LOCUST VALLEY FALCONS ARE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS

The Locust Valley High School varsity girls basketball team took the title of Nassau County Class A champions after defeating the Floral Park Knights, 43-34, at Farmingdale State College on March 7.

The Falcons went into the county finals as the No. 2 seed with a record of 22-0 as they took on Floral Park, also with a 22-0 season. In front of a packed house, the Falcons walked away with their undefeated record intact, and with the county championship in hand.

The Falcons were trailing 9-2 to start, but soon took the lead and never looked back. There were some tense moments late in the game, as the Knights would go on an 11-0 run to cut the Falcons’ lead to a slim three points, but it was time for senior Paige O’Brien to shine. Paige hit a three-pointer from the left corner to put the Falcons back in control. She finished with a game-high of 18 points, including four three-pointers to go along with seven rebounds.

Sophomore Lindsay Hogan had a huge game as well, hitting three of her four three-pointers during the third quarter. Lindsay would finish with 12 points, all from downtown, and eight rebounds to lead the team.

Senior Julia Sabatino scored six points and had six assists and precise ball handling against Floral Park’s stingy defense. Sophomore Amber Linden dropped in four points and pulled down four rebounds while playing stifling defense down low, and freshman Payton Tini added three points and some tremendous rebounding of her own. Junior Maddie Driscoll and eighth grader Reily Roberts came in to provide solid defense and calm in the half-court offense to help solidify the victory.

On Sunday, March 15, at 2:00 pm, Locust Valley will compete against Westhampton High School for the Long Island championship and the chance to advance to the New York State Final Four competition. Falcon fans are encouraged to cheer the team on at the game St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue.