Carey can’t hold off VSC

Coming off its highest-scoring performance of the season, Valley Stream Central was on the ropes for much of its Conference AA-III girls’ basketball matchup against winless Carey on Jan. 18.

The Lady Eagles managed just 16 points in the first half and trailed by double digits, but they slowly chipped away and Nikole Williams provided the difference in the final seconds.

Williams, who struggled to find a rhythm all day, scored the game’s last seven points and secured Central’s 49-45 come-from-behind victory with a steal with two seconds remaining. The junior forward finished with 14 points, while junior guard Christine Rivera pumped in a season-high 19 and dished out six assists.

“We were overconfident and got outplayed in the first half,” coach Mary Parisi said after the Lady Eagles improved to 3-4 in conference games and 3-5 overall. “I explained to the girls on the bus ride here that any team can beat any team. If you don’t come to play, you’ll get beat. In the second half, we played with confidence and tightened up the defense.”

After she nailed a three-pointer with 18 seconds left to tie it at 45, Williams helped force a turnover and was fouled in the backcourt following an inbounds play. While attempting to beat Williams to a rolling pass by Rivera, Carey junior Liz Osowiecki couldn’t avoid a collision that ultimately led to a pair of Williams free throws with seven seconds to go.

The Lady Seahawks (0-7, 0-9) got 14 points and 10 rebounds from Osowiecki and 11 from senior Brenda Hardman, while senior Asantewa Tulloch added 13 points and 11 rebounds for Central.

“We’re coming along as a team and the effort is always there, but we’re having a tough time finishing games,” Carey coach Theresa Schmidt said. “A lot of games come down to experience.”

Central led 12-11 after Williams beat the first quarter buzzer with a three-pointer, but Carey dominated the second at both ends of the floor behind Osowiecki and eighth-grade point guard Victoria Porcasi. The inside-outside tandem combined for 11 points in the second quarter, and Porcasi set up baskets by junior Angela Terrezza and senior Cassie Smith as the Lady Seahawks built a 26-16 halftime advantage.

After back-to-back baskets by Hardman early in the third quarter extended Carey’s lead to 34-20, the Lady Eagles enjoyed a pivotal 11-point run to get back in the game. Sparking the outburst was Rivera, who scored in double figures in seven of the first eight contests.

The fourth quarter featured five lead changes. Central went ahead 42-40 after a Rivera steal and layup, but Hardman answered with a traditional three-point play and Osowiecki and Porcasi added free throws to vault the Lady Seahawks in front 45-42. The next time the lead changed hands, on Williams’ first of two foul shots, it was for good.

“They played tremendous,” Parisi said. “I’m glad we pulled it off.”

Central hosts the rematch on Feb. 14.

Comments about this story? TBellissimo@

liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.