West Hempstead in playoff chase

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While it’s the month with the fewest number of days, February still packs a pretty good punch. There’s the Super Bowl, a full slate of professional hockey games nearly every night, the NBA and college hoops, pitchers and catchers reporting, and, of course, high school athletes vying for playoff berths in winter sports.

As is often the case at West Hempstead, the girls’ basketball team is among those in the mix for one of the last postseason slots. A huge road win against conference-rival Clarke on Jan. 30 put the team is terrific position to make the playoffs.

Senior forward Korrina Plair matched her season high with 22 points as the Rams exploded for 20 points in the final eight minutes to emerge with a 52-41 victory. Sophomore Catherine Andree caught fire and buried three from behind the arc. Andree finished with 11 points as the team improved to 4-3 in league play.

“When we lost to Clarke the first time around, their big girls killed us,” West Hempstead head coach Chris Van Kovics said. “Korrina Plair and Sanaia Estime sat back on the blocks and did a nice job on defense in this one. And, we went right after them on the offensive end and got them in foul trouble. Catherine Andree had a big game just when we needed someone else to step up.”

Andree’s sharpshooting was critical for a team that relies so heavily on its top two scorers, but a player who didn’t garner big numbers also turned in a stellar effort. Sophomore Isabel Tavares was tasked with guarding Clarke’s GraceAnn Murphy in a box-and-one scheme. Tavares played a big role in helping to hold Clarke to eight points in the fourth quarter.

With four games remaining on the schedule, the Rams need just two wins to stamp their ticket to the Class A playoffs. Three of the contests are against teams West Hempstead beat the first time through the schedule.

In the team’s 54-51 road victory on Jan. 15 against Island Trees, a team that advanced to the Class A semifinals in 2018-19, Plair (19) and Jenna Eivazi combined for 36 points to lead the Rams. Eivazi was lethal from three-point range. The senior guard knocked down four from downtown.

It was the Plair/Eivazi show once again three days later when the girls traveled to Valley Stream South. Plair, who is averaging nearly 20 points per game, scored all 17 of her points in the opening half as West Hempstead, which is 7-6 overall, knocked off the Falcons 42-26. Eivazi pitched in with 16 points.

Van Kovics believes the recipe for success down the stretch is a simple one. “We’re going to have to play solid defense, control the boards, and take care of the ball,” Van Kovics said. “Every game is like a playoff game from here on in.”

The Rams will look to defend the pasture when Island Trees comes to town on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.