Tough road for West Hempstead

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Entering the 2018-19 season, West Hempstead girls’ basketball coach Chris Van Kovics knew his team would have a tough road to hoe. With an extremely small roster, the Rams regularly dress seven girls, and a brutal league schedule, victories would be hard to come by.

Van Kovics’s premonition was correct. After last Friday’s 59-39 loss to Mineola, the Rams fell to 3-4 overall (0-2 in Nassau Conference A5). Meaghan McCaffrey had 16 points and eight rebounds for Mineola, which improved to 9-1. The Rams were led by junior Kelley LaRosa’s 10 points.

Four of West Hempstead’s five league opponents were playoff teams a year ago, and the Rams are still yet to face Island Trees and Locust Valley, a pair of teams who are yet to lose in conference play.

Van Kovics knows that wins and losses are not the only measure of his team’s progress. “We’re playing some real strong opponents, so we’re going to take our lumps,” Van Kovics said. “We knew that coming in. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t compete. We need to work hard in practice to try to get better. We’ve made some progress. We’re just not tough enough and we make too many bad decisions on the court.”

While there have been too many nights where scoring has been as scarce as hen’s teeth, the Rams have had some bright spots. In a victory over Valley Stream North, four girls scored in double figures. Junior forward Korrina Plair led the way with a career-high 16 points. Senior Ja’nya Flash and junior Jenna Eivazi each added 13 points.

Plair, who missed some action with an injury and was sorely missed, has been a consistent performer for West Hempstead. “Korrina does a lot for us,” Van Kovics said. “She’s long, quick, and athletic. When you have so few players, you need ones that are versatile. Korrina gets in passing lanes on defense and is really the key to our defense when we press or trap.”

Point guard Haley Duran is enjoying a solid junior season. Duran usually gives up inches to her opponent, but she battles hard. She’s gotten far better at hitting seams in the defense and attacking the basket. Duran scored a season-high 14 in a 55-31 victory over Lawrence.

Eivazi, Duran’s backcourt mate, hasn’t put up the numbers she has in the past, but she’s been a steady performer. Freshman Isabelle Tavares has been a pleasant surprise. Tavares is a quick guard who wreaks havoc at the top of the defense for West Hempstead. She has scored eight points on two occasions.

One thing is imperative for West Hempstead. “We have to stay healthy,” Van Kovics said. “With only 14 players among the junior varsity and varsity, we can’t afford to lose anyone. We need to work hard at practice. There are winnable games on the schedule.”

The Rams will be looking for their first league victory when Locust Valley comes to town this Saturday at noon. Its the first of three straight home games for West Hempstead, which gets Seaford on the 15th and Clarke on the 18th.