South Side wins conference opener

The Conference A-I girls’ basketball opener was well worth the wait for South Side, which prepared for new rival Roslyn with seven December games.

The Lady Cyclones got a double-double from senior Caitlin Wallace (17 points, 10 rebounds), 10 rebounds from senior Maggie McGowan, and nine points from sophomore Hanna Merrifield in a 51-34 road victory over the Lady Bulldogs last Friday. 

“We came out strong,” South Side coach Katelyn Dunn said. “It’s always nice to open the conference with a win and Caitlin led us with an unbelievable game. She took over the first half and kept it going in the second half.”

Wallace, a standout on the soccer field who helped the Lady Cyclones win a state championship six weeks ago, has stepped up during the absence of sophomore Juliana Pellegrini, who suffered ankle and knee injuries Dec. 14 and is expected to remain on the shelf until February. “Caitlin missed half of last season with an injury of her own and wasn’t able to contribute as much as she wanted to,” Dunn explained. “She’s always been a threat going to the basket. Tonight she showed some range.”

Dunn is optimistic South Side (5-3 overall) can finish among the top four teams in the conference and return to the Nassau Class A playoffs after reaching the semifinals last winter. A postseason berth would increase Pellegrini’s chance of getting back on the court for the first time since scoring the opening basket in a 41-29 win over Bethpage.

Behind Wallace, the Lady Cyclones built a 26-13 halftime cushion at Roslyn and maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half. Junior Bridget Kiernan (six points) and sophomores Jessica Hawley (five) and Juliana Hadjiyane (five) all contributed, while senior point guard Allison Bannon had another strong game controlling the tempo before fouling out.

“Ali has been great,” Dunn said of Bannon. “She’s playing with confidence and giving us leadership. She allows us to play at the pace we’re looking for.”