Klis, Evers lead Glenn past Huntington
Glenn guard #3 Emma Klis, left, shoots a long range jumper in the first half of a Suffolk County non-league varsity girls basketball game vs. Huntington at Glenn High School. (Jan. 21, 2011) Credit: James Escher
The Huntington game plan called for two and three bodies on Glenn's Allison McKenna and it worked to perfection. The 6-1 junior forward came into the game averaging 19.3 points and 11.8 rebounds and barely touched the ball with just two points through three quarters.
Emma Klis and Danielle Evers showed Glenn isn't one-dimensional and has guards that can beat you, too. Klis, a sophomore, scored a career-high 18 points on six three-pointers and Evers scored 11 in a 46-29 win over visiting Huntington Saturday in non-league girls basketball.
McKenna had seven points and 12 rebounds, but Klis and Evers totaled eight three-pointers.
"When I saw that Allison was being double- and triple-teamed and we couldn't get her the ball, I just wanted the ball," Klis said. "I got my shot going and once they went in, I just gained confidence and kept shooting."
That is exactly what Glenn coach Andy Athanas has been waiting to hear.
"She's a great shooter," Athanas said. "I have to beg her to shoot at times. She just won't shoot. We're very attuned to getting the ball to where we think it belongs. Therefore, Emma gives it up a lot where she should be shooting the ball. When we get that out of her head and she shoots the ball, she's a terrific shooter."
Glenn (13-0) led 21-18 at the half before Courtney O'Bryan hit two jumpers to give Huntington a 22-21 lead. Klis hit two consecutive three-pointers to give Glenn a 27-22 lead. Raynisha Witherspoon scored four straight points for Huntington and Evers scored seven of the next nine points for Glenn to give the Knights a 36-26 lead after three quarters. She threw up a three-pointer as time expired and it went in to end the quarter.
"We were able to work the ball around," Evers said. "We had difficulty getting the ball to McKenna, but our outside shots were on. It's definitely important that we hit the outside shots. Once we hit those shots, they might stop doubling McKenna and we can get it to her more."
Glenn should get used to it. It's a strategy the Knights could see often in the playoffs and it bodes well that they were able to come through.
"They did a great job," McKenna said of her teammates. "Emma Klis made some big shots. She knew we couldn't get the ball down low and it was her job to make the shots and she did a great job."
Huntington, which moved up to Class AA from Class A, was able to hang tough for a half, but was outscored 15-8 in the third quarter and 10-3 in the final quarter. Jaclyn Waldron scored 11 points to lead the Blue Devils, who are fighting for a playoff berth in League IV and have lost three league games by four points or fewer.
"Defensively, we were great," Huntington coach Mike Kaplan said. "We rushed on offense and got flustered in the second half. We have a lot of inexperienced kids, but they're playing hard."
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
Sarra Sounds Off Ep. 35: EI baseball, girls lacrosse and plays of the week On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," we look at East Islip baseball's inspirational comeback story, Jared Valluzzi has the plays of the week and Tess Ferguson breaks down the top defensive players in girls lacrosse.
