Lynbrook Girls Basketball Falls to Garden City in Semifinals, 41-36

Tough defense, solid rebounding and a stellar performance from a freshman were key for the Garden City girls basketball team in their victory over Lynbrook Wednesday night in the class A semifinals, 41-36.

Garden City was also successful limiting Lynbrook star Brooke Gerstman in driving to the basket, forcing her to shoot from the perimeter.  Although she still ended up with a game-high 19 points, Gerstman was forced to take shots from the outside and did not draw many fouls.

“We worked on [Gerstman] the last couple of days in practice, especially on her step back, because it’s so hard to defend,” said Garden City coach Anthony Sparacia. “We wanted to make her beat us from the perimeter… she made some good shots, but she didn’t really get to the free throw line.”

The teams went back and forth for most of the first half. A three-pointer by Gerstman narrowed the Garden City lead to 31-28 with 50 seconds left in the third.

The fourth quarter, however, was opened up with an immediate three-pointer by freshman Samantha Auricchio, to put the lead at 35-28. Auricchio finished with a team-high 11 points.

“I have to give credit to [Auricchio]. She really lit it up from outside,” said Lynbrook coach Heather Manikas.

Another key for Garden City was their strength on the boards, grabbing multiple offensive rebounds to give their shooters second and third chance opportunities.

“You have to give up credit to [Christina] Mangels and [Katie] Trimmer, that’s definitely a strength of theirs -  they had us on the boards and if you get three attempts, you’re bound to get one of them,” Manikas said.

Manikas also gave credit to Garden City’s Jess Stein for the constant pressure she put on Gerstman.

 “It was some of the best defensive pressure against her – usually other teams switch up the matchups against her, but with her it was all night,” Manikas said.

Although the loss for the No. 3 seed Lynbrook is certainly disappointing, Manikas said the girls have a lot to be proud about, as they finish the season with a  15-5 record.

“I told them… you’re one of four left in the county,” Manikas said. “It was a great game and it wasn’t because of a lack of effort. Sometimes the shots don’t fall and  you are off offensively, and that was tonight.”

No. 2 Garden City (18-2) will now play No. 1 seeded North Shore (19-1) in the class A championship, Saturday, March 3, 4:15 p.m. at C.W. Post University. Sparacia said the girls will be ready heading into the big game.

“We hope to get some of the boys in the gym and scrimmage with the boys to simulate their speed,” he said.