Shelter Island outclassed by LM in Class D

Kelsey McGayhey will go down as the best girls basketball player in Shelter Island's history. The senior eclipsed the 1,000-point mark earlier this year and the school plans on retiring her number 23.

McGayhey got Shelter Island off to a strong start, scoring eight of her 14 points in the first quarter, but the Indians were unable to sustain their early lead as they were defeated by Livingston Manor, 58-31, in the Class D Southeast Regional Final Saturday afternoon at Farmingdale State.

"I'm upset because it's over but I can't be that upset because we had a hell of a season," said McGayhey, who added eight rebounds and three steals. "It's been one of the best seasons in Shelter Island basketball. It was my last year and I had a great time."

McGayhey shot 4-for-6 in the first quarter as Shelter Island (12-6) took a 10-5 lead, but LM closed with five straight points to tie the score at 10.

"Before you can blink it went from 10-5 to 10-10 and boom," LM coach Kevin Clifford said. "I didn't even have to do that end-of-the-quarter speech because they did it before I even had the chance to talk to them."

The Wildcats kept the run going as Maggi Calo had 14 of her 18 points in the second quarter, including four three-pointers, as LM (12-8) took a 30-15 lead into halftime.

"It was one three after the other and them full-court pressuring us, we got a little gassed," Shelter Island coach Peter Miedema said. "Unfortunately for us we took it on the defensive end and then some girls were out of position and they had wide open threes we couldn't close out on them."

It did not get any better for Shelter Island in the second half. Samantha Scott scored 16 of her 19 points in a 19-11 third quarter for LM to expand the deficit to 49-26.

"Their shooters killed us. I think as the game progressed when we started getting further away from them I think our hope started to die down and we didn't stay with them," McGayhey said.

Shelter Island could not find McGayhey consistently in the second half as she went 2-for-9 from the field and added two free throws for six points after the break.

"She has the ability to go to the basket and create things but other people had to step up," Miedema said. "Can't expect her to score 30 points in a half. They worked hard but we didn't work hard and smart."

McGayhey finished her storied career shooting 6-for-20 from the field. "It is very special to have someone [like McGayhey]," Miedema said. "Sometimes you just are amazed at what she's able to do athletically.

"When you've played a lifetime of sports and you've seen people that are good players and you see someone who is a step above that. She's got a lot of talent."