LAKE HUNTINGTON – Punch, counterpunch: that paradigm defines the history of the fierce rivalry between the ladies of Sullivan West and league foe the S.S. Seward Lady Spartans. Once again, the two contenders find themselves vying for division supremacy and once again, their two regular season encounters resulted in a split. 

Sullivan West emerged victorious on January 26 down in Florida, NY with a dicey 46-37 win. It was an emotional high point for Pat Donovan’s team and reminiscent of a victory there a year ago in the regular season. Back then, Seward returned the favor by beating Sullivan West in Lake Huntington and this year they did it again, emphatically, by the score of 32-18. 

As a result, both squads now hold 3-1 league records, and both still have games against Tri-Valley and Burke. As far as last year is concerned, ultimately the Lady Spartans had the last word by defeating Sullivan West in a Section IX Class C quarterfinal in which higher seed Seward was playing host. Seward’s run ended in their next game with a loss to Chester in the Semifinals. Chester was then erased by juggernaut Millbrook who went on to win the state championship. 

In this year’s rematch both teams played tough defense. For Sullivan West, an intense defensive posture represents their greatest asset. On the other hand, their inconsistency in scoring is their greatest liability. Scoring against fledgling teams like Eldred or Roscoe is no problem, but up against tough opponents it is often quite another story. 

In this game the Lady Bulldogs could only marshal a single point in each of the first two quarters. Though they held Seward to six in the first quarter, they allowed ten in the second stanza and trailed 16-2 at the break. 

It took two and half minutes into the third before Lanie Herbert canned SW’s first bucket. They showed signs of life in the frame thereafter as the Westies outscored Seward 9-6 in the third stanza, a flurry that included a trey from Nicole Reeves. They trailed 22-11 going into the fourth and in a frenetic sequence they mobilized a run that got the deficit to nine. A three-pointer rimmed out that would have cut it to six, but Seward went on to win by outscoring SW 10-7 in the fourth quarter. 

Seward senior Shannon Sgombick led all scorers with 15 points. Raquel Hawling posted seven. The Lady Spartans were six-for-15 from the line, a lackluster 40%. Lanie Herbert led SW with five points, well below her season average. The Westies were three-for-nine from the stripe (33%). 

Asked what the difference was in this game as opposed to the home loss against SW, Coach Joe DiMattina noted, “We played more aggressive and more physical. We controlled the boards much better than we did at home. There was one time we gave them four opportunities but other than that we were dominant on the glass.” 

Sullivan West Coach Pat Donovan addressed the same question. “We just couldn’t score. Our defense was fine. We held them to 16 points in the first half. We just couldn’t find the rim. Our run was too little too late.” 

Both teams have already qualified for sectionals, and each will likely begin with a home game. From there on it’s anybody’s guess. One thing is for sure. Millbrook will be waiting in the finals and beating them would be a herculean task for either SW or Seward.