorer recorded 33 points for the Kingsmen Feb. 1, leading Kings Park to a 68-41 blowout victory over visiting Rocky Point. Kings Park improves to 17-2 on the year and 13-2 in League V, having won 14 consecutive games.
Kings Park’s Sam Hogan moves the ball downcourt. Photo by Jim Ferchland
Schultz, who scored 22 points in the first half, hauled in nine rebounds and four assists in the win. Kings Park had a 12-point lead over Rocky Point at the break, but outscored the Eagles 30-15 in the second half.
“We can score at will,” Kings Park head coach Tom Edmundson said. “We really have an offensive-minded team. We talk about it a lot trying to step up our defensive game. We struggled a little bit in the first half, but we definitely came together in the second.”
Schultz said she likes to shoot from 3-point range, but said she felt she had to attack the basket more against Rocky Point.
“I tried to get to the lane and draw some fouls,” Schultz said. “The refs were calling them, so for me personally, I attacked the lane more.”
In her fifth varsity year with the Kingsmen, Schultz recently surpassed 1,500 career points, hitting the milestone marker Jan. 23 against Hauppauge, where she finished with a double-double on 34 points and 18 rebounds. Two days later, she broke the scoring record for both boys and girls basketball at 1,515 points in a home game against Sayville. The record stood since 2004.
Schultz said but her main focus remains competing hard every game to help her Kings Park team get to where it wants to go.
“It’s crazy,” Schultz said of her achievements. “I’m happy I get to leave my mark on Kings Park, but I just want to win. I just want to make it as far as we can. I want to get a county championship so bad. I feel this year, we have a really good shot. I’m excited.”
Edmundson, who has coached the varsity team for nine years, said it’s remarkable to have a player like Schultz.
Kings Park’s Sam Schultz shoots from outside while Rocky Point’s Abby Bellport reaches for the block. Photo by Jim Ferchland
“We’ve had some talented teams over the years, but she makes a big difference,” Edmundson said. “She broke 1,000 points last year. She was a little over 1,000 going into this year. She did what she did last year to have a chance to get to 1,500, but she’s blowing it away. She can get up to 1,600 before the season ends, which is not something we really expected.”
Rocky Point’s Clare Levy lead the Eagles with 20 points, all scored in the first half. She accounted for almost half of Rocky Point’s 41 points. The Eagles fall to 7-10 on the year and 4-10 in League V.
Junior guard Sam Hogan contributed 10 points and four assists for Kings Park. She played with multiple injuries, bruising bruised her elbow and hand in the previous game against Westhampton, and breaking her pinky in a win over Harborfields Jan.18. She said she feels pain physically, but that doesn’t stop her from doing what she can to help secure a win.
Edmundson said Hogan is freak of nature.
“She’s the toughest kid I’ve probably ever coached,” Edmundson said. “She’s a competitor. She’s actually a phenomenal soccer player. She’s an outstanding basketball player as well.”
Kings Park will face East Islip on the road Feb. 8 at 3:30 p.m. It’s King Park’s final regular season game before playoffs.
“It’s been a really intense year,” Hogan said. “Since last year, I felt we should have won the league. This year is the year for revenge.”
Kings Park head coach Tom Edmundson celebrates the win with his team. Photo by Jim Ferchland
Iris Sovocchi goes for a layup. Photo by Bill Landon
By Bill Landon
Northport’s girls basketball team was unable to keep up its streak of close games against former League II foe Half Hollow Hills East, as the Tigers fell 59-45 to the now League III Thunderbirds on the road Dec. 11.
Even so, Northport sophomore guard Danielle Pavinelli did what she could to counter Hills East’s leading point scorer Alexa Wallace, matching her with a game-high 21 points.
Danielle Pavinelli reaches over blockers to make her shot. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport head coach Rich Castellano said the result was not indicative of how the Tigers typically play, noting junior Hannah Stockman’s early foul trouble.
