Doherty, Roessler propel Massapequa girls
Massapequa High School junior #1 Morgan Roessler drives to the basket for a lay up in the second quarter. (Jan. 6, 2012) Credit: James Escher
As far back as elementary school, the signs were there for Danielle Doherty and Morgan Roessler to emerge as a strong backcourt when they got to high school. It's beginning to come to fruition for the junior duo.
It was on prominent display Friday afternoon with Roessler getting 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists and Doherty adding 11 points and six assists for host Massapequa in a 51-27 win over Farmingdale in Nassau Conference AA-I girls basketball.
Roessler shot 6-for-7 from the field and Doherty was 5-for-7.
"When they were in fourth grade, we said they might be the best 1-2 combination as they get older," Massapequa coach Shari Roessler said. "They play AAU together. They're unselfish. Neither cares who scores. They feed off of each other."
That can be said of the entire Chiefs' team. They can beat the opposition in a variety of ways. They have size and can rebound, the guards handle pressure, they can shoot from the outside and they excel in transition. Massapequa (8-1, 4-0) regularly plays nine players.
"We have a little bit of everything," Doherty said. "Every player contributes and has different strengths."
Farmingdale (6-1, 2-1) led 7-4 before the Doherty and Roessler combo along with 6-1 freshman Taylor Byrne put the Chiefs ahead for good.
Doherty scored seven points, Byrne five and Roessler four in a 16-0 run that gave the Chiefs a 20-7 lead midway through the second quarter.
"After the first quarter we needed to play better defense," Morgan Roessler said. "It helped us get turnovers and fast breaks."
After Farmingdale's Alexis Panariello scored, it was Nicole Scicutella's turn with five consecutive points for Massapequa. Then Joanne Josephson scored on a three-point play, Melissa Maini scored and Sabrina Fregosi closed out the half with a field goal to give the Chiefs a 32-13 lead. Seven players scored by the half.
"It's not even the five on the floor," Shari Roessler said. "We can go to the bench and bring in some height, a scorer or a defender. This is the most balanced team I have had in a number of years."
Farmingdale lost in the Nassau Class AA finals last season, but has eight new players.
"That's a great passing team," Farmingdale coach Pete Cerrone said. "That's the level we want to play at. We weren't ready for it. We'll be better next time."
