Smithtown Christian girls fall in state Class D basketball tournament
Smithtown Christian's Annalyn Loiacono shoots the ball against Northville in a New York State Southeast Regional semifinal playoff basketball game on Wednesday in Averill Park, N.Y. Credit: Hans Pennink
It was a tall task for the 10th-seeded Smithtown Christian girls' basketball team in Wednesday’s state Class D basketball subregional semifinal, trying to find a way to slow down Section II’s Northville, the second seed which was the state runner-up last year.
Senior guard Hailey Monroe scored a game-high 19 points as No. 2 Northville defeated No. 10 Smithtown Christian, 56-23, at Averill Park High School.
Northville (21-2) opened fast and strong as all five starters scored in the opening frame for a 17-2 first quarter lead.
Seventh grade forward Nadia Madu scored six of her eight points in the second quarter as the Knights scored 10 points, but Northville extended its lead to as much as 26 points, leading 32-12 at halftime.
“We haven't played since Feb. 6, and I think that’s why we came out a little bit flat,” Smithtown Christian coach Joe Loiacono said. “They’re also a very good senior-strong team and we have a very young team.”
Smithtown Christian starts two seventh-graders, two eighth-graders and a sophomore, Joe’s daughter Annalyn. The point guard finished with a team-high 13 points, including a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
"We have a bright future,” Annalyn said. “We have a really young team so just experiencing a playoff atmosphere will help us grow in the next few years. I’m excited about the talent we have and how it’s growing.”
Monroe added nine points in the fourth quarter as the Falcons pulled away. The Knights finished 11-8, improving last year’s 6-13 record.
“It's the younger talent we got in this year,” Loiacono said. “The influx of four young, talented players helped us have a much better season this year, and I think we’re only going to improve each year.”
