Girls Basketball Defeats Uniondale, Advances to County Finals

In an exciting Section VIII Class AA semifinal match, the No. 2 seeded beat the No. 7 seeded 40-37, to advance to the finals.

The game started out slowly for both teams at Oyster Bay High School, with Farmingdale opening the scoring with a beautiful back-door pass from forward Kyra Ochwat to guard Kelly McPartland, who converted on a lay-up. The Dalers played fantastic defense the rest of the quarter, allowing Uniondale just one field goal in the first, and they took a 14-2 lead into the second quarter, capped by a near-half court heave by McPartland at the buzzer.

Uniondale scored a quick four points to open the second quarter. After Farmingdale coach Pete Cerrone took a time out to slow the Knight rally, McPartland scored on a three-point play to bring the score to 17-6. Both teams would exchange baskets back and forth to end the half with Farmingdale ahead 23-14.

Uniondale started the third quarter much like it did the second, scoring on two baskets, before coach Cerrone called another timeout. After missing a number of shots to start the half, the Dalers score six straight points by McPartland, to take a 29-20 lead at the 1:42 mark. They would end the quarter ahead 32-22.

The fourth quarter was the moment of truth for both teams. Foul reared its ugly head for the Dalers, as both guards Nadine Hadnagy and Alexis Panariello would have to sit, in order to avoid fouling out. Panariello acquired her fourth foul with 5:47 left in the game.

It was at this point that the Knights went on 10-4 run, bringing the score to 38-35. With 55 seconds left, Uniondale’s Aliyah McDonald scored to bring the Knights within one point, 38-37.

With a chance to take the lead, however, Hadnagy stole the ball on an errant Uniondale pass, ran the length of the floor and scored on a triumphant lay-up.

Uniondale had one last chance to tie the game, but a last second shot was rebounded by the Dalers, who won 40-37.

Heroes: The easy choice would be sophomore guard Hadnagy, who had the play of the game. But McPartland also had an impressive 16 points and junior guard Colleen Reynolds had several key rebounds and made crucial free-throws down the stretch.

Turning Point: This game had quite a few momentum changes, but none greater than the Hadnagy steal and basket, which sealed the win for the Dalers.

Bottom Line: The Dalers win, and make it to the Nassau County final this Saturday.

Quotables: A happy coach Cerrone: “This is one of the best basketball games you’re ever going to see. Two teams that beat the be-jeesus out of each other, defensively. It must have been fun to watch.  It was sure tough to coach. We would make a run, [Uniondale] would make a comeback. [Uniondale ] would get close, then we would come back. That’s how Uniondale does business. They do a great job," he said.

On his team’s effort: “Nadine has won a lot of games for us these last few years…coming back to steal the ball and make that lay-up."

On Uniondale’s fourth quarter run that almost tied the game: “I’ve watched this team enough to know that they [were] going to come back.”

McPartland, on what it felt like to play in a game like this. “This one was definitely down to the wire. A real nail-biter,” she said. “We pulled it out. We played good defense.” 

How did the team hold it together when things started to slip in the fourth quarter? Did it feel like the momentum was swinging away from the Dalers? The confident senior replied, “No, not at all. Because I knew we were still going to play solid defense…the same defense we’d been playing the whole game. So, I knew we would stick it out.”

She sounds confident going into Saturday’s championship game against Baldwin. “Baldwin’s a really good team, obviously. They’re seeded number one. It should be a good one," she said.

Key Stat: In addition to 16 points, McPartland also had 12 rebounds. Kyra Ochwat had 13 points, while Hadnagy had five all-important steals for Farmingdale.

Next Game: Farmingdale plays No. 1 Baldwin, Saturday at 4 p.m. at C.W. Post in the county final.

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