Hilaire keys Floral Park's playoff victory
Floral Park's Kaela Hilaire, left, drives past New Hyde Park's Jessica Vadala during their Class A first round playoff game. (Feb. 16, 2012) Credit: Barry Sloan
Kaela Hilaire recognized the gravity of the situation as she went to the foul line four times in the final two minutes hoping to extend her team's narrow lead.
"I have to hit the free throws," Hilaire said. "I have to, because the game, I feel like everything is on me."
The Floral Park eighth-grade point guard handled the weight of the situation with the poise of an experienced senior, sinking all four of her free throws.
Hilaire scored nine of her 17 points in the fourth quarter and also had 11 assists as No. 5 Floral Park beat No. 12 New Hyde Park, 53-46, in the first round of the Nassau Class A girls basketball playoffs Thursday night.
Floral Park (15-3) advances to the quarterfinals to play at No. 4 Sewanhaka (15-3) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Fans packed the stands to capacity for the in-district contest which Floral Park coach Michael Spina called a "survival game."
There were 14 lead changes, including nine in a seesaw second quarter when the teams traded baskets.
Floral Park led 21-20 at halftime but New Hyde Park (8-9) started the third quarter on an 12-5 run to take a 32-26 lead, forcing the Knights to call a timeout and regroup.
"I told the girls, 'This is the adversity that I talked about. This is that down time that things are not going well and if we stick together and we keep fighting good things are going to happen,' " Spina said. "I'm glad that we were able to come through a tight game."
Floral Park responded with a 21-7 run to take a 47-39 lead with 2:15 to play.
Hilaire made it 51-46 with 52 seconds left and found Lorraine Hickman, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds, for the game's final basket.
Kristen Korzevinski had 18 points and eight rebounds and Laila Chadli added 15 points for New Hyde Park.
