Glanzman leads C. Moriches to LI title

Amber Davis was going to play only if Center Moriches was in danger of losing the game after spraining her right ankle Friday and missing Sunday's game. With three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Center Moriches led by only two and after the trainer gave approval, Davis entered the game.

"He kept looking over at me," Davis said of coach Rich Alifano. "I know he didn't want to put me in. I was surprised."

Davis, the Red Devils' leading scorer, played just two minutes but provided a jolt and Kelsey Glanzman carried Center Moriches with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocked shots in a 45-31 win over Cold Spring Harbor Tuesday night in the Long Island Class B girls basketball championship/Southeast Regional semifinal at SUNY-Old Westbury.

Center Moriches (21-2) won its second consecutive Long Island title and will play the winner of Irvington-Highland at 7 p.m. Friday at SUNY New Paltz. Center Moriches lost in that game last season to Irvington, which is the defending state and Federation champion.

Kelly Vassallo led Cold Spring Harbor (16-5) with 10 points. The Seahawks played without Gabbie Doria, who broke her right wrist in the Nassau Small Schools championship game Saturday.

Vassallo scored to bring CSH within 30-28 with 5:19 left in the game. It remained that way until Davis entered with 3:04 left. Davis fed the ball into the post and Glanzman completed a three-point play with 2:55 left for a 33-28 lead.

Emma Whittle hit a three-pointer with 1:48 left and Davis hit a three-pointer with 1:28 left, pushing the lead to 39-28 before leaving. "I was pretty surprised," Glanzman said of seeing Davis on the floor. "It gave us a boost."

SEE PHOTOSCenter Moriches 45, Cold Spring Harbor 31

Said Alifano: "I was only going to play her if we had a chance to lose. I didn't want her senior year to end like that. Cold Spring Harbor played a great game."

Center Moriches trailed 12-4 early in the second quarter before taking an 18-15 halftime lead. The Red Devils led by as many as nine in the third quarter, but the Seahawks stayed in the game with three three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

Takia Plummer scored 11 points in the win, but it was Glanzman who dominated on both sides.

"I thought as a junior, she showed tremendous leadership," Alifano said. "She didn't want to lose. She's the heir apparent to Davis and showed it."