Dohertys each get 13 as Sachem East rolls
Sachem's Meagan Doherty (22) with the three pointer in the second half. Sachem East defeated Ward Melville 53-19. (Dec. 20. 2011) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
It wasn't what anyone expected in a matchup of league rivals but it may end up being a game neither team forgets anytime soon, albeit for drastically different reasons.
Meagan and Katie Doherty each had 13 points for host Sachem East in a rout of Ward Melville, 53-19, in Suffolk League I girls basketball Tuesday night.
Ward Melville was without its best player, point guard Caysea Cohen (flu), who sat at the end of the bench and could not hide her frustration as she watched her team be thoroughly dominated in the league opener for both teams.
Meagan Doherty was diplomatic about her team's dominant victory. "Their best player wasn't playing today so it doesn't feel as good," Doherty said. "To be the best you have to beat the best."
The Flaming Arrows jumped to a 12-4 lead after the first quarter and frustrated Ward Melville throughout the game with their zone defense. Without Cohen as the floor general, the Patriots were unable to execute anything offensively.
"We rotated well, we anticipated passing lanes well and I don't think we gave them any easy looks," Sachem East coach Matt Brisson said. "When the ball is not falling for them and it is for us, sometimes you get lucky and you get a win like this but there's no way that there's that kind of disparity between these two teams.
"With Caysea Cohen it's a whole different ballgame."
The score did not reflect how truly lopsided the game was. The Flaming Arrows led 42-7 after three quarters before both teams pulled their starters in a window-dressing fourth quarter. Sachem East went on a 26-0 run from early in the second quarter to midway through the third, turning a seven-point game (12-5) into a 38-5 advantage.
Without Cohen, Ward Melville attempted to play a possession game but it backfired as Sachem East caused countless turnovers via steals and errant passes.
"Our girls were ready. They talked about being ready up until tip off and it went downhill from there. Our thing is transition, that's how we score -- off turnovers," Ward Melville coach Lawrence Combs said. "They created the turnovers tonight and kind of used our own game against us. Holding the ball, we couldn't run on them and they controlled the tempo of the game tonight. I didn't expect this tough a night."
A bright spot for the Patriots came from center Marina Napoli, who came off the bench to score all of her 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Combs reminded his squad they'll have another game with their League I rivals on Jan. 24.
"I said 'we get them one more time at home,' 100 percent [healthy]," said Combs before adding, "hopefully."
