Huntington Wins its First-Ever Suffolk Girls’ Basketball Title
The Huntington girls’ basketball team overcame a double digit deficit and ice-cold first half shooting to topple perennial state power John Glenn and claim the program’s first Suffolk championship ever, 47-46 before a spirited crowd of 500 at Center Moriches High School.
The Blue Devils trailed most of the game until pulling even halfway through the fourth quarter. The Knights immediately responded and one of the all-time classics proceeded to unfold.
As the clock ticked down, the two teams battled it out at a frenetic pace right to the final second. Kerry Hicks, who scored a game-high 18 points, Casey Scully, Maria Marascia and Julie Forster each scored crucial points in the final two minutes to send Huntington (17-5) and its fans into near delirium.
John Glenn (18-3) jumped out to an early lead and maintained the advantage throughout the first half, leading 15-9 after eight minutes and 26-19 at halftime. Several times the Knights appeared poised to break the game wide open, with double digit leads, but each time Huntington clawed its way back.
John Glenn’s Jacklyn McKenna, who scored 17 points, was nearly unstoppable on both ends of the court through the first three quarters. “She was extremely physical,” said Forster. “She’s a really great player and they are a very tough team. We just refused to lose.”
It was Casey Scully who kept Huntington afloat during one of the worst first half performances the team has turned in this year. The senior, who scored 11 points, hit a series of outside shots while the rest of team couldn’t. Despite an inordinate number of turnovers, the Blue Devils did just enough to prevent John Glenn from putting the game out of reach.
Huntington began to rally midway through the third quarter as it picked up the pace of play and started to hit shots with greater regularity. Hicks, who struggled through most of the first half, became more of a factor and Julie Forster found her groove.
“When you get down by as much as we were you start to wonder what’s going on, but we just kept our focus until we could start turning it around,” Hicks said. The all-state guard hit several shots and drew several fouls that put her at the line for successful free throws.
Matte Scully played with her familiar take-no-prisoners style, fighting for several key rebounds and loose balls. Marascia, who hasn’t forgotten the disappointment she felt over last year’s one-point loss to Harborfields in the county final, was rarely off the floor. The junior, who scored six points, utilized some dazzling dribbling to get the ball up the court in the final minutes with John Glenn in a suffocating press.
Forster went coast-to-coast several times down the stretch and stepped up when the team needed it most. The final minute of play was thrilling, with the final outcome up in the air until the buzzer.
“To win the Suffolk championship is such a great feeling,” Blue Devil coach Brad Reminick said. “The girls wanted it so badly. John Glenn is a great team and their coach Andy Athanas is one of the best there is, so this really means a lot to all of us.”
Blue Devil Notes: Marascia had one of her best games ever for the Blue Devils, getting several crucial rebounds and playing tenacious defense . . . Hicks and Marascia each nailed three-point baskets . . . Huntington trailed 39-38 entering the fourth quarter . . . The Blue Devils play Hampton Bays in a non-elimination game for the Suffolk Small Schools title on Friday at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue at 5:30 p.m. . . The loser of the game will still advance to their respective Long Island class championship game next week.
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