Two Nassau Conference AA-I unbeaten squads faced off in Farmingdale’s gym last Tuesday. By the final whistle, the Massapequa Chiefs prevailed 56-37 to up their league record to 4-0 as the host Dalers fell to 2-1.
Farmingdale kept it close for much of the first half. Freshman guard Aisha Smilke, who directed the offense and gave the Chiefs problems with her drives to the hoop, sank a free throw with 4:04 left in the second quarter to bring Farmingdale within two, 20-18. The guests then went on a 10-4 run to go in the locker room up 30-22. They broke the game open in the third, outscoring the Dalers 16-5 thanks to a stifling defense as both coaches made extensive use of their benches.
Dominant center Melanie Hingher paced Massapeque (8-2 overall) with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Hingher has averaged 23.5 points per game. Brittny Membreno added 11. Smilke led Farmingdale (8-2) with 10 points.
“We talked about how important it was to come out in the first two or three minutes of the third quarter and attack,” said Massapequa coach Beth Shackel-Scott. “We had a few easy baskets off of turnovers and then things started opening up for us.”
Last season, the Chiefs lost to Baldwin in the Nassau County AA final, 58-49, in a game they once led by 17 points.
