Marinelli, Northport rely on defense in win

The numbers were difficult for Megan Marinelli to digest. For a team that scored 31 points in the first half, how could it get so bad?

Northport scored only two points in the third quarter, which came on free throws, and five in the fourth quarter, including just one field goal.

"They turned it up," Marinelli said of Whitman, "but the most important thing is we turned our defense up. Every time our offense isn't working, we can rely on our defense."

Did Northport ever need it. Despite its offensive difficulties in the second half, host Northport pulled out a 38-27 win over Whitman Friday night in a Coaches vs. Cancer Suffolk League II girls basketball game.

"We might have only scored seven points in the second half," Marinelli said, "but our defense pulled us through for the win, and that's what matters."

Chrystal Pope scored 13 points and Marinelli had nine for Northport (9-0, 5-0).

"You learn from it and you don't get a loss," Northport coach Rich Castellano said. "A scare sometimes can be good. Their eyes looked glazed during one of the timeouts. I've never seen them like that before."

SEE PHOTOSNorthport 38, Whitman 27

It was the total opposite in the first half. Pope capped a 15-0 run spanning the first and second quarters to give the Tigers a 20-9 lead with 5:18 left in the first half. Marinelli scored with 1:31 left to push the lead to 31-11.

Whitman (7-2, 4-1) was able to trim the lead to 31-17 at the half on three-pointers from Rachel Perea and Katira Jemmott. The Wildcats also were hurt when leading scorer Alexandra Leftridge picked up her second foul with 28 seconds left in the first quarter and sat the rest of the half.

"They did a great job helping and protecting the rim," Whitman coach Dan Trebour said of Northport. "They don't give you anything, and unless you're hitting jump shots, it's a difficult night. I was very happy with the second half defensively, but they played great defense also. They had the score and time in their favor. We ran up against a really good team."

Whitman went on a 10-3 run capped by two free throws from Leftridge with 7:14 left in the game before Marinelli scored the lone field goal of the second half for Northport with 5:34 left.

"We bent but didn't break," Castellano said. "We could have folded when they got it to six points. If they score another basket, it could have been a one-possession game. Defense is a constant with us."

While it wasn't a picturesque victory, Northport was pleased to remain undefeated.

"We could have played better," Pope said. "It happens sometimes. I'm just glad we pulled it out."