Blue Devil Girls’ Top Sachem North, 39-31

It was a must win game for the Huntington girls’ basketball team, but Sachem North made the Blue Devils earn it with the score staying close until the final minutes. Huntington played well in the fourth quarter and edged the home team, 39-31

With the league schedule unfolding now in earnest, Huntington needs to improve its consistency and start winning games with regularity if it wants to reach the Suffolk Final Four as it did last winter.

Sachem North went on a 12-0 run to open the game and the Blue Devils had to fight tooth and nail to claw their way back into it. Huntington head coach Perry Marinelli wasn’t about to give up and neither were his players, who continually regrouped and stayed level headed.

Jolie Weinschreider scored 12 points and had five steals while Ava McDonald contributed 12 points, three steals and three rebounds. Sophomore Ava Bencivenga scored seven points and pulled down five rebounds in her first ever varsity start.

After the rocky first quarter, Huntington went on to outscore its foes in the final three quarters. But the outcome remained in doubt until the final minutes. Weinschreider repeatedly lit up the scoreboard in the fourth frame by hitting three three-point baskets.

McDonald’s on and off the court leadership was crucial as the feisty junior kept the Blue Devils together as they battled back from the huge early game deficit.

Grace Gordon had four points and Leighton Evans and Claire Dello-Iacono both scored two points.

Huntington trailed at halftime, 15-10 and 23-22 after three quarters. But the Blue Devils exploded for 17 points over the final eight minutes to outlast Sachem North.