Center, English too much for Northport

Shneeka Center and Sara English have spent the past few seasons watching the Suffolk Class AA semifinals from the stands. Before this season, the senior duo didn't even lead the Bulls to a playoff win.

They ended that streak last week and now the two will get to play in the semifinals after a 70-53 home win over No. 5 Northport in a Suffolk Class AA quarterfinal. Center had 30 points and a career-high 33 rebounds and English had 30 points and 15 rebounds.

"There’s no stopping her," Smithtown West coach Katie Combs said of Center. "When she needs to get it done, she does. She gets every rebound."

That wasn't an understatement yesterday. Center has 2,184 career points and moved into fourth place on the all-time scoring list for Suffolk public school players. Center scored at least 30 points for the ninth time this season.
 

"It’s huge," Center said. "The seniors have waited for this. We wanted to show what we can do."
 

They certainly did. English had eight points and Center five in a 15-10 first quarter for the Bulls. The lead was 28-20 at halftime as English had 14 points and Center 12 at the half.

Center had 11 points in the third quarter and 11 rebounds. On three different occasions, Center drove the land, drew the defenders and found an open English for an easy basket. The Bulls led 49-37 after three.

For more on the Smithtown West/Northport game, click the link. www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/girls-basketball/center-english-score-30-each-in-smithtown-west-win-1.1779681

"They think I am going to take it myself," Center said. "People think I am a ball hog or something. Obviously, I’m going to drive and she’s right there and I am going to kick it to her. I know it’s easier for her taking an open shot than me doing something miraculous."

The Bulls will play top-seeded North Babylon in the semfinals at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Farmingdale State.

"This is huge for these girls," Combs said. "No one thought we would make it past this round. To beat a top team like Northport means a lot."

While English and Center provided the offense, the play of Annie McCutchen, Samantha Bossert and Kirsten Viscount wasn't told by the box score. They played solid defense and did a good job handling the press and getting the ball to Center and English.

"It shows our guards can play," Combs said. "It’s a matter of patience. Everyone says to pressure our guards. I think they have been proving themseleves lately. They know who are scorers are. They are team players and just want to win. I think they wanted to prove Smithtown West can win. People think it’s just Shneeka and Sara, but there are so many other players on our team that step up."

In the other quarterfinals, Bria Hartley had 26 points, eight rebounds, seven steals and six assists to lead No. 1 North Babylon to a 70-38 victory over Brentwood. Katrina Plummer had 16 points, eighth-grader Charise Wilson had four three-pointers for 12 points and had three steals and eighth-grader Lauren Williams had five steals for North Babylon