Maloney Propels Blue Devils in Opener
Sophomore Mackenzie Maloney poured in 18 points and added six steals to propel the Huntington High School girls' basketball team past Hauppauge in the Suffolk League IV opener, 68-40.
The 5'6 Maloney had a career-best night, stepping up her play with four three-point baskets. Sophomore Heather Forster added 13 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks. Senior Raynisha Witherspoon had 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. The victory improved Huntington's mark to 3-0 overall.
The teams were evenly matched in the opening minutes of play at Hauppauge. The Blue Devils led 12-10 after eight minutes and extended their advantage to 29-23 by halftime. Huntington went on a 28-7 third quarter run to put the game away.
Sophomore point guard Katie Nugent had six points and seven assists, running a Blue Devil offense that hummed. Junior Joellen Ceide had seven points, blocked five shots and drew two charges under the boards. Nine players scored for Huntington. "It was a great team effort," head coach Mike Kaplan said.
Sophomore Caitlin Knowles also turned in a sensational effort guarding Hauppauge's Julie Williams, one of Long Island's top three-point shooters. Williams scored her 1,000 point earlier in the week.
"Caitlin did an excellent defensive job and was disciplined," Kaplan said. "She played unbelievable defense and made Williams work for every shot." The Eagles' star knocked down a pair of baskets from three-point range in the game.
Sophomores Ellyn Byrnes and Lindsay Sullivan brought a spark off the Huntington bench with plenty of energy and stubborn defense. Byrnes contributed four points and Sullivan added two. "The key to our team is that we have so many different options on the offensive end," Kaplan said.
Huntington's 15 player roster features 12 freshmen and sophomores, but played like a veteran squad against Hauppauge. "We moved the ball well and played like a team," Kaplan said. "It was a great team win and good way to start league play."
Blue Devil Notes: Freshman Katie Reilly had two points . . . Junior Emma Hughes scored one point . . . Huntington outscored the Eagles in the second half, 39-17 . . . Maloney was the only Blue Devil player to connect from three-point range . . . Huntington scored 14 points from the free throw line, including five by Witherspoon and four by Maloney.