SUFFOLK COUNTY CLASS AA TOURNAMENT: BLUE WAVES 58, WOLVERINES 43
It's Cordero in the clutch
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Riverhead's Jackie Zilnicki took an arm to the head from a Newfield player while attempting a shot.
Cordero turned in an heroic performance in what is believed by Blue Waves Coach Dave Spinella to be the Riverhead girls' basketball team's first home playoff win in 20 years. The 5-foot 10-inch center rolled her ankle in the third quarter, but that didn't prevent her from putting up 24 points, 19 rebounds (10 offensive), three assists, three steals and two blocks in a 58-43 first-round victory over the Wolverines in the Suffolk County Class AA Tournament.
"She's something special," Wolverines Coach Paul Bertram said. "She's a workhorse. She was all over the place. ... She dominated the offensive boards for them. She was stealing the basketball, blocking shots. She played one heck of a game."
Riverhead's Tyisha Johnson went up for a layup before Newfield's Rachel King could close in on her during Monday's playoff game.
With the victory, the fifth-seeded Blue Waves (17-3) advance to a quarterfinal against the No. 4 Copiague Eagles (16-4) today in Copiague. The Eagles were 58-40 winners over the No. 13 Brentwood Indians in their playoff opener on Monday.
"That's something to remember," Cordero said in the trainer's room after Monday's game while her ailing left ankle was being wrapped. "We worked hard and played as a team. I'm proud of what we did."
Sinead Cordero was a major force for Riverhead in its playoff victory over Newfield. The senior center collected 24 points and 19 rebounds despite sitting out five minutes after rolling her ankle in the third quarter.
"The Willis Reed return to the court," Spinella said. "She just came out and took over."
Tyisha Johnson also turned in a clutch performance, scoring 19 points for Riverhead. Riverhead's regular top scorer, Jackie Zilnicki, had only six points, but she also passed for six assists.
Jazmine Ducker led the No. 12 Wolverines (12-8) with 17 points. Periera added 16.
"We did well over all, it was just shots didn't fall for us," Periera said. "We gave it our all. I don't really know what else to say."
The Blue Waves endured a rough 5-for-17 shooting spell from the field in the second quarter. Ironically, that was the quarter when the League IV champions really made their move.
The Blue Waves took a 12-point lead, the largest of the first half, with them into halftime. Some relentless work under the boards by Cordero, along with a pair of big three-point shots by reserve guard Emily Commins, enabled Riverhead to build that cushion.
After Periera scored the game's first two baskets for a 4-0 Newfield lead, it remained a single-digit game until Commins's first three-pointer from the corner made it 23-13 for the Blue Waves with a little under three minutes left in the first half.
Cordero did well, probing Newfield's interior defense for openings to the basket for 12 first-half points. She also had 12 rebounds in the first half. Riverhead outrebounded the visitors, 16-8, in the opening half, and 33-18 for the game.
"We turned the ball over a lot in transition in the second quarter, and I think that was the difference in the game," said Bertram.
Actually, both sides had plenty of turnovers, 60 in all, 31 by the Wolverines.
The Blue Waves might have held their breath at the sight of Cordero lying on the court in the third quarter, and then being helped as she hobbled toward a seat on the bench.
"It was kind of more I was in shock," Cordero said. "It still kind of hurts a little bit, but it hurt more when it first happened."
The ankle didn't seem to bother Cordero when she returned to the game, grabbing rebounds, making shots, and helping Riverhead finish the game on a 12-3 run.
"Even though we didn't play a great game," Cordero said, "we found a way to win."
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