Strong start for South Side

Save for a few subpar non-league performances against larger schools, South Side’s girls’ basketball team is playing the way head coach Dan Ferrick projected — sharing the offensive burden and getting positive results.

The Lady Cyclones’ balance was on display again Jan. 3 when four of five starters scored at least six points — none more than nine — in a 43-27 victory at Garden City, giving them a seventh win in nine games and second in as many Conference A-I matchups.

“It was very much a team effort,” Ferrick said. “It was the second straight conference game we started slow, but even though we were down 10 early there was no point where I felt like we were in trouble.

“All 11 girls played decent minutes,” he added. “We subbed in and out a lot because we just came off a four-day break and there were times we looked a little tired.”

Senior Gianna Mauro scored a game-high nine points for South Side, which trailed by six after the opening quarter but outscored the Lady Trojans by a 34-12 margin over the final 24 minutes. Senior Kendall Kelly had 8, senior Jenna Lopez added 7, and junior Kelsey Barrett and sophomore Katie McMahon chipped in 6 apiece.  

Barrett, who was in the starting lineup early in the season before suffering a concussion, replaced freshman Sydney Rathjen, who is dealing with bronchitis and may miss at least another week. “Since Kelsey’s come back, she’s played lights out,” Ferrick said. “We basically have three starters for two spots and they’ll all play a lot.”

McMahon came off the bench against Garden City but is also no stranger to the starting five. “Katie is just a matchup nightmare,” Ferrick said. “We haven’t played anyone who has a No. 2 guard that could stop her one-on-one.”

Despite shooting 7-for-31 in the first half, the Lady Cyclones led 20-17 at intermission. They would outscore Garden City 10-1 from the foul line for the game. Junior Erin McElwain added four points and JV call-up Olivia Medford knocked down a free throw for her first career varsity point.

“We had them scouted pretty well,” Ferrick explained. “We played straight man the whole time.”

Mauro continued her fine start to the season and is averaging 10.3 points through nine games. “Gianna is doing a nice job in the paint on both sides of the ball,” Ferrick said. “She draws contact and gets to the line. She’s rebounding and defending.”

Mauro scored nine points and pulled down eight rebounds in South Side’s 57-34 win over New Hyde Park in the conference opener. Kelly (13) and Rathjen (10) scored in double figures. New Hyde Park led by seven in the first quarter before the Lady Cyclones pulled even at 10. They led 27-19 at the half and never looked back.

Last week’s blizzard forced South Side’s home matchup with defending Long Island Class A champion Elmont to postpone to this Friday at 4:30 p.m. “It’ll serve as a barometer of where we are,” Ferrick said.