Senior Forward Allison Soule soared high in the sky for yet another 20-rebound game – her 5^th such game of the year; and Senior Point Guard Sophia Bica transcended the Lady Patriot defense with an array of stratosphere-scraping layups on her way to 19 points, most which came in the second half. Bica also mixed in a bevy of blink-and-you-missed-it assists that brought the crowd, most of which was rooting for Ward Melville, to its feet.

After she was called for two early fouls in the 1^st Quarter, Bica remained in the hangar and on the bench for almost the entire first half – a half that ended with the Lady Tigers leading only by 2 points, 29-27.

“We were moving the ball around really well in the second half,” said Bica, who had 14 of her points after halftime. “Our bigs were finishing really well under the basket and I’m glad more of my shots started to fall from the field and from the foul line.”

The decisive second half started with a play that was a microcosm for the rest of the game. Bica missed a driving layup, but Soule cleaned the offensive glass, sophomore Kennedy Radziul then missed in the lane and Soule was there again, ripping the ball away from Lady Pat Siena Hart. She dished to Freshman Guard Claire Fitzpatrick who nailed a step-back three pointer.  That long range bomb gave the Lady Tigers a five point lead and they never trailed or were tied again.

“I always tell the girls that in a close game, the most important part of the game is the first few possessions of the second half,” said Castellano. “Claire hit that three pointer and scored another one and was fouled and we went from there.”

In between Fitzpatrick’s 6 points, Bica hit on a driving layup, Soule made a short one in the lane, and Senior Guard Sophia Yearwood made an unselfish play to feed Radziul for a bunny jumper. And like so many viewings of this movie before, a tight game had all of sudden unraveled for Northport’s hapless opponent. Five and half minutes into the 3^rd quarter, the Lady Tigers led by 12. To start the 4^th, they built the lead to 16.

But all was not clear skies for the girls in blue.  Emma Kezys, who has been playing very well after coming back from ligament damage in her left knee, went down in a heap with seven minutes to go in the game. She was defending Lady Patriot guard Julia Greek, who tried to take her baseline. The two collided knee-on-knee and Kezys, who wears an oversized brace from thigh to calf on the repaired leg, crumpled and lay under the Ward Melville basket for several minutes until medical personnel could help her to the training table. The gym that had become grimly quietly while Kezys was down, applauded warmly as she left the court.

Preliminary reports indicate the injury was not as serious as it initially looked.

“I landed on it a little weird,” said the Junior Kezys. “I’m going to try to make it back for the big game against Commack on Tuesday.”

Castellano hopes for that as well, but he always takes a safety-first attitude.

“We’ll see,” the coach said. “It was a knee on a side of  Emma’s knee so it was a little scary. Emma has been great this year coming back, but we are deep team and we’ll need to make sure she’s good to go before we put her out there. She told me she’ll be ready for Monday and I love that attitude. She’s such a competitor.”

Kezys along with seniors Rachel Mincone, Natalia D’Onofrio, Sarah Morawski, junior Payson Hedges and sophomore Brooke Kershow form a second unit that has brings a different vibe to the Lady Tiger floor presence.

“We call them the ‘Shock Squad’”, said Castellano. “When they go in, it’s like a boost of energy.  Natalia is all over the place on defense, Emma and Payson handle the ball, and Rachel, Sarah and Brooke are all high-energy players.”

D’Onofrio had 7 points, Kezys 6. Starter Soule had 13 points to go with her 20 boards and plays with a fiery brand of ferociousness that almost wills every loose ball into her hands.

“We had some foul trouble tonight and so many different subs coming in and out,” said Soule. “But everyone who came in always brought a spark with them which helped keep the lead, however small, into the second half. When the starting five came back for the second half, we focused on defense, which got us some steals to set up easy baskets in transition.”

One of these baskets was by Soule when Bica hit her with a slick bounce pass in the lane. On the very next possession, Bica grabbed a rebound and threw a pinpoint pass the length of the court to D’Onofrio for another easy Lady Tiger basket.

“I know she had 19 points, but her passing was outstanding tonight,” said Castellano.  “That was big part of us having a great second half.”

Bica had a total of 7 total assists in a little over a half of basketball.

“Since I was a little kid, I always loved watching the older kids play and what I was most impressed with wasn’t the finished layups, but the no-look passes that got the ball there,” said Bica, who has a keen sense of court vision. “Assists are my favorite stat because it shows how selfless a player is.”

Whether it be with a field hockey stick or basketball in her hand, Bica shows this selflessness time and time again in her athletic endeavors. Because of foul trouble, her fans only got to see it for half a game – but on this night, it turned out to be enough. 

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