Hannah Stockman's 19 helps Northport even season series after earlier loss to HHH East
Northport's Hannah Stockman looks to shoot against Sophia Tawil of Half Hollow Hills East during a Suffolk League II girls basketball game in Northport on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Preparation was the name of the game for the Northport girls basketball team on Friday night.
After a nine-point loss to Half Hollow Hills East on Jan. 2, the Tigers got the better of the Thunderbirds in the rematch. Hannah Stockman had 19 points, Danielle Pavinelli had 16 points and Kelly McLaughlin anchored a stingy man-defense in host Northport’s 52-16 win in Suffolk League II.
The Tigers jumped out to a 23-9 lead at halftime and never wavered. Hills East won the first meeting, 49-40.
“We knew we had to come out really strong,” said Stockman, a senior guard committed to Mary Washington. “This team has always been one of our rival teams, and I think we just came out as strong as we ever have.”
Stockman started fast, scoring the game’s first six points. She had eight points in the first quarter, which ended with Northport ahead, 11-4. A 20-0 run between the third and fourth quarters put the game out of reach.
Tigers coach Rich Castellano said his players were motivated by watching film from the previous meeting, which he showed them two days before the game.
“When they really woke up was when we showed them the video,” he said, adding that he opted to not show the team the film right after the loss. “We showed them the things they needed to work on. I could just see their faces.”
By all measures, Northport (11-1) cleaned it up. Pavinelli (six rebounds, four assists, four steals) was a force, and Kerry Dennin (six points, nine rebounds) provided second-chance opportunities. McLaughlin (two steals, one block), Shea Cronin and Alexa Gentile guarded the perimeter like an impenetrable wall.
“I know I’m not the biggest scorer on the team, but I know everyone has a role,” McLaughlin said. “I just try to step up on the defensive side and create plays for my other teammates.”
McLaughlin — who was removed with 4:45 left after receiving her fourth personal foul — said the Tigers might have “underestimated [the 9-2 Thunderbirds]” last time.
In Stockman’s opinion, Northport is playing its best basketball of the season with an increased emphasis on starting games with high energy.
“This is what our team is made of,” she said. “From the summer, we knew this is how we’re supposed to play. This is finally our best showing.”
The improvement, according to Castellano, was simple: “It was all about preparation.”
