Girls hoops: Allen scores 22 as Riverhead continues hot streak

They just keep getting it done.

Riverhead (10-2 league, 11-5 overall) controlled the game from the tip-off as they defeated Smithtown East (6-6 league, 8-8 overall) 67-45 in their final home game of the regular season Thursday night.

With the win, the Blue Waves have positioned themselves for a high seed in the playoffs if they manage to win out. They have won five consecutive games. Riverhead plays un-beaten North Babylon in the League III season-finale on Thursday.

Senior Shanice Allen got the party started right away. As the ball moved around the perimeter in the opening possession, Allen got it with space to shoot. She didn’t think twice and let it fly.

Swish.

The first three points of the game were recorded. But it didn’t stop there. Basket after basket, Riverhead continued to stretch the lead. They started the game on a 26-0 run.

Allen finished the game with 22 points. Every game, she extends her all-time scoring record. Allen now has 1,367 points in her five-year varsity career.

Fellow senior Naysha Trent, who has also been a member of the basketball team since 8th grade, added 18 points. Trent contributed in all facets of the game leading the team with rebounds (4), steals (5) and assists (3).

“Naysha and Shanice lead by example,” Waves Head Coach Dave Spinella said. “It makes it a lot easier to coach.”

In high school athletics you don’t have the luxury of keeping a group of players together long periods of time. Athletes get injured. Athletes graduate. The reigning Long Island champions feature ten new players.

“Catching everyone up to speed presented challenges at first,” Spinella said.

But the growing pains seem to have subsided.

“We are peaking at the right time,” said Spinella.

Riverhead has two games left in the regular season.

Tuesday Feb. 5th at 5:45 p.m. at Smithtown West (8-4, 8-8)
Thursday Feb. 7th at 5:45 p.m. at North Babylon (12-0, 14-1)

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