Ray-Ray Lights it Up
Raynisha Witherspoon scored 19 points to lead the Huntington High School girls' basketball team past host Deer Park, 41-40. It was a must-win game for the Blue Devils, who are driving for a post-season berth.
Deer Park was quick out of the gate and opened a 15-6 first quarter advantage before Huntington's offense finally got untracked. The Blue Devils went on a 14-8 second quarter run to narrow its deficit to three points by halftime, 23-20.
The game got more interesting in the third quarter as Huntington outscored Deer Park, 8-4 to take a 28-27 lead. The Falcons battled back and regained the lead after throwing the Blue Devils on the defensive.
The two teams went at it toe-to-toe over the final eight minutes. Huntington's Mackenzie Maloney hit a mid-range jump shot with 1:17 left to tie the game. Freshman Katie Nugent then went coast-to-coast to finish a difficult lay-up in traffic to put the Blue Devils up by two points.
Deer Park responded with a three-point bucket with 37 seconds remaining to take a one point lead and put Huntington's back against the wall. Witherspoon rode to the rescue, racing in for a lay-up with 27 seconds on the clock to give the Blue Devils a one-point lead that the team nursed to the final horn.
"Raynisha was aggressive and played well on both sides of the court," said Mike Kaplan, Huntington's second year head coach. "She was a huge playmaker throughout the game. She never gave up."
Witherspoon's 19 points were a career high. She added 11 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. "Ray-Ray stepped up in a much-needed game," Kaplan said. "Her intensity was contagious."
Heather Forster was outstanding on defense for Huntington, blocking seven shots, pulling down 13 rebounds and recording three steals to go with seven huge points. Freshman point guard Katie Nugent kicked in seven points, six rebounds and five assists. Maloney, a speedy freshman, contributed four points and three steals.
Colleen Wright was another big factor in the game for Huntington. The senior had five rebounds, two steals and two points. "She played absolutely amazing and was a true leader on the court," Kaplan said. "She played solid defense against one of the top point guards in the county. Colleen stepped up to the plate and helped the team stay focused and composed."
The victory improved Huntington's record in league play to 5-7. The Blue Devils must win their final two games to reach the Section XI playoffs. The win against Deer Park was the equivalent of a high-wire act, with plenty of stress for both players and coaches.
"Coming into this game our girls were prepared," Kaplan said. "They worked hard in practice all week and really focused on the details. They kept fighting throughout the game and never gave up. They wanted this win badly and showed multiple times that they deserved it. They girls knew how big this game would be for us and they really stepped up to the challenge when it was needed the most."
Huntington hosts Half Hollow Hills West on Thursday night. Tip-off is set for 6:15 p.m. Senior Night festivities will kick-off at 5:45 p.m. when the Blue Devils fete Wright and fellow senior Laurelle Byrne-Cody. The Booster Club has marked the game for one of its legendary Spirit Nights, featuring giveaways and special promotions during timeouts and halftime.