Weinschreider & McDonald Lift Blue Devils Over Commack

Jolie Weinschreider scored all 11 of her points in the second half, including eight consecutive in the third quarter and Ava McDonald pumped in a game high 15 points to lead the Huntington girls’ basketball team to a thrilling 41-37 victory over Commack that came down to the final seconds.

The midday tipoff on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day drew an engaged crowd, which combined with PA announcer Michael Feldstein’s efforts and rock music piped through the powerful sound system throughout the game produced an afternoon to remember.

The victory improved Huntington’s league record to 7-2 and reduced its magic number to one to clinch a playoff spot. The Blue Devils are still alive for the league title. The tense match-up was covered by a Newsday reporter and photographer.

The teams were knotted at 8-8 after eight minutes of play before Huntington went into the locker room at halftime leading 16-15. Commack stormed ahead in the third quarter, but Weinschreider finally found her range and ran off eight straight points to lift the Blue Devils back into the lead, 31-28.

The game seesawed back and forth over the final eight minutes, but Huntington forced several turnovers and capitalized on enough of them to stay close. With under a minute left and trailing by a point, McDonald drove to the basket and kicked it out to a wide open Weinschreider who delivered a perfect shot from beyond the three point arc to give the Blue Devils the lead, which they never surrendered again.

Every Blue Devil on the court contributed, included Madyn Kalb, Grace Gordon and Leigh Evans, who all forced turnovers. Cassidy Harris, Justina Hlenski, Ava Bencivenga Claire Dello-Iacono and Brianna Purcell “all came off the bench to help our starters who go in early foul trouble and kept Commack in check,” Marinelli said.

McDonald added six steals and four assists and a series of huge rebounds to her 15 points. Weinschreider pulled down eight rebounds to go with her 11 points. Kalb dropped seven points and held Commack’s top scoring options to two points. Evans had five points and the defense deflection and steal to win the game for Huntington. Gordon fought all game against Commack’s big center, holding her to under her normal scoring average.

“The team’s mantra for the season is ‘mindset,’” Marinelli said. “Things may go bad; we may make mistakes, but what defines us is how we respond in those moments and the girls responded today. They came together they believed in each other and were connected five as one all day.”

Blue Devil Notes: Huntington players decorated the gym for the Score for a Cure game, which benefits the American Cancer Society. The Blue Devils raised $475 to help stamp out cancer and aid those fighting it. Snacks were sold in the gym lobby and colorful balloons were affixed to the bleachers on both sides of the gym.