Carmel's burst keys Sachem East win

After scoring just two points in the second quarter, Sachem East was in need of some offense. Emily Carmel provided it, emphatically.

Carmel scored 14 of her 20 points, including four three-pointers, in the third quarter to lead Sachem East past host Commack, 48-38, last night in a Suffolk League I girls basketball game.

Colleen Walker hit a three-pointer with 5:47 left in the third to bring Commack (2-4, 1-2) to within 21-20. Sachem East's Meagan Doherty hit a layup to break a scoreless drought of almost 9:30 minutes. Doherty then converted a steal into a layup before Carmel lit it up.

Doherty drove the lane and dished out to Carmel and she knocked down a three-pointer. Carmel followed with a pair of free throws to give the Flaming Arrows a 30-21 lead with 3:27 left. After a putback by Shannon McQueeney for Commack, Carmel hit three consecutive three-pointers to give Sachem East (5-1, 3-0) a 39-23 lead with 1:13 left in the quarter.

"We were playing like individuals in the second quarter," said Carmel, a sophomore who transferred from Stony Brook and hit five three-pointers. "We began passing the ball better and it created open looks. Every shot felt good out of my hand and the offense was flowing."

Said Sachem East coach Matt Brisson: "She's just a dangerous shooter. She's such an addition for us. Meagan set her up nicely. We needed to get better ball movement and it resulted in more offense."

Sachem East, the defending state Class AA champions, has been prone to offensive cold spells this season with a young team and no linchpin on offense after the graduation of Kristen Doherty, who is at Boston College.

SEE PHOTOSSachem East 48, Commack 38

"I haven't had an offensive drought in five years," Brisson said, referring to the offensive prowess of Doherty. "We're still adjusting to one another. The chemistry is developing and kids are still learning their roles."

Sachem East got off to a great start and closed the first quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 19-8 lead. The Flaming Arrows displayed their depth as Sammy Drake was the seventh different player to score with one minute left in the quarter.

Drake scored early in the second quarter to give the Flaming Arrows a 21-9 lead, but they went scoreless the rest of the way. Commack started to put pressure on the ball midway through the quarter leading to offensive chances. Erin Storck scored on a fastbreak layup with 1:52 to cap an 8-0 run and pull Commack within 21-17 at the half.