Girls’ hoops: Waves roll over Stony Brook, 69-17

On paper, the Riverhead girls basketball team looks young. They start two eighth-graders, two sophomores and one senior.

But on the court for their first non-league game Friday night, they looked like seasoned vets. The chemistry between the girls, for one, seems well established, even this early on. That’s because Coach Dave Spinella has been getting after them for six months now.

“In May we were already doing open gyms,” Spinella said. “Summer league practices, strength and conditioning – these kids have been playing together.”

Losing Shanice Allen and Naysha Trent to graduation last year has opened the door for the next crop of talent to walk in and Spinella didn’t waste any time getting them on the court. Kim Ligon and Kate McCarney are the two youngest players on the team but that doesn’t mean much – Spinella is convinced that they’re the future. It’s all a part of his five-year plan.

“I don’t think there will ever be another Shanice Allen or Jayln Brown,” Spinella said. “But they’re the next Kim Ligon and Kate McCarney. They are good in their own right. They have things about them that make them quality basketball players.”

Both Allen and Brown began their varsity careers as eighth-graders.

“I’ve always been a firm believer of getting them early,” he continued. “Bring them up and take your lumps early because ultimately, it makes them better players, better teammates and better people. They learn to deal with controversy and adversity and they just learn to get better. They challenge themselves but they belong. Clearly, they belong.”

You can say that again. Between court awareness, reading the lanes, executing plays and pressing the ball, it’s obvious that these girls can play. But don’t expect a seamless transition, the youth can be and will be exploited throughout the season and Spinella expects that. One way around that is to push the ball at all points to let their athleticism dictate the result.

Spinella often yelled “let’s go” and “outlet” as soon as the Blue Waves got the defensive rebound to pass it out and get into transition. That has always been his philosophy – move the ball up in two seconds and score in five.

“Our youth is going to be exposed during the season but what are you going to do?” Spinella said. “That’s how it’s going to go and next year, they’ll get less exposed. And by the time they’re sophomores, they’ll be in their third year of varsity and they’ll have three more seasons of seasoned basketball.”

“You have to be willing to accept failure at times,” Spinella elaborated. “But is it really failure if you’re building something? You know it’s going to be bumpy but you’re eventually going to get to where you want to go. I don’t see it as one season. I see it as a five-year project.”

It may be a five-year project in Spinella’s eyes, but success may be closer than he thinks. Sophomores Sam Dunn and Dezarae Brown return as starters in the front court, bringing size to the forefront of the Blue Waves game plan. Dunn and Brown are 5’11 and 6’0 respectively. Carolyn Carrera, who will start at the small forward, brings a competitive edge and athleticism to the group, making the ball move smoothly around the paint to the open player.

On Friday, the Blue Waves completely dominated League VIII Stony Brook, 69-17 to open their season. Dunn scored 19 points and Brown added 8.

“We’re capable of getting better every time we step on the floor,” Spinella said. “We have so much room for growth. We missed 23 layups and 13 free throws today. Yes, we won the game and I’m happy for them but we gave away 59 points and that’s what we’re going to fix. Do I expect a lot from these girls? Yes. But I’m not unreasonable.”

Rounding out the 12-player team will be seniors Destiny McElroy, Shakiyla Sikes, Kyra Miller and Gabby Green and juniors Joanna Messina, Jessica Cheatom and Amanda Baron.

The Waves open their league season Dec. 17 in North Babylon at 5:45 p.m.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by George Faella
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