Sewanhaka running on all cylinders

Winning 10 or more basketball games on a regular basis at the high school level is a sign of program stability and consistency. At Sewanhaka, hitting double-digits in the win column each year has become the norm. However, over the past three seasons, the Lady Indians have bowed out quietly in the opening round of the playoffs.

But this season, the Tribe is on the warpath. After last Friday’s 61-30 rout of visiting Carey, the Lady Indians are 14-1 (7-1 in Nassau Conference A-1.) Sophomore Carly Bolivar scored 14 points and pulled down six rebounds to lead the way. Sophomore Flo Hunte (12) and Destiny Hurt combined to score 23 points. Junior Akyra Ingram added seven points.

Head coach Alex Soupios isn’t looking ahead, but he likes how his team has positioned itself. “I feel like we’re right where we need to be at this time of the year,” Soupios said. “The girls are elevating their game, and should feel confident. We’re working on situational stuff, and the girls are embracing the different strategies. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, and there are areas that we need to polish up. There will be no pushovers when the playoffs come around.”

Hurt, who has been a model of consistency, is averaging over 14 points per contest. She had a career-high 29 to lead the team past Bellmore Kennedy. Soupios is quick to point out the leadership the team’s only senior has brought to the court.

While Hurt and Bolivar, the team’s leading scorer at 14.3 points per game, have filled up the scorebook, sophomore Ashley Cattle and junior Kate Weinschreider have made huge contributions. “They might not put up big offensive numbers, but they do all the little things that make things happen for us,” Soupios said. “They defend well, hit the boards hard, and make great outlet passes to start the break.”

To prepare his team for conference play, and hopefully a long playoff run, Soupios put together a tough non-league schedule. With victories over Syosset, Port Washington, Floral Park, Glenn, and Northport, the Lady Indians passed every test. In the team’s 71-67 overtime win over Syosset, Hunte, who is averaging 8.8 points per game, scored 14 points and hit a huge three in the extra session.

Sewanhaka has been getting terrific minutes off the bench from junior guard Cherish Francis and freshman Mia Weinschreider. Francis scored 16 points and dished out three assists in a 67-57 home win over Great Neck North. Weinschreider has been excellent defending the post and on the boards.

Before the postseason gets underway, the Lady Indians will have another shot at knocking off first-place Elmont. The undefeated Lady Spartans, who won a tightly contested game when the two teams met in early January, haven’t lost a game in league play since 2014. 

Sewanhaka will honor Hurt on Senior Night when Jericho visits this Friday at 4:30 p.m.