72.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Oceanside searching for spark
Posted
Oceanside's Woodlynn Daniel, center, protects the ball from Baldwin's Kalin Russell, left, and Shayna Gatling, during the Lady Sailors' loss on Jan. 21.
Kathy Leistner/Herald
Oceanside's defense started strong in a 46-31 loss at Baldwin on Jan. 21, limiting the Lady Bruins to just six points through the first seven minutes, but the offense never came around, netting just 11 points by halftime of the 15-point defeat.
"The girls worked hard and gave a good effort," coach Harvey Peyser said. "If we're hot from the outside we will hit a lot of three-pointers. That's been our game this year [three-point shooting]. We [historically] don't usually shoot as many."
Second half threes-pointers by senior co-captain Lauren Schlitt and sophomore Ali Brooks each cut Baldwin's lead to 10 points, but were consistently kept at arms length after the first quarter, when the Lady Bruins pulled away with a 12-0 scoring run.
Freshman forward Woodlynn Daniel continues to make a strong impression in her first varsity season, standing tall against a Baldwin frontline that includes a pair of six-footers in seniors Shayna Gatling and Kalin Russell. Daniel paced Oceanside with 10 points and also pulled down 10 rebounds and added two blocks and two steals in the type of all-around effort that is certain to turn some heads. "She's one of the best freshmen in the county," Peyser said, noting Daniel has pulled down as many as 24 rebounds in a game. "She's absolutely a great rebounder and a real blessing as a player.
"She's soft-spoken and easy going, but put a ball near her and she excels at getting to [it]."
Daniel started the game with six rebounds and a block in the first quarter. Late in the third quarter, she showed the ability to create off the dribble, taking a board the length of the court, crossing over just before the foul line and splitting a pair of Baldwin defenders for a layup and foul. "She's a tough kid," Lady Bruins first-year coach Tom Catapano said. "She plays very hard and is only going to get better."
Junior point guard Tina Pumo, who's taken on an expanded role because of an injury to senior co-captain Samantha Ray, scored seven points. Senior co-captain Helen Fields and freshman Maggie O'Keefe each had four points.
The loss extended Oceanside's losing streak to three games entering a week-long break for midterms, though the Lady Sailors did earn their first Conference AA-I victory with a 47-20 decision over Mepham on Jan. 14. The defense limited the Lady Pirates to just two points in the third quarter, while Brooks (four three-pointers), Schlitt (two) and junior guard Lauren Cregeen (one) helped control the perimeter. "We didn't turn the ball over," Peyser said as another key to victory. "If we don't turn the ball over, we'll be in most games."
Oceanside closes out the regular season with a home game against Massapequa on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and a road rematch with Mepham on Feb. 8.
Report an inappropriate comment
Comments