Hauppauge Girls Basketball Beats Commack in First Round of Playoffs

Hauppauge girls varsity basketball have continued their battle for a title by beating the Commack Cougarettes, 51- 30, in the first round of the Suffolk County Class AA Championships at home Monday evening.

Hauppauge keeps adding to its undefeated streak (19-0) by moving into the semi-finals hosting No. 12-ranked Deer Park at home Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The Lady Eagles' most successful attacks were from the outside, scoring 12 three-pointers totaling 36 of their 51 overall points. However, there were a number of fouls racked up by both teams underneath the basket.

Hauppauge's Julie Williams led the team's offense scoring 22 points with six three-pointers in the game. She excited the home crowd when she threw a Hail Mary shot from mid-court, scoring on a half-time buzzer shot.

"At times it was nerve-wracking with the fouling, but the toughness of the game pushed us to play harder at time," Williams said.

Lindsay Alfano scored 12 points for Hauppauge with 3 three-pointers, followed closely by Lauren Descalzo who scored 11 points also with 3 three-pointers.

Despite this, head coach Jamie Edson said Hauppauge's defense was  key to its win.

"Our MVP was our defense. We held them to 30 points and when you can do that in a playoff game you are going to win most of them," Edson said.

Commack head coach Denis Conroy said his team was well prepared for for the game and expected it to be a difficult battle.

"We knew Hauppauge was a very good team coming in," Conroy said. "We hoped to disrupt their rhythm on the on the court but we shot ourselves in the foot by giving up too many turnovers in the first half."

Commack's Erin Storck and Melissa Lobaccaro led the team's offenses scoring 8 points each, followed closely by Kerry Halter who made 6 points.

Hauppauge will move on to play Deer Park, who they have beat twice in regular league play by score of 54 to 48, then 48 to 30 at season's close.

"With Deer Park, We kind of know them, they kind of know us. It’s going to be hard work to beat a team three times in a row," Williams said.