Sports
Port Washington Girls Basketball Falls to East Meadow
Lose 42-34 to remain winless in league play.
Done in by their opponent's pressure defense and their own cold shooting late, the Port Washington girls basketball squad fell to East Meadow, 42-34, in league play Monday night at Schreiber High School. The loss dropped the Vikings to 3-5, and they remain winless in Conference AA-II.
The East Meadow press gave Port Washington fits, especially early. Steals and traveling calls plagued them throughout, but still the Vikings kept it close – for a while. Back to back threes by junior guard Emily Rosenthal put the home team up early, with a Christina Leonard trey giving the Vikes a four point lead in the second.
The Jets' defense began to crack just a bit in the second half, as Port Washington got better looks inside. Unfortunately, the rim began to shrink for the Vikings, and widen for East Meadow's Melissa Cohen who helped carry the visitors to a six-point lead after three.
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Leonard's three early in the fourth brought Port Washington to within three, but the East Meadow frontcourt wore down the Vikings, helping extend their lead, and Port Washington's perimeter shooting went ice cold down the stretch. The Vikings never seriously challenged in the final couple minutes, as the frustrating night came to a close.
"I don't know why [our shots] don't go in, don't go in our favor, so we just have to hope and pray they go in," Rosenthal said of her club's shooting woes.
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Rosenthal and Hayley Kerr led the Vikings with eight points each.
Records: Port Washington (3-5), East Meadow (5-4)
Hero: Melissa Cohen. The East Meadow senior guard led all scorers with 17, and her hot streak in the third period helped put the Vikings away for good.
Turning Point: Down only six in the final period, the Vikings were called for traveling. The Jets' Meghan Cleary hit a jumper, Port Washington missed their shot, and an East Meadow outlet pass to a wide open Danielle Widmann gave her an easy layup. The Vikings were down 10 with 2:08 left and never recovered.
Quotable: "Usually we get through the press, and we just weren't on our game tonight mentally, [they] outplayed us...tomorrow we have Hicksville and we have to come out twice as hard because they're twice as good." –Viking guard Emily Rosenthal on the loss.
Bottom Line: Port Washington had the outside shot going early, but couldn't maintain its hot shooting consistently. The Vikings had better looks as the game went on, but the rim was too small on this night, and they must regroup right away for their game against Hicksville on Tuesday.
Key Stat: One, as in one three made in the second half. Port Washington hit three from beyond the arc before the break to keep it close, but East Meadow pulled away late.
Who's Next: Tuesday 1/11 @ Hicksville, 7 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 F East Meadow 10 6 13 13 42 Port Washington 8 7 8 11 34East Meadow: Widmann 6-0-6, Gogh 4-0-4, Gundrum 4-1-5, Cohen 11-6-17, Arshad 2-0-2, Cleary 8-0-8. Three pointers: Cohen
Port Washington: Rosenthal 6-2-8, Kerr 2-6-8, Andriola 4-0-4, Murphy 2-0-2, Leonard 6-0-6, Alechman 2-4-6. Three pointers: Rosenthal 2, Leonard 2.