“Hannah [Stockman] … she’s our biggest scorer and our top 3-point shooter, and Shelby [Maldavir], our senior captain, I don’t think she hit one 3-pointer today,” Castellano said. “I think Kerry [Dennin] and Danielle [Pavinelli] — those two carried us for several long stretches.”
Pavinelli, who is following her sister Allie, a 2014 graduate, by committing to play lacrosse at the University of Florida next year, nailed two free throws to give Northport its first lead of the game, 6-5. But it was short lived, as the foul trouble led to a collection of free points for the Thunderbirds, which led 26-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Junior guard Iris Sovocchi attempted shift momentum Northport’s way, nailing back-t-back 3-pointers to close the deficit to 12 points both times, and Pavinelli added a three of her own, but it was Kerry Dennin that was able to break through. The sophomore forward drove the lane and wouldn’t be denied the scoring opportunity, as she added a bucket that brought the Tigers within 10, 32-22, at the break.
Dennin matched a Hills East 3-pointer with one of her own to start the scoring for the third as minutes ticked off the clock, but Northport was not able to chip away at the 10-point margin. The Thunderbirds diligently drove the baseline, drawing fouls as they continued to collect points from the charity stripe.
Kerry Dennin pushes past Half Hollow Hills East defenders to take a shot. Photo by Bill Landon
“This was not a normal games for us — we didn’t shoot well tonight,” said Castellano, who was recently inducted into the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame and begins his 39th year at the helm of the Northport program. “But I give [Half Hollow Hills East] credit; they did a great job on defense against us, they worked hard and they played better. They did what they had to do to win the game.”
Behind Pavinelli was Dennin with eight points and Sovocchi added six.
“We usually have a strong three-point game, but tonight we didn’t,” the head coach said despite the Tigers matching the Thunderbirds with six 3-pointers. “Our offense stalled a little, but Kerry Dennin played a great game for us tonight.”
Northport has two more nonleague contests, against Smithtown West and Massapequa, before opening league play hosting Bay Shore Dec. 19 at 6 p.m.
Girls hoops will rely on speed, defense to remain zealous
Former Commack star point guard Samantha Prahalis, above playing for WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, will be the head coach at Ward Melville this season. Photo from Facebook
By Desirée Keegan
Ward Melville is looking to maintain its competitive edge.
The back-to-back League I title-winning girls basketball team is readying for a new challenge following the loss of senior leaders Taylor Tripptree, Kiera Ramaliu and Hannah Lorenzen, with head coach Bruce Haller.
That’s where veteran Samantha Prahalis comes in. The former WNBA standout, who scored 2,372 points for Commack, the fifth-best total in Long Island girls basketball history, will lead her old high school’s rival team this season. After she steered Ohio State University to four straight NCAA tournaments from 2009 to 2012, she completed a two-year stint for the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and played four years professionally in Europe. The 5-foot, 7-inch point guard said she was ready to return to her roots in New York, and decided it was time to give back.
Ward Melville’s Lauren Hansen moves the ball during a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon
“It’s cool because I can tell them I’ve been in their shoes and I know what they’re going through,” she said. “I’m very lucky to be with a great district, have some great support and some great kids for my first year. I think the best part about coaching for me right now is helping these kids, and its pretty unique, because I can help them in a way maybe others can’t.”
The Patriots are looking forward to learning from Prahalis’ experiences. Ward Melville senior Shannon Brazier said the team’s style of play is already changing.
“She brings a whole new level of style of play and intensity that I think we were all excited to learn,” Brazier said. “Every single one of us have been working hard since the summer to get ready for the season, because it’s a pretty new team, losing most of our starters and getting a new coach, and we’re really proud of the progress we’ve been making, working together.”
Brazier said her coach wants her new team to have a defense that matches its offense.
