On Thursday afternoon, the girls’ basketball team improved to 2-0 on the season with a 44-35 non-league victory over Smithtown Christian.

The reigning NYSPHSAA Class D Regional Finalists looked to be in control midway through the first quarter after building an 8-0 lead behind a pair of 3-pointers and a fastbreak layup. A pair of free throws from Niamh Scanlon gave the Bears their first points, but a tough layup pushed the Knight lead back to 10-2. Four more free throws from Ava McCormick and Scanlon brought the Blue & White back within 6-10 before Scanlon scored the Bears’ first field goal of the quarter on a layup with four seconds left to edge back within 8-10.

Early in the second quarter, Jocelyn McCrain’s Euro step finish knotted the game at 11-11 before her 3-pointer gave The Brook its first lead. A Chloe Feldman free throw gave the Bears a 15-11 edge and capped a 13-1 run, but SCS surged back to take a 17-19 advantage. McCrain continued her strong play in the frame with an and-1 layup for a 20-19 margin, but the Knights retook the lead on the next possession. With the first half waning, a McCormick layup and Scanlon 3-pointer gave the Brook a 25-21 edge and a jolt of momentum into the break.

Both teams traded jabs early in the second half, but the Bear defense tightened midway through, allowing just six points in the period to help build upon their lead. The Bears led 26-24 when Feldman scored a layup against the Knights’ press, and McCrain followed with a pair of free throws for a 30-24 advantage. SCS followed with a jumper, but the defense continued to bite down, forcing two shot clock violations and grabbing two steals to stymie the visitors. McCormick followed with a layup, Feldman hit a free throw, and McCrain dropped in a layup to build a 35-27 lead. Myla Lombardo closed the quarter with a crescendo as her pair of blocks stuffed the Knights’ attempts in the waning seconds.

McCormick hit a free throw to open the fourth as the lead grew to nine. The Knights chipped back to within 32-38 midway through the quarter, but they received a huge setback at the 3:42 mark when their best player fouled out. From there, The Brook was in firm control and Scanlon iced the game in the final minute with a fastbreak layup and foul to cap the 44-35 win.

Scanlon led the way with 18 points. McCrain added 14, McCormick 8, and Feldman 4.

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