Girls basketball preview: the Riverhead Blue Waves take on the Sachem East Flaming Arrows Wednesday in round two of the Section XI playoffs.
The tidal wave is picking up speed.
The Blue Waves, coming off an easy 61-36 first round victory over Half Hollow Hills East, return to action Wednesday in the second round of the Section XI AA playoff bracket at No. 2 Sachem East at 5:45 p.m.
No. 7 Riverhead (12-7) stepped up defensively in the first round, something that Coach Dave Spinella has been stressing all year. They held Hills East to only 29 percent shooting for the game. They will have a challenge Wednesday night stopping a high-powered Sachem East offense.
The Sachem East Flaming Arrows (14-1) play in League I. They have to face the toughest competition as League I houses the largest schools in Suffolk County. With only one loss all season, the Flaming Arrows are expected to do big things in the postseason. Sachem East is 9-0 on their home court. They beat No. 18 Brentwood 61-31 in round one.
The Flaming Arrows score an average of 53.4 points per game and have scored as many as 71. Sachem East is led by swift-shooting Katie Doherty. She leads the team with 16.6 points per game. She scored at least 11 points in every game this season. Doherty registered a season-high 22 points twice this season.
Although Doherty scores most often, Sachem East likes to use their bench, with every member on their ten player team averaging more than two points per game. Scoring is very balanced as only two players average double-digits — Doherty being one, and Kathleen Everson the other. Everson scores an average of 11.2 points per game.
Sachem East hasn’t had a problem all season. But maybe it is because they have yet to face the Lady Waves. Sachem East’s only loss came against Commack in which they only scored 32 points. Perhaps the intensity Riverhead displayed on defense against Hills East could slow down the Flaming Arrows.
Defense has been a work in progress this season. Defensive game plans change from game to game. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Offense however, is something that comes naturally to the Waves. Seniors Naysha Trent and Shanice Allen score consistently in many different ways. They can drive to the hoop, shoot the mid-range jumper, get out in fast-break and nail clutch three-pointers. Allen has scored 20+ points
in five straight games. She is the record holder in career points at Riverhead with 1,430.
Riverhead played No. 1 North Babylon (18-1) twice this year so playing a high-scoring offense is nothing new to the Lady Waves.
“I’m pretty confident,” said Allen. “Playing North Babylon helps but they are not really similar. We prepare differently for each team we play.”
“The key to winning the game will be blocking out their shooters and scoring in transition.”
Come out and support your Lady Waves!
Reminder: There is an admission fee of $4 per person for playoff contests.
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