Late layup by Danielle Davis lifts Friends Academy over Cold Spring Harbor in Nassau Class B semifinal

Danielle Davis wouldn’t be denied.

After Annie Kraft’s two free throws gave Cold Spring Harbor a one-point lead with 21.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter of a Nassau Class B girls basketball semifinal on Monday, Friends Academy called a timeout. The Quakers knew exactly who they wanted to have the ball — Davis.

“We put so much on her and we are confident in her because she doesn’t waver based on what’s happening,” coach Chekira Lashley said. “She could miss 1,000 shots and we’d still put the ball in her hands for that last shot. She’s so mentally tough.”

The freshman guard drove the lane and hit the winning layup with 9.7 seconds left as No. 3 Friends Academy defeated No. 2 Cold Spring Harbor, 27-26, at Farmingdale State College.

“I knew I had Paris [Panogopoulos] coming up for the pick and I had Emma [Zambrotta] in the corner who could also shoot a three,” said Davis, who had 15 points. “So it was just what the better option was, and I saw the lane and I put it up, but it was just everyone’s effort that went into that. It was amazing.”

Friends Academy (10-8) will play top-seeded Carle Place (17-3) in the Nassau Class B championship game at Farmingdale State at 5 p.m. Friday.

Trailing 23-17 entering the fourth quarter, Friends Academy scored the first eight points of the period. Zambrotta’s three-pointer off a cross-court pass from Davis gave the Quakers a 25-23 advantage with 4:40 remaining.

Cold Spring Harbor (13-7) took a 12-2 lead, but Friends Academy scored the first eight points of the second quarter to cut the Seahawks’ lead to 12-10 with 5:38 left in the period. Cold Spring Harbor led 17-13 at halftime.

The Quakers fell twice to Cold Spring Harbor during the regular season but said they still took confidence from those games.

“The last loss against Cold Spring Harbor, it was a really close game and we knew we had it this time,” Panogopoulos said. “So we really wanted to bring it to them and let them know that we can beat them.”

Friends Academy is looking forward to its next challenge against a strong Carle Place team in the championship game.

“They are so excited,” Lashley said. “They are so shocked that we even made it this far, so I know they are excited for Friday. We have nothing to lose. We made it further than anybody would have expected them to make it, so they’re hyped.”