Ryan Reynolds, Olivia Mulada help Cold Spring Harbor advance to Nassau A girls basketball final
Cold Spring Harbor teammates celebrate after their 58-56 win over North Shore in a Nassau Class A girls basketball semifinal at Farmingdale State College on Thursday. Credit: James Escher
When games get tight, stars step up. Cold Spring Harbor needed someone to cut off a momentum-filled comeback by North Shore in the Nassau A semifinals, and Ryan Reynolds became that star.
No. 3 Cold Spring Harbor held off No. 2 North Shore, 58-56, at SUNY Farmingdale on Thursday night.
Reynolds scored 16 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter.
Cold Spring Harbor (19-3) will play for its first Nassau A title on Monday against No. 4 Wantagh (18-4) at SUNY Farmingdale.
“We weren’t expecting to be here this year, and now we’re here and doing so well,” Reynolds said. “To be able to make it as far as we’re making it, it’s incredible.”
“I think she’s the best athlete on the floor,” coach Rory Malone added.
The Seahawks led by 15 at halftime but held just a one-point lead over the Vikings as the fourth quarter began.
Cold Spring Harbor fought foul trouble as both Jenna Kessler and Cleo Dallaris had to match up against a dominant 6-2 Keira Pombar, who had 20 points, including 10 free throws, and 10 rebounds.
“We jumped on them real quick, but we knew they had the ability to shoot their way back in, which they did in the third,” Malone said. “But we were just hyped to play, and everyone just fed off each other.”
After two missed free throws by Cold Spring Harbor with less than 10 seconds to go, Pombar grabbed the rebound and turned upcourt before Reynolds fouled her, sending her to the line for two shots.
Pombar had hit two free throws to seal a 42-41 win over Cold Spring Harbor in December, and Reynolds was worried a similar outcome could play out.
“That one little mistake could’ve put it off,” Reynolds said. “I just felt relief.”
Pombar ended up missing the first free throw before intentionally missing the second. Cold Spring Harbor’s Kelly Callaghan jumped on the rebound as time expired.
Cold Spring Harbor guard Olivia Mulada was one of the best players on the court. She scored 16 points, including a crucial three-pointer with less than four minutes remaining. She also guarded North Shore’s Sofia Della Ratta, who was held to two points in the first half before finishing with 11, matching her season average.
“[Mulada] is a joy to watch,” Reynolds said. “What she’s doing now as a freshman is uncharted waters for us.”
