Walker, Hagenah give Commack good going-away present

Days after the Commack girls basketball team suffered a three-point loss to Floyd in League I, eliminating the Cougars from postseason contention, Commack (9-8) Saturday pulled out a 63-57 overtime upset of League II champion Northport.

Colleen Walker and Nicole Hagenah combined for nine points in overtime as the Cougars outscored the Tigers 13-7 in the extra frame. Northport cut the deficit to two midway through overtime, but Taylor McDonnell, Kerry Haller and Walker hit six foul shots to ice the win.

"This was our season because we lost [42-39] on Thursday and we're not going to the playoffs," Commack coach Bruce Haller said. "This was our playoff game."

Kaitlin Dabkowski sunk a baseline jumper to put Commack ahead 50-48 with 10 seconds left in regulation, but Northport tied it on a short jumper with two seconds left to send it to overtime. Haller scored all six of her points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

It's the first time in 15 years that Commack has defeated Northport without the help of former All-American Sammy Prahalis, Bruce Haller said.

Four different starters scored for Commack in a 20-12 fourth quarter to tie it. They were led by Walker, a junior who scored a career-high 21 points.

"She's a pure shooter," Bruce Haller said. Walker sank three treys, including one in the fourth and one in overtime. Hagenah, a senior captain, had 12 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. She also guarded Northport's Stephanie Leon, who was held to eight points. Northport is 11-0 in league and 14-2 overall.

"Because it's such a rivalry, we really wanted to play it," Bruce Haller said. "Hagenah . . . didn't get a chance to put us in the playoffs on Thursday and she really played [well] against Leon, who's like 6-4 . . . This was a great way to close senior year."

It's not a postseason berth, but for one afternoon, it was just as sweet.