Goode, Brentwood roll past Riverhead

Tiara Goode's contact was knocked out of her left eye and she was trying to get it back in so she could complete a three-point play at the foul line. The sophomore forward was taking too long so the officials said she had to leave the court.

Jasmine Cole came in to knock down the free throw with 3:15 left in the first half. Goode went to the bench and quickly got her contact back in. Fortunately for Brentwood, it didn't alter her vision.

Goode scored four points upon her return and scored eight of her 14 points during a game-changing 15-0 run during the second quarter for No. 8 Brentwood in a 66-40 home win over No. 9 Riverhead Thursday in the first round of the Suffolk Class AA playoffs.

Brentwood (12-6) will play at top-seeded North Babylon at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

Goode had all of her points in a 37-16 first half and added nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

"We took our time," Goode said. "We made the extra passes. It was one of our better offensive performances. We're clicking better. We know where each other will be."

Ruth Vargas had 15 points and seven rebounds, Jasmine Burwell scored 12 points and Deslyn Applewhaite added eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.

SEE PHOTOSBrentwood 66, Riverhead 40

Riverhead is a quick, guard-oriented team, while Brentwood was the bigger and more physical team. That helped the Indians jump out to a big lead and grab 37 rebounds, including 17 offensive.

"All week we talked about pounding it inside and working it to our bigs knowing the size difference," Brentwood coach Tina Riggio said. "They were small, but a lot faster so we emphasized getting the ball inside."

It worked as the 5-11 Vargas scored nine first-quarter points. Riverhead went on a 7-0 run to get within 18-15 with 4:37 left in the first half before Brentwood closed the half on a 19-3 run.

"We had to pick up our defense," Burwell said. "We wanted to take away the outside shot and keep them from going to the basket."

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Shaniece Allen scored 14 to lead Riverhead (12-7).

"We didn't do a good job keeping them off the boards," Riverhead coach Dave Spinella said. "Of their first 37 points, I'd say 16 came on second chances. We played good defense for 26 seconds and then give up an offensive rebound and then play defense for another 26 seconds. It's not going to work for us, especially when we like to run.

"I'm a little disappointed because I feel that didn't represent who we are, but credit Brentwood. They played fantastic."