Vikings Sports: December 28, 2011

Friday, 30 December 2011 00:00

Vikings Victorious in Wantagh Booster Club Invitational Tournament

The North Shore girls’ varsity season tipped off against Lynbrook in the opening round of the Wantagh Booster Club Invitational Tournament. This was a game that the team had been looking forward to for quite some time as Lynbrook knocked North Shore out of the playoffs last year 69-68.

This game was eerily similar to last year’s game, with North Shore’s defense, led by Alex Cantwell and Erin Sheerin, sparking an 8-0 run to end the first quarter with the Vikings up 23-19, en route to a 41-34 halftime. In the third quarter, the Vikings went ice-cold and found themselves down 52-50 to start the fourth quarter. When North Shore needed a spark it turned to its defense, led by Christine Castiglione, Micaela Dussel, Tara Feehan and Caroline Robertson (5 steals), the team did a tremendous job frustrating Lynbrook and with Amanda Johansen leading the offense with 13 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter the Vikings came back for a 69-63 victory. Johansen finished with 23 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals.

In the finals, North Shore faced Sewanhaka and really turned up their defense. Sparked by 10 first quarter steals, the Vikings began the game on a 19-0 run to, en route to a 41-17 halftime lead. It was a game of firsts, as freshman Samantha Capobianco scored her first five varsity points and 7th-grader Ashleigh Sheerin scored her first two varsity points in the third quarter to thunderous applause. It was also the first time the Vikings won the Wantagh Invitational Tournament with a 68-49 victory, as the plaque was picked up at half court by injured captain Laura Wefer. Erin Sheerin was named to the All-Tournament Team and Amanda Johansen was MVP. The early pre-season was finished up with a very physical and intense road game at Kings Park. The team struggled to click early, but got a nice boost from Bridget Lincoln’s two first half three-pointers.  The pace was furious and the amount of bodies that hit the floor was innumerable, but despite the best efforts of the girls, they lost 81-70. The Vikings were led by Amanda Johansen’s 27 points and 13 rebounds in the loss.