43.0°,
A Few Clouds Lynbrook running on all cylinders
Lynbrook’s girls’ basketball team completed a perfect December with a 53-43 win over East Rockaway as part of the Friendship Games between the local schools on Dec. 30.
The visiting Lady Owls received another notable performance from Kerrin Montgomery, who poured in 23 points and ripped down 28 rebounds to lead the way. It was the eighth time in as many victories the junior center posted a double-double in points/rebounds, and it was her single-season highs in both categories. Sophomore Sophia LoCicero added 17 points for Lynbrook, which outscored the Lady Rocks by a 20-9 margin in the third quarter to stretch a three-point halftime lead to 14. East Rockaway’s Alessia Drevnyak (12) and Rachel O’Hagan (10) scored in double figures.
“We’ve been playing really well and it’s another nice win,” Lynbrook head coach Steve LoCicero said. “East Rockaway is a well-coached team that plays hard. Karin [Leary] does a great job over there.
“We’re getting an entire team effort,” he added. “The defense is setting the tone, and offensively we’re playing at a fast tempo and trying to shoot the ball early during possessions and get as many touches as possible.”
A season after suffering a tough first-round playoff defeat at Glen Cove, the Lady Owls couldn’t have hoped for a better start heading into a difficult stretch against Conference A-III foes. Their perfect December included a 20-point victory over perennial Class AA contender Uniondale, a 51-46 win over Class A runner-up Wantagh, and a sweep of all three Valley Stream schools by an average of 26 points.
“Basketball might not be the No. 1 sport for some of our girls, but there was an incredible amount of commitment during the offseason and we’re seeing the benefits,” LoCicero said. “Playing in the Freeport Summer League was a big deal and it’s helped tremendously. The girls are really enjoying the sport and hanging out together off the court.”