“It’s no question that in the past we have had really strong shooters and a strong offense in general, but this year she’s been teaching us a lot more about defense and really focusing on this aspect of the game,” Brazier said. “Her emphasis on this side of the game has already started to greatly improve our skills. With a great number of our team graduating a lot of us had to step up and fill in those holes, and I think we’re all doing a good job at that.”
Prahalis agreed, adding she’ll be leaning on Brazier to command the Patriots this season.
“She’s vocal, and probably our best defensive player,” the coach said of one of her two remaining seniors. “She knows where to be, she has really good instincts.”
Ward Melville’s Shannon Brazier shoots from the free-throw line during a game last season. File photo by Bill Landon
The team will continue to rely on its speed and hustle in grabbing rebounds and forcing turnovers. With work on the defensive side of the ball, more offense should come.
The other two captains this season will be juniors Noelle Richardson and Lauren Hansen. Rounding out the roster will be juniors Bre Cohn and Lauren Walters, and underclassmen Molly Cronin, Jamie Agostino and Sarah Bucher.
“Lauren is not the most vocal person, but she leads by example,” Prahalis said of Hansen. “I’m asking a lot of her on all sides of the ball and, so far, she’s responded. She’s special — I don’t think a player like her comes around too often. The way she dribbles a ball, her shot, you have to see it to believe it.”
Hansen was one of Ward Melville’s leading scorers last season, Prahalis said, with 22.7 points and 3.4 assists per game as a sophomore and will be big for the team this season if she can repeat these statistics. Prahalis added the now-junior standout has more than just a natural ability.
“She’s skillful, and I think that’s a testament to her work ethic,” the coach said. “You don’t wake up that way. You get that way by being in the gym and working hard.”
Hansen said she’s looking forward to seeing what she can take away from her coach.
“Coach has done everything that I aspire to do, so for me I hang on every word that she says,” said Hansen, who has received offers from Ohio State and the universities of Miami, Georgia and Pittsburgh. “Her experience is something we all look up to and her ability to relate to us as players I think is extremely beneficial to our relationship with her. We all really understand that if we’re going to do any damage this year it’s going to start on the defensive end. I think the girls, myself included, definitely have to step up big this year and mature quickly on the court, but so far they’ve done a great job of that and I think we can hold our own and make a statement this year against top talents on Long Island.”
Samantha Prahalis brings experience
A six-year varsity starter for Commack is calling Division I rival Ward Melville her new home court.
Samantha Prahalis, 27, accepted the coaching job for the Patriots in September after an extended basketball career that included playing for four years at Ohio State University, two years for WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury — as the sixth overall pick in the 2012 WNBA Draft — and four years professionally in Europe.
“The professional experience was good — I got to play at every level, which is pretty rare, so I’m grateful for that,” said Prahalis, who averaged 15.1 points and 6.8 assists per game over four years at Ohio State, and holds the Big Ten’s career record with 901 assists. “But I’ve been traveling my whole life. I’m a big family person, and I don’t like being overseas for seven months out of the year.”
Previous head coach Bruce Haller stepped down citing scheduling conflicts as a professor at Molloy College.
“I just felt like I’d been through a ton in my career on and off the court that I can help other players who are coming up,” Prahalis said of throwing her hat in the ring. “I didn’t think I would want to coach when I was younger, but while I was overseas I realized I wanted to give it a try. I’m just as determined as I was as a player, but this time around its teaching my kids and helping them and the team succeed. This new chapter of coaching is special to me.”
Ward Melville athletic director Pete Melore said more than just Prahalis’ résumé stood out to him during the interview.
“She never talked about how good she was at basketball,” he said. “What impressed me the most is her humility. It was all about paying it forward.”
He said while Haller was outstanding, he’s hoping Prahalis’ experience playing for multiple coaches at different levels will help her be successful at the helm.
“I think she’s patient, she runs a good practice, but you can see that competitive fire there from when she was a player,” Melore said. “There’s a good knowledge base and she learned a lot overseas. Her goal getting into coaching is all about her giving back to the kids the same positive experience she had as a player.”
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