Lady Patriots Advance in Playoffs with Win over Kings Park

With a 53-39 win over Kings Park on Monday, the Ward Melville girls' basketball team takes a seven-game winning streak into the AA quarterfinals on Wednesday.

And if senior point guard Caysea Cohen and senior forward Meagan Murtagh have a say, it just might turn into an eight-game winning streak. Cohen totaled 20 points, 7 steals, 5 assists and 5 rebounds and Murtagh added 18 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks as the sixth-seeded Lady Patriots topped No. 11 Kings Park.

"It's amazing," teammate Kim Geiger said. "Caysea always just knows where you are and the perfect time to pass it, and Meagan's always where Caysea needs her to be and can finish."

Cohen and Murtagh each scored three times as Ward Melville (12-5) went on a 14-0 run to start the game. They combined to score all 10 second-quarter points as Ward Melville took a 27-11 lead at halftime.

"Those two obviously work tremendously together," head coach Lawrence Combs said. "Meagan's improved and she loves that mid-range jump shot. She was very confident in herself tonight and she was able to knock it down. Caysea's ball handling skills and her ability to see the floor are just tremendous."

Cohen fed Geiger for a three-pointer that gave Ward Melville a 48-19 lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but Kings Park fought back. Senior forward Daniele Buoncore scored 8 of her 14 points and Emily Santoli made all six of her free throw attempts during a fourth-quarter rally, but it wasn't enough to stage a comeback.

Ward Melville advances to play No. 3 Riverhead (18-1) on Wednesday at Riverhead at 5 p.m.

"If we play like we did in the first half, I think we can play with anybody," Combs said. "Riverhead, Sachem East, anybody."

Box Score