Seaford beginning to click

After a slow start out of the gate, the Seaford girls’ basketball team is finding its rhythm heading toward the home stretch of the season.

The Vikings, who began the season 1-3, entered the week winners of seven of their last nine games and are 4-1 in Conference B2. With three weeks left in the regular season, Seaford is in the mix to the top seed for the upcoming five-team Class B playoffs, which would earn it a first round bye. 

“We struggled in the beginning where every win was a real battle for us and I think we're just starting to really come together,” said second-year Seaford head coach Stephanie Bartkus. “The goal is to make the playoffs and see where we can go.” 

Seaford (8-5 overall) has boasted strong depth as evident in a commanding 55-21 win at Oyster Bay Jan. 12 that featured nine different scorers. The Vikings, who jumped out to a 16-2 lead after the first quarter, were led by 12 points from Danielle McHugh and nine by Emily McGowan and Amanda Williamson with seven.

Williamson, a junior, has emerged as leader on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. She registered 14 points and two steals in a 52-22 victory against Malverne on Dec. 21.

Senior co-captain Danielle McHugh has stepped up as a scoring threat from the perimeter, draining four three pointers in the Malverne win. She then delivered another four treys in a 62-41 non-league triumph at Carey last Saturday.

“She makes them all the time in practice and now it is really starting to show in the second half of the season,” said Bartkus of McHugh’s improving long-range game. “That has been really big for us.” 

The Carey win also featured stellar play from sophomore Jessica Gryzeleczyk, who posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Skyler Secondino nearly had a double-double of her own with nine points and nine rebounds.

The lone loss in league play was a 48-43 setback to Cold Spring Harbor in which Seaford was unable to hold onto a 20-12 halftime lead. Williamson led the way with 14 points followed by nine from Daniella Stek and eight by McHugh. 

Following a Jan. 17 home game against Carle Place after press time, Seaford returns to the court this Friday evening at East Rockaway at 7 p.m. The Vikings will then have time off for midterms before returning to action on Jan. 28 for an important Saturday afternoon conference game at home against West Hempstead starting at noon. The remaining schedule is highlighted by a Feb. 3 road game at Locust Valley, which is unbeaten in the conference.

“The offense is starting to click and as long as this isn't just a fluke then I think we're gonna be okay because we love playing defense and we're not worried about our defense,”  Bartkus said. “I think that's all mental for us and now that it's starting to flow I think we're going to be in good shape.”