Weathers' 31 lead Wyandanch past C. Moriches

Kim Weathers was exhausted after yesterday's game against Center Moriches, but the Wyandanch senior guard still had to go to work at Home Depot for three hours as a cashier. She might have cashed Wyandanch to the top seed in Suffolk Class B.

Weathers had 31 points, seven rebounds, six steals and five assists in a 62-55 win over visiting Center Moriches in Suffolk League VII girls basketball. Wyandanch (12-5, 7-2) has one game left, against Babylon Wednesday. If the Warriors win, it will be a three-way tie for first in the league with Center Moriches (11-6, 8-2) and Mattituck. They all split, with each team winning at home.

"I really don't know," Weathers said when asked who should be the top seed. "It's up to the committee."

Weathers made it a difficult decision. She scored 19 points in the second half, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Weathers had a steal and a layup to give Wyandanch a 51-46 lead with three minutes left. After Jessica Bandrowski (15 points) scored on a runner, Weathers hit two free throws to make it 53-48. Takia Plummer hit two free throws to make it a three-point game, and Center Moriches had the ball with more than one minute remaining.

The Warriors' trap came, and Lineker St. Hilaire deflected a pass into the hands of Weathers. The two had a give-and-go and Weathers capped the play with a layup for a 55-50 lead with 59 seconds left.

"It was the defense," Weathers said. "It was all about the traps. If we run them right, it's easy to play good defense."

Amber Davis (26 points) made it 55-52 before Dejanae Mike scored on a three-point play to push the lead to 58-52 with 22 seconds left. Mike sat six minutes of the fourth quarter to get Jada Sellers into the game for her rebounding, but Mike still had five of her 17 points in the final two minutes. Bandrowski hit three free throws before Weathers hit a pair of foul shots with 17 seconds left for a 60-55 lead.

SEE PHOTOSWyandanch 62, Center Moriches 55

"Sometimes we ask her to do a little too much," Wyandanch coach Warren Fuller said. "Kim's been around. She knew what this meant. We knew if we lost, we would be the third seed and play on the road."

That still is a possibility.

Said Center Moriches coach Rich Alifano: "I don't know how they're going to figure that out. We should have taken care of business and we wouldn't have to worry about that."

It looks like stormy weather ahead for the committee.